So, just back from road trip from Montreal. There was an ice storm most of the way to Lake Placid. I had the defroster on the Raptor on high, which I really dislike, but it was necessary as the ice hitting the windshield was freezing on it immediately. In fact, the air from the defroster is a bit weak in the driver corner causing ice to form on the top 8" or so of the windshield. The headlights glazed over with ice and cut light output by 50 percent. Good thing I have almost 20,000 lumens in off road Baja Design lights in the bumpers. Those too were glazed over and lost half their luminosity.

So I get back yesterday and when washing the truck I notice a crescent, or half-moon shaped crack along the very bottom of the windshield, below the registration sticker. There was no, nor is there any sign of, impact damage whatsoever. I did a google search and there are a few posts on heated wiper sections of windshields (which I have) allegedly causing cracking. Well, that sucks.

New windshield on Saturday.

Anyone have any thoughts? Ever heard of it happening? Most of the other items on the web I've read say you need some initial damage for it to then happen, and my windshield was pristine. The truck is only month and a half old.

And I posted here instead of in the Raptor forum as this gets much more traffic.

 

 

In white out snow conditions id allow it.

 

Is that the real question? First, I don't have a light bar. I have lights down low in the opening of the bumper. Second, the answer is no, only when there is no traffic oncoming and I always keep my hand up by the uplifter swich to immediately shut it off. I don't like being blinded either. Who pissed in your Cheerios today? Very helpful reply. Thanks so much. Now go back and play with your Tonka toys.

 

Yeah, it's possible. Glass is a fickle thing, even the robust safety glass in cars. drastic temp swings will cause a break.

 

 

while its possible, probably unlikely? I believe the windshield heaters are only activated when the rear defrost is on... which is activated by you. You didn't mention above whether or not the rear defrost was on the whole time, it typically turns off after 20 minutes right? So you would have to keep turning it back on.
But you did mention that you had the defrost on high the entire time (I'm assuming defrost on heat control bc you talk about the windshield not clearing all the way).. so blowing hot air on the windshield the entire time - I don't know the typical temp of hot air that comes out of the ducts. Plausible bc of the difference in air temp outside and air temp blowing on it... then hitting a pothole or cracks in pavement/twisting in frame that the windshield could have cracked. Never know. At least you get it fixed this week.
Good luck.

 

Ièm not directly answering your question, but I got multiple cracks in the windshield. Living in Alberta, I'm sticking with this until I get a cop stopping me. Its unlikely, as 50% of the vehicles in the province have broken glass.
But I'm not impressed by the windshield. I wrote car glass companies and installers to ask if there was such thing as more robust windshields...no response from anyone....

 

All it takes is the tiniest of nicks on the edge and enough heat applied for the glass to crack like that. You may not see it, but more than likely there is a nick where the crack started. I had this happen to my 14 after a hail storm the previous day, then overheating the engine climbing a 6% grade with a trailer and having the defroster on full blast to help cool it down, and I heard CRACK! Sure enough had a 4" crack appear starting at the lower passenger side. I finally found the cause after using really strong reading glasses and looking very close, a very tiny nick from the hail.