Maintenance + Repair
Don't Ignore That Cracked Windshield
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Bringing your car into the auto shop is probably not on your list of fun things to do on a weekend, so any repair that seems like it can wait will likely do just that. One of these “small” problems is a chipped windshield. Nicks in your windshield are common. Think about it: when a car is moving at a high speed, even a small rock can do great damage. These cracks can start out looking like tiny nicks, but can grow into larger fissures or even splits that span the entire windshield. Learn what can happen if you don’t fix the crack immediately, as well as how and it can be repaired.
Small Chip, Potentially Huge Issue
Driving around with a chip in your windshield could prove dangerous to your life. Any shifts in temperature, whether from the outside or the inside, could cause the chip to spread into a crack. If it is cold outside, the window will also be cold or even frozen. Turning on your heater will warm the inside of the window quickly. This rapid temperature shift could be too much for the little crack and cause it to split.
High winds are another problem. The high air pressure caused by wind blowing against the glass can cause the crack to expand even further. Driving at a high speed can also mimic the effect of wind. If you drive on the highway or go quickly on any type of road, you may find that tiny crack getting larger.
How To Fix It
The best thing to do in this situation is to bring your car into a body shop to have the crack fixed. Don’t try to do it at home. You may not have all the right products and tools to seal the chip correctly. First, evaluate if the crack can be fixed or if the entire windshield will need to be replaced. Windshields are made from two panes of glass with a coat of resin in between. If the chip has only affected one layer of glass (usually on the outside), it can be repaired with a simple resin injection. If the crack has gone through both panes of glass, the safest option would be to change out the whole window. A resin injection may not be able to adequately seal the gap between the two panes.
A mechanic will inject resin into the crack and allow it to dry. This should stop the crack from spreading. You’ll still be able to see out your window without much obstruction, since the resin is clear. However, a small mark may still be faintly visible. If the spot is directly in front of you on the driver’s side, it may affect your line of sight. Depending on how distracting the spot is to you, it may be wiser to replace the windshield.
The Problem May Reoccur
There’s no real way to avoid getting a nicked windshield. You can’t exactly avoid rocks when driving on the road. Don’t get discouraged if the problem reoccurs, as it is common and often not necessarily your fault. Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter if you’ve just had your windshield repaired; a cracked windshield is never something to ignore. Fix it as often as it needs to be changed.
Stop Cracks In Their Tracks
You may want to overlook a small chip, but having it injected is a cheap and quick alternative to replacing the whole windshield. Obviously, safety is the major concern when travelling with a broken window. Be proactive and fix the problem before it gets worse or before it could cause serious injuries to you and your passengers. It is never safe to drive with a compromised windshield.
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