Strange Crack in Windshield
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Strange Crack in Windshield
Took the car out to run some errands a short while ago, stopped to fuel up and noticed a hair line crack in the windshield. Funny thing is, the crack is on the inside 
It's about 8" long and slightly above the HUD film insert.
Now my question is .....First of all, how in the hell could it have cracked on the inside and being I hardly EVER use the HUD should I spend the bucks and go with a HUD replacement or a non-HUD unit ?
Open to suggestions !
Additionally, Tuesday morning here in Central NJ the temps dipped down to 10 degrees during the overnight and when I left for work at 3:30 am I did notice some frost on the lower part of the windshield but,the frost was on the INSIDE and not the outside. You guys think maybe that might have caused it to crack ? The other thing that baffles me is I have no leaks that I am aware of so could that moisture have come up from the defroster vents ?
It's about 8" long and slightly above the HUD film insert.
Now my question is .....First of all, how in the hell could it have cracked on the inside and being I hardly EVER use the HUD should I spend the bucks and go with a HUD replacement or a non-HUD unit ?
Open to suggestions !
Additionally, Tuesday morning here in Central NJ the temps dipped down to 10 degrees during the overnight and when I left for work at 3:30 am I did notice some frost on the lower part of the windshield but,the frost was on the INSIDE and not the outside. You guys think maybe that might have caused it to crack ? The other thing that baffles me is I have no leaks that I am aware of so could that moisture have come up from the defroster vents ?
Last edited by SG Lou; Jan 8, 2016 at 01:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
I don't have any leaks and the frost was only in the area above the defroster vent, no place else.
Last edited by SG Lou; Jan 8, 2016 at 01:20 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 149
From: chicago area IL.
this summer i had to replace my windshield on my zo6 it was a nightmare!
i used safelite since they offer a nation wide lifetime warranty, my car is a 2001 witch didnt come with the factory option HUD in that year but i did install one, they offer a NON HUD winshield ($230) and a HUD version ($750) i refused the $750 one and said i wanted the NON HUD version at the start they said no after some back and forth they had me sign a waiver they are not responsible for how the HUD will display on the less expensive NON HUD version and it was installed and the HUD shows just fine not 100% factory but i'd say about 97% as good (by the second time you drive the car you will not notice the tiny bit of difference)
the nightmare was they broke some of the trim, the trim was not installed properly & i had some leaks car was back and forth to that shop about 7 times and it still not 100% right but it was all on there dime
make sure who ever you take it to is very familiar with C5's take pictures of your car showing how the moldings and trim is before you hand over your keys and tell them to take some too just in case!
i used safelite since they offer a nation wide lifetime warranty, my car is a 2001 witch didnt come with the factory option HUD in that year but i did install one, they offer a NON HUD winshield ($230) and a HUD version ($750) i refused the $750 one and said i wanted the NON HUD version at the start they said no after some back and forth they had me sign a waiver they are not responsible for how the HUD will display on the less expensive NON HUD version and it was installed and the HUD shows just fine not 100% factory but i'd say about 97% as good (by the second time you drive the car you will not notice the tiny bit of difference)
the nightmare was they broke some of the trim, the trim was not installed properly & i had some leaks car was back and forth to that shop about 7 times and it still not 100% right but it was all on there dime
make sure who ever you take it to is very familiar with C5's take pictures of your car showing how the moldings and trim is before you hand over your keys and tell them to take some too just in case!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
For the hell of it I went on the Safelite Site to get a quote. Mind you this is a quote if I'm paying out of pocket, not that I'll be doing that !
Here’s our offer for you:
Quote*: $1144.95
Web-only price includes:
In-store service
Stringently tested glass meeting NHTSA standards
Moldings
SafeTech-certified installation
Nationwide lifetime guarantee
*Quote does not include tax, disposal fee or additional service options.
Non HUD price is $768.95
Here’s our offer for you:
Quote*: $1144.95
Web-only price includes:
In-store service
Stringently tested glass meeting NHTSA standards
Moldings
SafeTech-certified installation
Nationwide lifetime guarantee
*Quote does not include tax, disposal fee or additional service options.
Non HUD price is $768.95
Last edited by SG Lou; Jan 8, 2016 at 01:39 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 149
From: chicago area IL.
for the hell of it put in zipcode 60516
i only paid $230 (i was shocked) but that all it cost me, my quote was with out the moldings though they tried to reuse them but didnt work out
i only paid $230 (i was shocked) but that all it cost me, my quote was with out the moldings though they tried to reuse them but didnt work out
Last edited by Stroker87; Jan 8, 2016 at 01:44 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 112
I would suggest that the first thing to do would be to take it into a physical safelite location and show it to them. They could probably fix it by injecting some kind of resin into the crack which would almost be invisible. Would certainly cost way way way less. You may not even need to get the windshield replaced.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
I would suggest that the first thing to do would be to take it into a physical safelite location and show it to them. They could probably fix it by injecting some kind of resin into the crack which would almost be invisible. Would certainly cost way way way less. You may not even need to get the windshield replaced.
My Insurance Co. pays for crack repairs...no cost to me !
Last edited by SG Lou; Jan 8, 2016 at 02:01 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 112
I would think so..! I know that they do it with the crack on the outside. Definitely worth a try. I'm sure that the procedure is the same. I think they put a vacuum on the area and then inject the resin into the crack. I guess it would depend on the length of the crack and being able to cover the whole crack with their suction device and accessibility of the crack. I would definitely try that out first. You have nothing to loose. 
Hope you can save a butt load of money. 
I think they can do 6" cracks???
Hope you can save a butt load of money. I think they can do 6" cracks???
Last edited by Studying4boards; Jan 8, 2016 at 02:04 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Took the car out to run some errands a short while ago, stopped to fuel up and noticed a hair line crack in the windshield. Funny thing is, the crack is on the inside
It's about 8" long and slightly above the HUD film insert.
Now my question is .....First of all, how in the hell could it have cracked on the inside and being I hardly EVER use the HUD should I spend the bucks and go with a HUD replacement or a non-HUD unit ?
Open to suggestions !
Additionally, Tuesday morning here in Central NJ the temps dipped down to 10 degrees during the overnight and when I left for work at 3:30 am I did notice some frost on the lower part of the windshield but,the frost was on the INSIDE and not the outside. You guys think maybe that might have caused it to crack ? The other thing that baffles me is I have no leaks that I am aware of so could that moisture have come up from the defroster vents ?
It's about 8" long and slightly above the HUD film insert.
Now my question is .....First of all, how in the hell could it have cracked on the inside and being I hardly EVER use the HUD should I spend the bucks and go with a HUD replacement or a non-HUD unit ?
Open to suggestions !
Additionally, Tuesday morning here in Central NJ the temps dipped down to 10 degrees during the overnight and when I left for work at 3:30 am I did notice some frost on the lower part of the windshield but,the frost was on the INSIDE and not the outside. You guys think maybe that might have caused it to crack ? The other thing that baffles me is I have no leaks that I am aware of so could that moisture have come up from the defroster vents ?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
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From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
Most insurance companies pay for replacement and installation of new windshields when one cracks. Before you go out and spend your money, check with your insurance company.
Le Mans Master
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From: Wisconsin
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Doesn't really take much to cause a crack, especially in an older windshield that has been subjected to repeated heat/cold variations over the years. As for the moisture on the inside of the windshield, if you have a poorly fitting windshield, or even the side or rear window for that matter, moisture can get inside the car and accumulate on a glass surface. Moisture can get inside simply by opening and closing the doors too. Then when it gets cold, frost appears.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 359
Likes: 13
From: Oklahoma
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
Glass does weird things sometimes. My drivers side window was hit by a rock and it caused a small round chip....on the inside. At first glance, it looks like a bb gun hole completely through the glass but on closer inspection, the outside of the glass is just fine. The inside of the glass blew out in an almost circular hole.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
After i fired her up and clean her off, for the hell of it, i got inside and with my fingernail I felt for the crack....but it feels more like a scratch then a crack...
Problem is I don't recall dragging anything against the windshield that would cause it to scratch 
Problem is I don't recall dragging anything against the windshield that would cause it to scratch