Eduskator

So last night's weather was a little harsh. Freezing rain, drizzles, snow, etc. Got up this morning and started my beautiful F150 a lot longer than usual (20 mins) to let the sh*t accumulated on my windows melt. I know, engine idling is not good, but once per year...whatever.

Only a small pressure was required to scrape my windshield since surface was warm enough and the 1'' thick mix of ice and snow was getting off pretty easily. I'm being fully honest, I did not hit it nor applied heavy pressure on it.

Got inside and drove to work. Half way there I see this big 3 feet wide crack in the bottom of my windshield, starting from the 1/4 up to the 3/4. It's barely visible, but WTF?

At 6 months old and 5000 miles on it, my truck now needs a 3rd windshield (yep, THIRD windshield because the 2 other ones had defects).

Anyways, last time they changed it, I noticed 2 things :
1) It scratched more easily than the other windshield (rock chips, scratch, etc.)
2) There was some extra urethane sticking out from the interior of the windshield where the dash starts (they probably applied to much) and the crack started right there. I will try to see if there was uneven amount of urethane applied that caused an extra stress, but as I said, I'm 99% positive they will tell me I need to pay for this.

This adds up on top of the other issues I've had since day 1. I've had more than 20 vehicles in my life and never did one of the windshield crack, besides one time when I got into an accident. This is frustrating. I'm done writing now.

madsen203

Most auto insurance companies cover "safety glass" for pennies extra. Doesn't count against you as a comprehensive claim either. May be worth looking into with your luck.

Fight it as much as you can/as it is worth. Then pony up.

Eduskator

Yep - I believe I have this. However, I don't think they would put a Ford windshield as a replacement and this is a concern to me.

BareBonesXL

Don't assume that it was your fault. And don't tell them that ice scraping story. Anybody who's worked with windshields knows that you can't stress the edges or they'll crack. If they put a stress riser on the edge during install it's their fault. It's an installation error. The crack might have actually started when they installed it and grew over time.

Take it in, point at the extra urethane and the crack and say "you guys need to get it right this time".

Eduskator

That's just what I think as well... It wasn't installed properly and the moment it got stressed a little (this morning), it snapped.But who I am to certify that? I'm no window professional and I don't really trust them either.

We'll see tomorrow.

BareBonesXL

The windshield you get at the dealer is the same as you'll get from one of the specialty shops. PPG, I believe. If you're using the dealer and they won't replace it try a different shop. You'll save a lot of money and probably get a better job. You already know that the guys you're working with do crappy work. Why have it again? Good luck. Be firm. Do not talk about ice-scraping no matter how strong the urge is.

If you started that crack while de-icing and it traveled three feet you'd have heard it. They make a nauseating cracking sound when they go.

BlackBoost

Welcome to the club. I was on my 2nd windshield within the first year and it got all cracked up only a few months later. Been driving with a cracked windshield for over a year now and plan on replacing it soon because a new line started forming upwards on the driver's side this winter. I'll do it once it warms up...


At least it's only $100 through insurance which isn't that bad, but still sucks that they seem to crack so easily. The day I get a chip, I get it repaired, but it doesn't stop it. Pretty sad that the F-150 is the first vehicle I've ever had to replace a windshield on and I'm about to go for #3 within 3 years. I had lots of chips on my Xterra but they were repaired and never spread, and lasted 8 years on the original glass.

Ricktwuhk

Not PPG, no.

Soundscreen windshield by Carlite.

BareBonesXL

Probably get a better windshield at a lower installed price at a specialty glass shop. I know somebody that did. Dealerships are designed for selling vehicles and maintenance, not repairs.

Eduskator

My OEM windshield was a SoundScreen. The 2nd one as well. The 3rd one (current) is a Ford windshield, but not soundscreen. I noticed it when I picked it up after they had changed it. They basically put a cheaper one than I was entitled to, but I was tired of going through that crap so I didn't say anything and left.

The dealer does not change windshields (well, where I went). They call someone that comes and installs OEM windshields.