9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal?

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Thu 17 Jul 2008 14:41
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - L'escargot
The passenger's side of my car's windscreen recently acquired a curved 9 mm long crack from a flying stone. At the moment I can't work up the enthusiasm to do anything about it. What minimum length would a crack need to be to spur you into action?
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 14:55
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Ravenger
I'd do something about it straight away. Should be covered under your insurance for only a £50 or £75 excess.
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 15:09
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Hamsafar
I'd wait and let it develop, and save up the £70 excess. I don't like repairs, and yours sounds just about small enough to repair. Look at cars the same as yours you may be able to get a better windscreen version made for later/higher spec models with tinted flashing, or heat reflecting coating.
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 15:23
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Simon
Well a crack/chip that is less than 10mm in diameter will pass an MOT anywhere on the windscreen. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 15:48
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Optimist
Some companies charge no excess if the damage is repairable. Check your policy.


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Thu 17 Jul 2008 16:44
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - BazzaBear {P}
If you're willing to repair, not replace then do it now. It should be free through your insurance, and the crack will get bigger every time the windscreen is jolted until the repair is done.
Personally, even if you're against repairs, I'd get it done now. A cracked windscreen is a weakened windscreen.
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 17:34
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - L'escargot
If you're willing to repair .........


Can a crack be repaired? You can't inject resin unless there'e a hole ~ which there isn't in this case.
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 20:26
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Dulwich Estate
I am no repair man. But if I thought about "repairing" such a crack I think I'd drill into the glass at the end of the crack and pump in resin at that point to stop it propagating. I don't know what the specialists do.

My experience with a recent glass so-called repair is such that, next time I'll wait for the damage to increase and so become irrepairable and maybe even encourage it on its way.

I may now have £70 more in my bank but I've also got a 5p sized translucent blob in my windscreen that I do not like. I must have cursed at least 140 times by now - if I knew then what I know now I'd have paid 50p a curse and got a new screen.

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Thu 17 Jul 2008 20:30
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - rtj70
Had a hire car once with a fairly small crack. Two days later it was a lot worse and getting longer. Ended up swapping the Astra 1.6 for a Alfa Romeo 2.0 twin spark because that's all they had ;-) Didn't want my car back when repaired.

I'd at least go to a windscreen repair place and ask them an opinion.
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 23:36
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Bromptonaut
Like rtj I've seen a crack spread quite rapidly. Spotted on drivers side of Berlingo on Xmas day (SWMBO thought she'd had a grit ricochet prev eve). By end Boxing Day, after a 120 mile trip to rellys it had doubled in length and looked susceptible to water/frost.

Replaced by Autoglass under insurance for excess c£75.
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Thu 17 Jul 2008 20:44
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - BazzaBear {P}
Can a crack be repaired? You can't inject resin unless there'e a hole ~ which
there isn't in this case.

Good point, you could well be right.

Edited by BazzaBear {P} on 17/07/2008 at 20:45

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Thu 17 Jul 2008 22:25
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - daveyjp
"I may now have £70 more in my bank but I've also got a 5p sized translucent blob in my windscreen that I do not like. I must have cursed at least 140 times by now - if I knew then what I know now I'd have paid 50p a curse and got a new screen."

If it bothers you so much half a brick thrown hard at the screen, should put you in a position of needing a new one!
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Fri 18 Jul 2008 00:57
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - jbif
Can a crack be repaired? You can't inject resin unless there'e a hole


Ring up your Insurance Approved windscreen installer and ask.

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Thu 17 Jul 2008 23:46
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Kevin
If it's a crack it needs a new screen, it can't be repaired.

I've just had the screen replaced on my XJ. It started as a small crack behind the tax disc holder but over a couple of weeks gradually worked it's way over to the A-pillar while the other end started heading south.

Called my insurance Co. to find out their preferred supplier and then booked online with Autoglass.

It took less than 30 minutes to replace but they recommend that you don't drive it for at least one hour to allow the adhesive to cure.

Over the last two or three months that's two headlights (@ £90ea.) and one windscreen (£60 XS) I've had to replace because of stone damage :-(

Kevin...
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Fri 18 Jul 2008 00:02
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - MikeTorque
A crack can only get worse. If it suddenly gets worse you could wake up one morning and find it has spead across to the drivers side of the windscreen and you're about to make an urgent/important journey.

Best plan is to have it replaced asap.
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Fri 18 Jul 2008 09:58
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Simon
>>If it bothers you so much half a brick thrown hard at the screen, should put you in a
>>position of needing a new one!

Just give the little crack a good slap or two with the palm of you hand and it will almost certainly grow bigger if you want it to.

On another note, where I work we have a fleet of around 50 vehicles ranging from small vans to huge trucks. Chips and cracks in windscreens is a normal daily hazard and having windscreens replaced can be a yearly thing for each vehicle. We very rarely have a windscreen replaced unless it is due for its annual MOT as sods law dictates that the replacement would get damaged again before its test. The only exceptions being that if the damage is right in the eye line of the driver and compromises their view of the road.

Other than that we have never found any problems by continuing to use vehicles with chips or cracks in their screens. Yes the crack may spread but that doesn't mean that the glass is going to fall out. I wouldn't replace a windscreen on my own car unless I had to and again only just before its annual MOT.
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Fri 18 Jul 2008 10:11
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - L'escargot
Which national companies routinely fit OEM screens, or at least one made by the same manufacturer? Autoglass seems to ring a bell. I don't want another pattern part.

Edited by L'escargot on 18/07/2008 at 10:12

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Fri 18 Jul 2008 14:13
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - Quacker1964
I thought under the terms of the Autoglass adverts if your policy is comprehensive there's no charge to the you the customer? or am I missing something.
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Fri 18 Jul 2008 14:25
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - L'escargot
I'm not bothered about having to pay the £50 excess as long as I get either an OEM screen or one made to the same standard by the same manufacturer.
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Fri 18 Jul 2008 15:05
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - GJD
I think Autoglass says something along the lines that, with comprehensive insurance, there's *usually* no charge. It's not up to Autoglass, it's up to the insurance company. From my personal experience, the insurance industry standard for comprehensive cover seems to be that you pay around £50 - £70 for a replacement screen, or nothing for a repair (although I think my insurance company may have recently introduced a £10 cost to me for a repair), and you don't lose any no claims bonus for making the claim.

But check your particular insurance cover.
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Thu 2 Jun 2011 01:26
9 mm crack in windscreen ~ any big deal? - SGRben

Cracks are only a big deal if you leave them too long,

i have many times repaired long cracks in laminated glass succesfully, yes with larger cracks above 6inches they are more vsible

however

if you were saying your "crack" is only 9mm then there is every possibilty that a professional, skilled windscreen repair technician can easily repair the damge, restoring the structural integrity of the windscreen.

unlike most companies some of the specialist repair only companies can get the repair so it is almost invisible.

you dont lose any no claims bonus but with some insurance companies if you claim a repair you do not get that years no claims bonus entitlement

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