Types of Windshield Damage that Can Be Repaired
Posted: Wednesday, November 23, 2005
by Goober Technician
Goober's Windshield Repair
Types of Windshield Damage that Can Be Repaired
A typical windshield is subjected to many sources of stress (for a basic understanding of windshields, please refer to the article on understanding windshield chip repair.) Damage to it may come directly from objects striking the windshield or stress cracks, which occur from extraneous flexing of the windshield during driving. Indirect damage may stem from an existing chip expanding into a crack. To know which damages are repairable and which are not saves you money and time in deciding what to do.
|
Bullseye |
Half Moon |
Star Break |
Combination |
|
Not larger than a quarter coin |
Not larger than a quarter coin |
Not larger than a credit card |
Not larger than a credit card |
Cracks worthy of repairing are ones that are relatively clean. If the crack is less than one month old, and has not been driven in really polluted or dirty areas, it can be repaired. Otherwise, the repair technician will balance other factors to determine if the crack repaired will be worth the time and expense. Multiple single cracks may not be worth repairing, depending on your situation. Complex cracks are rarely worth repairing.
The optimal repair environment is under shade with luminescent light bulb overhead and windshield temperature around 72-74 degrees F, typically in a garage setting. Results are best when the chip or crack is new and clean.
Breaks that Cannot be Repaired
| Stress cracks |
These cracks occur naturally due to the inherent uneven distribution of forces in the windshield. Typically these cracks have no point of impact and start from the edges. Repairing and restoring the original strength of the windshield would result in the re-formation of the stress crack. The repair process did not eliminate the internal structural imbalance. |
| In both glass layers |
Too much structural disruption has formed in the windshield. |
| In the inner glass layer |
The repair would be done unfavorably against gravity. |
| In the driver’s primary field of vision |
Chips that are greater than a quarter in size with a center impact hole of greater than 3/16" and within 4" of another chip repair would not be repaired. These guidelines are followed to ensure minimal visual distraction and distortion to the driver. |
| Three or more long cracks legs |
Too much structural integrity has been compromised. |
| In areas of value-added features (i.e. defroster wires) |
Repair may negatively affect the functions of the feature. |
| Intersecting multiple edges cracks |
Too much structural integrity has been compromised. |
| Breaks with a center impact hole greater than 3/8" |
Too large for any repair to be done properly. |
| Breaks with visible impurities that cannot be removed |
The impurities may impede resin flow and complete filling of the cracks. It prevents quality repair and is also visually distracting. |
Article #101581
2005 © Goober’s Windshield Repair
By Robert Huang, Goober’s Technician
This Article has been viewed 11,219 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Took "stress fracture" in to dealer, they put mark in the glass and along the crack and said it was a rock ding that caused it and would not be replaced under warranty. Only had the car 3 months. IT MOST DEFINITELY WAS STRESS FRACTURE AND DID NOT HAVE THE NOTCH IN THE CRACK BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. WOULD LIKE PICTURES OF STRESS CRACKS VS LITTLE CHIPS. Charles Maund
I'm in a similar situation. Only had the car for 2 months. While driving to work today I freaked out seeing a long curvy almost S like crack from the middle all the way to the bottom of my windshield. There are no dings or rock chip marks, and gathering from what i've been reading, it seems like a stress crack. What are my chances of getting it covered under the warranty and should i take pictures of it before i take it in to the dealer. I'm also wondering if there are repair places where i can go besides the dealer to determine if it's a manufacturing defect, wormanship defect, as oppose to a rock ding . Rommel
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