Is my windshield scratched?

[Laika]

I've been dealing with this for about a month now, haven't been getting too annoyed but lately it's been raining more and I'm being driven completely insane by what looks like two arching scratches RIGHT in front of the drivers seat, in my direct field of view.

First I figured my windshield might just be dirty. Cleaned it with two laps of invisible glass. No go

Next, I wiped down my wiper blade with 15% IPA and then the windshield too.

Today my friend took a look at it and saw an absolute tiny spec of metallic dust on the blade. When I mean tiny I mean less than the width of the blade. We cleaned the blade and glass with invisible glass again making sure that spec was gone and looking for any others. Nothing. Hit the windshield with the hose and without even using the blades you could still make out the arching lines easily.

This is a bit questionable but we hit the windshield and wiper blade with a towel that we first sprayed brake clean onto. Repeated the hose test. Still seeing it.

If these marks were in front of the passenger seat I would have probably never even noticed it and if I did I sure as hell wouldn't go as far as posting about it for help. Thing is it's not in front of the passenger, it's right smack dab in the middle of my view.

Check out the picture, this is from when I first tried to clean the windshield with Invisible Glass. In the middle of me drying the windshield I snapped the picture to point out one of the marks, you can see others. Only two are visible blatantly while driving and they are about 3.5" apart. Just enough to make me angry enough for this long post

Does anyone have any ideas for me?

[ravenblackfrs]

I don't think there is anything you can do... but I'm in that boat with you. Used one of those squiggie things at the gas station trying to get bugs off the windshield... and now I have swirls... ;(

[JP]

Glass polish, eg http://www.glasspolish.com.au/shop/g...-polishing-kit

[Laika]

Originally Posted by ravenblackfrs

I don't think there is anything you can do... but I'm in that boat with you. Used one of those squiggie things at the gas station trying to get bugs off the windshield... and now I have swirls... ;(

I'm sorry to hear that.

Originally Posted by JP

Glass polish, eg http://www.glasspolish.com.au/shop/g...-polishing-kit

Based on the description, I know my nail doesn't catch on it so this seems like the proper stuff to use. Unfortunately I don't have a PC (looks like it attaches to a PC at least). Thank you for the help.

If some sort of glass polish will be my only option I might just take the car to the dealer and see what their detail shop can do for me.

[ravenblackfrs]

Originally Posted by JP

Glass polish, eg http://www.glasspolish.com.au/shop/g...-polishing-kit

Might have to try it.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Pretty sure some small particulate scratched my windshield one time I uses the wipers. Crescent shaped scratch that follows the curve of my wipers appeared one day, without me touching the glass. Soft glass?

[russv]

Maybe try a little clay bar.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by russv

Maybe try a little clay bar.

Definitely try this! I had this happen on my 04 G35 Coupe, and it drove me INSANE. I tried everything, and finally used a claybar...it almost all came off. Then I used a bit of rain-x and rubbed it in. Went away completely and didn't come back.

I have no idea what caused it though to this day.

[White Shadow]

Had those same exact marks on the windshield of my 4Runner. I tried everything to get them out and nothing worked until I used cerium oxide. Now the glass is perfect again.

[Jared0934]

You don't have to go and get "glass polish"... I mean that stuff might work but, you could just take it to any detailer or use a PC w/ polish n a cutting pad and that should do the trick. Most small scratches on glass are easily fixed like that. Replacing the blades would probably be beneficial as well.

[Laika]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Definitely try this! I had this happen on my 04 G35 Coupe, and it drove me INSANE. I tried everything, and finally used a claybar...it almost all came off. Then I used a bit of rain-x and rubbed it in. Went away completely and didn't come back.

I have no idea what caused it though to this day.

This is a very good idea. I tried it but to basically no avail. I clayed it and sprayed the windshield with a hose every few minutes to keep it moist and to see the effects. By the end of claying there wasn't any water shedding from the area (first picture). I hit it with the Rain-X and that helped this quite a bit but the scratches are there just as bad as before (second picture). I really appreciate your help though.

Originally Posted by Jared0934

You don't have to go and get "glass polish"... I mean that stuff might work but, you could just take it to any detailer or use a PC w/ polish n a cutting pad and that should do the trick. Most small scratches on glass are easily fixed like that. Replacing the blades would probably be beneficial as well.

Do you think your average OTC scratch polish (ex. Scratch-X) would work in this situation? I'm only worried of making matters worse with polish.

Edit: Based off this I think the answer to my question is: It will likely ruin the UV coating

2nd Edit: I can't get a consistent answer anywhere from googling.

What if I use toothpaste and a foam pad? I've been confident enough in the past to use toothpaste on camera lenses that cost several times more than my windshield but suddenly I'm more cautious about everything.

[Jared0934]

OTC is okay, megs scratch-x is alright to use as well. I always recommend starting polish with a microfiber cloth starting with little pressure and working it into about 8-12lbs pressure. You can spread the polish by tracing small circles but when you work it in only us straight lines back and forth back and forth.

If the microfiber polish doesn't work, then take it up a notch and use a megs microfiber pads on a PC. Most of these solutions like clay barring and whatnot are good but they are only removing the cause of the friction, they won't polish out the glass back to smooth.

I wouldn't be worried about the UV. I'm pretty sure whatever UV protection is in the gel not on the surface of the glass. Windows are exposed to too many chemicals, be it man-made or natural.

If you do all of that and it still doesn't look like it's fixed. I would say take it to a glass specialist and call a company and show them the pictures you have. Most minor scratches can always be blended so I'm confident you can polish it out.

[Laika]

Originally Posted by Jared0934

....Most minor scratches can always be blended so I'm confident you can polish it out.

For the time being, I am very confident this can be fixed. From what I've read, the rule of thumb seems to be if the scratch doesn't catch on your finger nail as you go over it, it should be easy to remove. Not only does this scratch not catch on anything, you can't even see the scratches till the surrounding part of the windshield is wet.

I'm going to give it a shot with some scratch-x and a MF towel. No one on the internet seems to want to put up an ingredients list of any of the scratch removers/polishing compounds I have at home. I was hoping something had cerium oxide.

[Laika]

My fingers are crossed. @Jared0934 I think I owe you a beer. I'll have a better idea tomorrow morning but a few passes of Scratch-X 2.0 seem to have done the trick. I did a "scratch test" by spraying the area with Invisible Glass and the most annoying lines that were dead center seem to be gone.