Cacked windshield!

[poncho@home]

Happened to snap a pic(clean windshield) of the traffic yesterday after picking up my Jeep from the body shop.
This morning was a decently cold one and as I'm driving to an appointment, I hear a small crack...a few minutes later I see the newly formed crack in the windshield (dirty windshield)!

Like WTH?

Can't see any impact mark. Crazy that these windshields are so prone to cracking, seemingly from the cold today

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[bonniejf]

probably caused by the defroster - there's several threads. Happened to mine.

 

[poncho@home]

Yeah probably. But that is a little ridiculous. I’ve owned dozens of cars and this morning was cold, but not as cold as it gets. Never expected this

 

[jollyjerry]

There's this film for protection https://www.quadratec.com/p/tactik/windshield-guard-wrangler-jl-gladiator-jt

But my geico policy is no deductible for a windshield repair (they grind the chip and fill so the crack doesn't propagate further), or $100 for a replacement. Have had to replace windshields on all my other cars, so I just accept it as a consumable.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

I have similar crack, the rock hit in the seal area below the wiper on the windshield and it finally cracked the rest of the way after defroster.

 

[Opus]

Cacked windshield??? Man, that's cucked up!

Seriously though, a few other folks have had similar issues with what is apparently sudden changes in temp. I agree, OP, that it shouldn't be a thing in this day and age, but apparently it is.

 

[MyDaughters20JL]

There's this film for protection https://www.quadratec.com/p/tactik/windshield-guard-wrangler-jl-gladiator-jt

But my geico policy is no deductible for a windshield repair (they grind the chip and fill so the crack doesn't propagate further), or $100 for a replacement. Have had to replace windshields on all my other cars, so I just accept it as a consumable.

while I'll agree wholeheartedly with your solution, I'm more apt to recommend racing optics' offering of a similar product: although R/O's is a triple layer tear-off and, R/O got it's start with NASCAR.
https://racingopticsjeep.com/

 

[jollyjerry]

while I'll agree wholeheartedly with your solution, I'm more apt to recommend racing optics' offering of a similar product: although R/O's is a triple layer tear-off and, R/O got it's start with NASCAR.
https://racingopticsjeep.com/

nice. I wasn’t familiar with this product. It looks like a thicker film and multiple layers should help. $230 is reasonable, but still more than paying for my glass subscription through insurance. Safelite does mobile service now, so don’t even need to leave the house.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have had a crack start in very similar location and run like yours. Seen others similarly so. I’m thinking there is some induced stress put on the windshield during installation and rapid temp differences inside vs outside cause it.

It would be interesting to see if the installer is bending the glass a little when they seat it in the frame.

 

[poncho@home]

Well at this point I'll wait until it gets worse or spring. Hoping this won't become a cost of ownership recurring replacement

 

[MyDaughters20JL]

nice. I wasn’t familiar with this product. It looks like a thicker film and multiple layers should help. $230 is reasonable, but still more than paying for my glass subscription through insurance. Safelite does mobile service now, so don’t even need to leave the house.

there's also a forum discount for a 10% off which makes it a little more reasonable. I'm on my last layer & jsut waiting for it to warm up a bit to install the new one I"ve got sitting here. There are some dings in the laminate where I've taken some rocks & i KNOW for a fact that without the film, I"d have destroyed several windshields..I swear by R/O & really not interested in trying other brands' offerings

 

[Mastergmac]

Is there a forum discount code for the Racing Optics product? I think I would like to try out the RO brand instead of the single use product.

EDIT:
I dug around some and found "forum" without the quotes is the discount code which saves $22 from the full price of the product. Thanks!

 

[Adv_aw8s]

I just won a racing optics film at winter4x4jamboree. I'm excited to give it a try and like the positive reviews I'm seeing here. First off I need to get my windshield replaced.

 

[garykk]

I just won a racing optics film at winter4x4jamboree. I'm excited to give it a try and like the positive reviews I'm seeing here. First off I need to get my windshield replaced.

I’ve had racing optics on my Gorilla Glass windshield since I had to replace the original windshield after Mopar would not replace It. Since then I’ve had several good rock hits and no chips or cracks. Great product. Just a word of caution, make absolutely sure there is NO Lint on the windshield before installation. I made the mistake of using paper towels to wipe the windshield, now I have a few little spots under the film. Not bad enough to bother me though.

 

[Adv_aw8s]

I’ve had racing optics on my Gorilla Glass windshield since I had to replace the original windshield after Mopar would not replace It. Since then I’ve had several good rock hits and no chips or cracks. Great product. Just a word of caution, make absolutely sure there is NO Lint on the windshield before installation. I made the mistake of using paper towels to wipe the windshield, now I have a few little spots under the film. Not bad enough to bother me though.

Awesome, thanks for the tip. Microfiber towel it is then!

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