Windshield
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 282
Likes: 69
From: Granbury Texas
Windshield
Just noticed today I have a "Y" shaped crack on the inside of my windshield right where the convertible top latches on the drivers side in the black area of the windshield. I've seen a number of posts where coupes have had stress cracks near the top latches on the inside of the windshield but I have not seen any convertibles having this problem. Any convertible owners out there seen this problem? I have an appointment on Thursday to see if it will be a warranty repair. I think it will be since it's on the inside in the black inaccessible area of the windshield but we'll see Thurs. Photos attached.
Last edited by Gvnski; Aug 22, 2017 at 04:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,271
Likes: 8,544
From: Rochester, NY
I do not have this problem. However I have read of a few convertible owners who have experienced damage due to the severity of the top banging shut when raising the top.
Mine does close with a "bang" but to date no problems.
Mine does close with a "bang" but to date no problems.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 701
Likes: 179
From: Muskoka ontario
With no obvious damage on the outside of the windshield the dealer certainly can not claim it is external damage as from a stone etc.
If your car is still under the 3 yr/36000 warranty I am sure the dealer will cover it.
Most often the dealer will sub it out to a company like safelite etc.
* make sure who ever does it they have done C7 Vettes before
* take note of the GM specs printed on your original windshield and be sure ONLY the correct GM OEM windshield is used for replacement. This is especially important if you have a HUD.
Good luck and keep us posted, Doug.
If your car is still under the 3 yr/36000 warranty I am sure the dealer will cover it.
Most often the dealer will sub it out to a company like safelite etc.
* make sure who ever does it they have done C7 Vettes before
* take note of the GM specs printed on your original windshield and be sure ONLY the correct GM OEM windshield is used for replacement. This is especially important if you have a HUD.
Good luck and keep us posted, Doug.
Last edited by 767guy; Aug 22, 2017 at 08:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 282
Likes: 69
From: Granbury Texas
Windshield Inspection
Took my car to the dealer today, Service Advisor and overall Service Manager inspected and agreed no outside damage. Area Service Rep. will be in later today and either authorize repair or send to GM for approval. They said I would be notified as soon as determination was made within next day or two. I'll post again when I find out.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 142
Likes: 16
From: Chicagoland
I got my car used but I have the same crack on the passenger side. Come to find out the windshield had been previously replaced (poorly) and there a bubbles across the entire top from it expanding. Can't file a warranty claim on a part that isn't GM. Eventually I'll fix the windshield but the crack isn't growing and it isn't that much of an eye sore to me.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 282
Likes: 69
From: Granbury Texas
Windshield Crack
Dealer replaced my windshield about a month ago under warranty, used a glass company. Did a great job, you can not tell it's been replaced and only took about two hours from the time I got there until it was ready. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Some of the (early?) C7s had a piece of welding slag or something that was putting pressure on the windshield and causing it to crack. A replacement windshield would just get cracked in a while also.
If getting one replaced, I'd discuss that with the dealer and glass fitter so they can check and correct if needed.
If getting one replaced, I'd discuss that with the dealer and glass fitter so they can check and correct if needed.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 683
Likes: 140
From: Cookeville TN
Cracked wind screen on verts
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 467
From: Colorado
(resurrect warning) I don't have the convertible, but my (noticed at pre-sales) new C7 had a crack in a similar spot. I had an IOU from my dealership. My car is currently at a detail shop (Ceramic Pro, clear bra, all windows ceramic tint, lowering bolts) and the windshield guy replaces the windshield as directed by the dealership. My detail guy noticed it was aftermarket and gave me a call. A visit to the dealership worked out the confusion (ordering guy had been recently let go) and is making it right with an OEM windshield. Keep the aftermarket on for another couple of weeks until OEM comes in.
Normally, I wouldn't balk at an aftermarket... but then again, i have never had a car as badass as this C7, so, I'm being pretty picky. I haven't seen through it yet, but my detail guy says it looks OK. Dealership threw in an oil change. They're making mine right. So...was I wrong? Insisting on an OEM? I wasn't being a jerk, but I was insistent on the OEM for the Corvette.
Normally, I wouldn't balk at an aftermarket... but then again, i have never had a car as badass as this C7, so, I'm being pretty picky. I haven't seen through it yet, but my detail guy says it looks OK. Dealership threw in an oil change. They're making mine right. So...was I wrong? Insisting on an OEM? I wasn't being a jerk, but I was insistent on the OEM for the Corvette.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 802
Likes: 122
From: Goodyear Arizona
Dealer replaced my windshield under warranty due to delamination. They ordered a new one from GM, and called me when it was delivered.
BTW, I was told the car had to be under the original warranty for the replacement windshield to be covered, AND ALSO if the new windshield exhibited the same problem.
BTW, I was told the car had to be under the original warranty for the replacement windshield to be covered, AND ALSO if the new windshield exhibited the same problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
(resurrect warning) I don't have the convertible, but my (noticed at pre-sales) new C7 had a crack in a similar spot. I had an IOU from my dealership. My car is currently at a detail shop (Ceramic Pro, clear bra, all windows ceramic tint, lowering bolts) and the windshield guy replaces the windshield as directed by the dealership. My detail guy noticed it was aftermarket and gave me a call. A visit to the dealership worked out the confusion (ordering guy had been recently let go) and is making it right with an OEM windshield. Keep the aftermarket on for another couple of weeks until OEM comes in.
Normally, I wouldn't balk at an aftermarket... but then again, i have never had a car as badass as this C7, so, I'm being pretty picky. I haven't seen through it yet, but my detail guy says it looks OK. Dealership threw in an oil change. They're making mine right. So...was I wrong? Insisting on an OEM? I wasn't being a jerk, but I was insistent on the OEM for the Corvette.
Normally, I wouldn't balk at an aftermarket... but then again, i have never had a car as badass as this C7, so, I'm being pretty picky. I haven't seen through it yet, but my detail guy says it looks OK. Dealership threw in an oil change. They're making mine right. So...was I wrong? Insisting on an OEM? I wasn't being a jerk, but I was insistent on the OEM for the Corvette.
OTOH-
If the aftermarket w/s seems acceptable to you right now, you might see if the dealer will put it in writing that they'll install the GM glass some time in the future, like just before the one year point; as compensation for your trouble. Corvette windshields get pitted very quickly, probably because the car is so low, and letting this one take the hits for a year before replacing is something I'd happily accept. Of course, if you only drive 2k miles per year then it's a moot point.
Just remember that "a verbal promise isn't worth the paper it's (not) written on."
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 149
Likes: 24
From: 1.9 miles from the center of arkansas
Dealer replaced my windshield under warranty due to delamination. They ordered a new one from GM, and called me when it was delivered.
BTW, I was told the car had to be under the original warranty for the replacement windshield to be covered, AND ALSO if the new windshield exhibited the same problem.
BTW, I was told the car had to be under the original warranty for the replacement windshield to be covered, AND ALSO if the new windshield exhibited the same problem.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 71
From: Mooresville NC
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Just noticed today I have a "Y" shaped crack on the inside of my windshield right where the convertible top latches on the drivers side in the black area of the windshield. I've seen a number of posts where coupes have had stress cracks near the top latches on the inside of the windshield but I have not seen any convertibles having this problem. Any convertible owners out there seen this problem? I have an appointment on Thursday to see if it will be a warranty repair. I think it will be since it's on the inside in the black inaccessible area of the windshield but we'll see Thurs. Photos attached.
Later that day I found your thread on CF. My warranty expires on 3/3 (Today), so I made an immediate appointment with my dealer. I brought pictures that you posted since i thought warranty replacement would be a tough sell. The service manager took one look at the damage, and said they would replace the windshield under warranty. He said that he had seen the problem several times before. Thanks to your posting I saved a lot of money. Thank you very much.
Do you have any idea what caused the crack? My convertible top slams down hard when it closes. I wonder if this could cause the crack. Maybe I should try to catch it in the future.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 83
From: DFW, TX
Had an almost identical 'half-moon' shaped crack in exactly the same place on my '15 convertible. Dealer contacted GM, GM sent glass glass mfg rep out to examine crack. It was replaced under warranty. Rep told me that they were having the SAME PROBLEM with C7's manufactured around 1/15. I also insisted that my windshield be replaced with oem as the HUD windshields are not the same as non-HUD.
Last edited by BarneyZ; Mar 3, 2018 at 10:14 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
This is a known issue. Mine has been replaced under warranty. Had to do with the locator tabs that locate the windshield when it is installed on the assembly line or welding slag. Recommendation from GM was to cut off the tabs when installing by hand. It has nothing to do with temps, speed or loads of any kind.
A GM field person came to the dealership to inspect mine. He inspected the tabs first thing. Had the installer cut the tabs before replacing the windshield. He said it was most often a tabs issue, but he saw welding slag as the issue on one car he examined.
A GM field person came to the dealership to inspect mine. He inspected the tabs first thing. Had the installer cut the tabs before replacing the windshield. He said it was most often a tabs issue, but he saw welding slag as the issue on one car he examined.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 2,106
From: Left Coast, San Diego
Wow, what timing. My daughter had her windshield replaced yesterday in her '18 Kia. He has been replacing windshields for 10 years with Safelight. He is sent out on jobs when they do a new model for the first time which was the case for this installation. He noticed my Corvette in the garage. He said C6 & C7's are not to hard to install but C5's were. He mentioned some OEM glass, no matter what auto maker, is harder to install/align than non OEM glass specifically because of the alignment tabs. When installed at the factory, machines press fit the glass in with enough force to sometimes override the alignment tabs. The windshield installs but there is considerable force on the glass which can result in stress cracks later on. Non OEM glass does not always have the alignment tabs which makes for an easier installation. Optic issues for both supplied windshields are about the same which is low. So in some cases I guess OEM is not always better. Something to think about.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 282
Likes: 69
From: Granbury Texas
Do you have any idea what caused the crack? My convertible top slams down hard when it closes. I wonder if this could cause the crack. Maybe I should try to catch it in the future. [/QUOTE]
Norm, When they replaced mine they did not find any cause in the glass channel or alignment tab problems. But they did note that my convertible top did seem to slam down with some force, they did some kind of adjustment to it and now it does not come down so hard but I still use my arm to break it's fall. Gvnski
[/QUOTE]Norm, When they replaced mine they did not find any cause in the glass channel or alignment tab problems. But they did note that my convertible top did seem to slam down with some force, they did some kind of adjustment to it and now it does not come down so hard but I still use my arm to break it's fall. Gvnski