IT'S A PIECE OF SH*T!!!! I just got a freakin' pit TODAY!!! What the hell is this? Do Japanese cars just have weak windshields? My MR2 is all pitted and cracked and my Tacoma has a pit, too. And guess what? I have 1,020 miles on my S2K! Just broke 1,000 last Thursday and now look! Is this sort of thing even under warranty?

[Edited by Dj K-otik on 05-19-2001 at 01:57 PM]

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rick Hesel
[B]I'm actually surprise at how few paint chips I have with nearly 5000 miles.

 

Let me say a few words here on this topic. If a rock is thrown at your windshield at 60 or 70 mph. its gonna crack or chip, there is no getting around that fact. The windshield on the S2000 is at no greater angle than many other types of cars on the road, and is going to recieve its share of rocks no matter what the angle. I don't know about the hardness of the glass, but I do know that there are different levels of quality in aftermarket glass. PPG is the best A/M glass out there but there are quite a few that suck. And as far as steelwool on glass, we use it everyday to clean overspray from glass and have never scratched it. Make sure you use fine (00) steelwool, and don't use it on mirrors,they will scratch. The best advice is like most everyone is saying, don't tailgate. But then again chips happen...

 

Ok-- to answer some of the questions asked before me:

Driving Conditions:
This is my "toy", used exclusivly for playing. The pits occured from driving at highway speeds on "back" country roads (albiet, paved), but sand tends to build up in the center (2 way road)...when a group of us passes, or is behind a large (dump-truck) sided vehicle, the sand-sized particles tend to float up into the air, and we run into them.

Using Steelwool:
I'm used the kind of steelwool that is super fine for cleaning your dishes, etc.. in your kitchen. Are you dishes scratched up? Nope.. neither are mine. As far as a "BASELINE", I used the same steel wool on an old glass table top. You know what? The table top looks pretty good now... OHH-- and there's no fine straches in it from the steelwool. When I was a kid, we used steel wool for overspray on car windows after painting them, and have never seen this kindof damage.

Non-Honda Window:
Waiting on all my repairs,and new windshield. Will I be able to give results? Hopefully not! I was planning on stoneguarding the vehicle after getting all the repairs done so I could go on more weekend drives... not sure at the moment.

Ohh-- and 5 of the other S2K's I drive with have major pits, and 2 of them have cracked windshields now. Go figure.


That is all for now,
-- Aaron

 

Since my current headlights are going to be replaced-- does anyone know of a shop that can polish out the old ones? It would be nice to have a spare set, if I can get them "somewhat" repaired... Maybe some kind of professional plastic polishing shop (does that exist?)

-- Aaron

 

You can actually use a buffer on the headlights, they can be sanded with a fine paper (1500 grit) and then buffed with a machine. Use 3-m compound Perfect-it III part. no. 5933. Also works best if you use a wool pad and keep it slightly wet. Since you've raised this windshield question, back in the late 80's I believe, GM was using a windshield in some of their Cadillacs or then again it might have been lincoln. But anyway they were heated in the laminate and you couldn't use any steelwool on those either. I wonder if Honda has used something in their glass too? Those glasses were only used a couple of years because of similar problems your talking about.

 

I suspect there is a plastic coating on the glass from how easily it scratched up. I was surprised at what little effort caused such scratching. They also may use more plastic (And less glass) for weight/safety issues? Not too sure.

-- Aaron

 

Regarding not following too closely - not possible in L.A. traffic. Even at normal road speeds (60+ MPH) the roads are clogged. My S2K only has 2400 miles on it and I see several unacceptable pits in the windshield. I expect more damage to the vertical painted nose surface but I have to say the window looks worse.

Seems like soft glass to me.

 

So...

Does anybody with the European windshield have the same issues????

Siepel