Not a great start to the morning (windshield crack)

[CyberGreyConvertible]

So, the day started out with a bit of an odd feeling. I just felt like something weird was bound to happen. It's 11° here this morning, so I had to use both front and rear defrosters to melt the windshield ice, nothing out of the ordinary. But about 10 minutes into my drive to work, I hear a huge *CRACK*. I immediately thought a rock hit my car, but then I notice a crack spanning the entire length of the windshield. I've had a tiny tiny crack in the corner of windshield for months, it was barely noticeable. But the extreme cold and my defroster caused it to spider, and it spans the entire length of the windshield.

All in all, it feels pretty bad to know that I couldn't prevent this, the crack expanding was inevitable. It's just frustrating to see such a beautiful car with such an ugly "scar". I plan on waiting until spring time to get it fixed, as this could easily happen again.

So, anybody else have a similar experience?

[USCAMARO14]

WOW! That really sucks

[jmelchio]

I feel your pain. When I bought mine, I was on the way to get it to get it inspected, and a rock hit my windshield and cracked it right in the middle of the driver side. Car was less than 2 days old.

[DesertCamaro]

Happened to me on Monday, car is barely 2 months old. Glass insurance will cover it but it's still a PITA. I usually go through 1 windshield a year here in AZ.

Granted mine was a rock, it's been in the 80's here all week so no defrost for us.

[Valkyrja]

A friend had one of his windows shatter while he was waiting in traffic this week. Made him jump a little. Our temps have been all over the place.

[Denis]

i have a nick or two in mine...none have spread though. even though it looks like one could at any moment but ive had it for months.

[CyberGreyConvertible]

It's driving me nuts... I love my Camaro so much, I hate seeing it with the damage. It would be smarter to wait until it's warmer to get it fixed, which means it'll be there for another month or so. Hopefully, it won't cost too much.

[PalmerGA]

Those tiny cracks need to be fix right away - especially when your windshield goes through temperature extremes using the defroster. Safelite will repair cracks smaller than a dollar bill in 30 minutes for around $50. I believe they will even come to your vehicle to do it, in most locals. A crack won't fix itself. It may not get worse, but most likely it will eventually lead to a full windshield replacement (as the OP's did). Then you're looking at several hundred dollars.

http://www.safelite.com/auto-glass-repair-replacement/

[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by CyberGreyConvertible

It's driving me nuts... I love my Camaro so much, I hate seeing it with the damage. It would be smarter to wait until it's warmer to get it fixed, which means it'll be there for another month or so. Hopefully, it won't cost too much.

Hopefully, it won't blow out altogether. It will likely cost several hundred dollars for a new windshield. Waiting until it's warmer could lead to a major safety issue. Do it now!

[Mark114]

If you have a HUD then the windshield is much more expensive. Extra incentive to get small chips and cracks repaired before they spread.

[RollaMo]

Originally Posted by CyberGreyConvertible

It's 11° here this morning, so I had to use both front and rear defrosters to melt the windshield ice, nothing out of the ordinary. But about 10 minutes into my drive to work, I hear a huge *CRACK*.

I've had a tiny tiny crack in the corner of windshield for months, it was barely noticeable. But the extreme cold and my defroster caused it to spider, and it spans the entire length of the windshield.

So, anybody else have a similar experience?

Yes, that has happened many times and is not just a Camaro issue.

Extremely cold glass, with hot air blowing on it from the inside and add in an existing small crack.
Results can sometimes be a crack the length of the windshield!

Had that happen more than once to vehicles in the past.

[CyberGreyConvertible]

Originally Posted by Mark114

If you have a HUD then the windshield is much more expensive. Extra incentive to get small chips and cracks repaired before they spread.

Why is it so much more expensive?

[HDRDTD]

Fix it now. Don't wait and run the risk of things getting worse.

Cracks like that do happen once in a blue moon, but not very darn often.

[CyberGreyConvertible]

Good news. Called the insurance company, they'll cover everything greater than $250. Calling SafeLite now, hopefully getting this resolved as quickly as possible. I hate seeing my baby like this!