couple of weeks ago, i was driving on the freeway and apparently my car got hit with a road stone.
it made a loud noise but i was unable to see any damage from the inside.

i was washing my car a couple of days ago and when the cold water hit the windshield, i guess the stone crack expanded into a long 6" crack.

i dont want to replace my windshield. my deductible is $500 and a new one costs $400ish.

have any of you guys had any experience with getting them repaired?

i see a lot of these places that say they can repair cracks.

any thoughts?

 

Unfortunately, I don't think you'll be able to get this one repaired.

It's my understanding that about an inch is the most they can repair. Apparently the stress of the crack increases the longer it gets and the epoxy won't hold it.

Check with a reputable glass repair guy and see if they've made improvements since my experience.

Willinathen

 

6" crack cannot be fixed.

 

thats funny, i found a handful of businesses that say that they can.
and they all guarantee the work.

is there something im missing here?

 

Yup...they are just BSing you, and trying to take your money.

A 6" crack will most certainly spread (even 1" is pushing it)....

Cracks are usually injected with an epoxy type material, to stop them from spreading. Regardless, glass places by law are not allowed to fix cracks that on in the middle of the windshield. The middle of the windshield is classified as (I believe its 5") 5" from any point on the windshield frame. Thus, you will not be able to pass safety inspection. Granted, you can walk around the inspection if you know someone, but its still a hassle. One good pothole, and that 6" crack will turn into a 22" spider. Just call safelite. I think its $300 installed, and they will come to your house.

Replace it, trust me.

 

If you knew, or thought you knew, why did you ask? Like everyone else said, you can't safely repair a crack that large.

 

First of all, I use to work at safelite auto glass.

6" is the limit to being repair. try the dollar bill test...

if the crack is larger then a dollar bill do not attempt repair.

if the dollar bill covers the crack, an attempt should be made.

They use resin to fill the crack. The main purpose is holding the crack together to prevent further spreading. At safelite they will attempt to repair the crack. if it continues to spread they will put the money you spent to repair the crack towards a new windsheild.

so why not give it a try.. it might save you 400 bucks.

btw, i hate safelite.. the call center is a hell hole.

 

Well...for one, you drive an s2000, so you do have some money. Also, glass coverage is $20 a year (from Geico anyway) and is NOT part of the deductable. Why would you want to drive around a nice car with a 6" crack on your windshield? Also, to repair it, its $150 bucks, where as replacing it is $300. I honestly dont see the point. However, its your car, do as you see fit.

 

I thought its only around 50 bucks for a repair at safelite.


but besides, if the repair fails, the money you spent will be credited towards your windshield replacement.

also, most insurance companies waive the decutable for a windshield repair, so you might even get the repair for free. but as NFR said do as you see fit.

 

I paid $50 for my repair ... but the damage was less than the size of a nickel. If it had been $0.25 to $0.50 size, the guys would not have repaired it.

From your description, after the crack ran, it's not repairable. There are two panes of glass in the windshield, so make sure that the interior pane is in good shape ... also, make them replace the glass seal in the frame as it often doesn't seal properly after the original seal is removed and replaced.

In AL ... ins will replace the entire windshield if the stone mark/crack is in the driver's line of sight, no matter how large the crack might be. I was fortunate ... up and to the left for mine.

Another suggestion from the repair guy is that the sooner you fix it after it happens, the less it might run, and also, the less road grime & etc will be trapped in the crack. They can't clean that out.

I had a successful experience with a nickel/smaller size repair ... good luck on yours.