Am I the First BRZ/FRS w/ a Cracked Windshield?!?!?!

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by NYC BRZ

So my normal commute through Queens in the morning takes me over some rough roads that always have some sort of construction going on. Well this morning I must have gotten a small rock chip and not noticed it. I parked it in our gates lot at work and after it baked in the 90+ degree sun for 8.5 hours I came out to this in the parking lot...

It's about 18" long and stretches all the way from the edge of the windshield on the passenger side to about 1/3 across the windshield. I called my insurance company and they reccomended Safelite. Well they're closed tomorrow for Independence Day so I'll have to wait until at least Thursday to make an appt. does anyone else feel that its unusual that a small chip would crack so quickly. Honestly Im super anal and washed the car Saturday so I didn't notice it then or even last night. Basically I think I'm going to be SOL for a few days since I doubt Subaru has very many spare windshields already and I DEFINITELY want an OE one.

It is not unusual for a crack in the windshield to propagate like that. If the crack from a rock chip has a start (is deep enough in the windshield), then the pressure inside the car can cause it to propagate. The car was cooler in the morning. You may have even used the AC on your way to work, cooling the interior and the windshield. When you parked the car, the air in the car was somewhat cool. When the car heated up due to the sun, the pressure of the air trapped inside the car increased to the point where it caused the crack in the windshield to propagate.

I'm glad to hear that you had full glass coverage. I live in Minnesota an usually need a new windshield about every 1.5 years due to cracks caused by rock chips. If I have a bad looking chip, I thump the windshield with my palm to see if it propagates. If it does, I go for a full windshield replacement. This is because of a safety concern. The windshield of most modern cars is part of the support structure that prevents the roof from collapsing fully during a rollover crash. If that structural integrity has been compromised due to a crack, then the windshield should be replaced. If the crack does not propagate (or not very far) after some good thumps, then I go for the chip repair because I feel that the structural integrity is still there. I really don't know if the structural integrity of any windshield has been tested after a chip repair; they may be fine, but I like my method as it errs on the side of caution. Note that a chip repair is not optically transparent, so if the chip is in your line of vision during normal driving, then it is better to replace the entire windshield regardless of any crack propagation.

I have had good luck with Safelite here in Minnesota as they have done some quality work on my cars, so I think this was probably a good choice. It is expected that Subaru is the only source for glass right now for this car. All of these cars (FR-S, BRZ, GT-86) are made in the same Subaru plant in Japan, and all have the same windshield. The aftermarket companies will not make windshields for this car until enough of them are sold to create a market for it. I'm sure there are many aftermarket windshields available for cars such as the the Toyota Camry, but it will be years (if ever!) before another manufacturer makes a windshield for this car as the volume is not there yet.

[_hollywood]

Cracked window here...ftl

[NYC BRZ]

Well, Safelite did a kick ass job. Perfect fit and finish. I've got a lifetime warranty on the labor. About head on a 1500 mile (round trip) trip to Tennessee next Monday. Hopefully no repeats

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by NYC BRZ

Well, Safelite did a kick ass job. Perfect fit and finish. I've got a lifetime warranty on the labor. About head on a 750 mile trip to Tennessee next Monday. Hopefully no repeats

Nice, glad to hear that is all taken care of! Enjoy your trip!!!

[Rossman]

Originally Posted by Black Tire

It is not unusual for a crack in the windshield to propagate like that. If the crack from a rock chip has a start (is deep enough in the windshield), then the pressure inside the car can cause it to propagate. The car was cooler in the morning. You may have even used the AC on your way to work, cooling the interior and the windshield. When you parked the car, the air in the car was somewhat cool. When the car heated up due to the sun, the pressure of the air trapped inside the car increased to the point where it caused the crack in the windshield to propagate.

This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. A car's interior is not completely pressure sealed. If the air inside your cabin expands it will just go out via any one of the many small airways. It will not "pressurize" the interior and cause the glass to crack....LOL!!!!

[cgrey]

Originally Posted by Black Tire

It is not unusual for a crack in the windshield to propagate like that. If the crack from a rock chip has a start (is deep enough in the windshield), then the pressure inside the car can cause it to propagate. The car was cooler in the morning. You may have even used the AC on your way to work, cooling the interior and the windshield. When you parked the car, the air in the car was somewhat cool. When the car heated up due to the sun, the pressure of the air trapped inside the car increased to the point where it caused the crack in the windshield to propagate.

Surely this must involve the Coriolis effect? I bet Tesla predicted this.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by Rossman

This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. A car's interior is not completely pressure sealed. If the air inside your cabin expands it will just go out via any one of the many small airways. It will not "pressurize" the interior and cause the glass to crack....LOL!!!!

You are correct in your statement, it has nothing to do with air pressure. Now, what does help propagate the crack is the cooling and heat up of the glass. That change in temperature helps expand/contract the glass thus propagating it.

[Tad_07]

Been in need of a new one for a few weeks now :/
Only had the car a week before I caught a rock....wasn't even broken in yet either.

[MJmcnabb]

Just had my winshield crack . Heard the lightest tap looked down and saw a 4 inch crack jetting out from my A-pillar. It has since grown all the way across my windshield FML, what did they make these windshields out of styrofoam!!

[industrial]

Came back to my car today after a cross country flight. There was a nice foot long crack waiting for me. Never even noticed the rock chip that made this, it was on the edge by the black part of the glass. A tiny little chip turns into tons of money down the drain. Great!

[industrial]

Just for future reference too, I'm looking at around $650 for OEM glass and OEM seal. Out of pocket! Guess I had to pay for my ridiculously low insurance payments somehow!

[neutral]

Bought the car Saturday, just had a pebble hit me on the highway. Pebble sized chip with a 1 inch spider so far. Seems like this is going to be a recurring theme.

[Hix]

Pulling out of my parking garage at work and a construction truck lost a board in front of me and shattered my windshield. I had not yet put a whole mile on the car.

[industrial]

Originally Posted by Hix

Pulling out of my parking garage at work and a construction truck lost a board in front of me and shattered my windshield. I had not yet put a whole mile on the car.

Wow dude, that's some terrible luck! I hope they aren't as backordered on windshield stuff in texas as they are here. My seal is nowhere to be found.