6k Kms and new windshield already :(

Just thought I'd share the pain with you all. Caught a rock on the highway in November; was a chip that was repaired. But yesterday it just exploded into a large crack.

It's covered under my insurance for a full oem replacement and recalibration of the TSS. I only pay $200 CAD deductible.

I'm now considering a hood deflector - do they actually statistically reduce windshield chips or are they more of an aesthetic add on?

 

That's a shame. I got a small crack at a similar mileage that hasn't spread yet, but it's just a matter of time. I use a deflector, but it can only do so much. I'm at elevated risk because I used to commute on a stretch of highway used by gravel trucks departing several quarries.

 

I feel ya, I live in an area where the main road is also a logging route and major transport route. Theres a gravel quarry in town too and extreme temperature fluctuations - it was only a matter of time for me too. Do you find the deflector is effective at all? Did you get the oem one

 

I didn't even get that far. I had it for less than 2 months when a rock hit about an inch from the bottom of the windshield.

 

LOL, Im in the same boat. Except my crack goes left to right, strait down the middle. Safelight quoted $1100 bucks for a non-OEM....Ive got less that 7,000 miles on my rig, so mad.

 

This gives me an idea. We need a "Show us your crack" thread... on second thought maybe not such a good idea after all.

I feel your pain though mine has a crack running along the bottom edge almost 90% the entire width of the windshield. I can get it replaced through my insurance, they cover one replacement every year, but there is no point in doing it till winter is over. So much crap gets on the roads here in CO every time it snows that it would just be broken again in a few weeks.

 

Try hitting a duck on a bridge.

 

Somehow I didn’t get glass in my eyes. It was all over the inside of my truck though. And in my hair. All over my clothes.

 

Cracking/breaking a windshield just flat out stinks!......even worse if the duck lived!

 

Bug deflector will protect the hood from chips. That’s why I got one. But my windshield is still peppered with a million little rock chips.

 

I have an AVS Bugflector II, which is not much different from the OEM. I don't have a really good estimate of its effectiveness. It picks up a lot of bugs has a few rock dings, but plenty of big bugs still meet their demise on the windshield, along with the occasional rock.

 

Beach guy needed an Acme DuckDeflector.

 

with the upright windshield of the 4R I leave a lot of room in front of me and try to drive in lanes with slower traffic so people don't cut in front of me and kick up road debris.

 

Just an update for those interested in $CAD prices: i had the windshield replaced today at the dealership. Same day service

Parts:
$653 for new OEM windshield
$45 side moulding kit
$48 urethane

Labour:
4.3 hours @ $57.32/hour = $246.48

Service:
$225 - recalibration of TSS

Tax:
$85 Provincial sales tax
$60 General sales tax

Grand total:
$1364.28

These are prices in Canadian dollars, in interior british columbia. Hopefully these prices will help others gauge their own repair budgets.

I'm very lucky in that I only paid a deductible. Some people would opt for a cheaper aftermarket glass. But if you factor in labour, other parts, recalibration and taxes - you wouldnt be saving a ton of money if you decided to use cheaper glass.

 

Hood deflectors protect the hood and send more rocks to the windshield. Mine came with one. The windshield is thoroughly sandblasted.

Did you use use the wiper defroster?

 

That's sort of what I figured... it's almost a vertical windshield so rocks are going to going to be attracted like a magnet.

I do routinely use the wiper defroster - its a godsend where i live. I had a chip just above the defroster that was filled in November, and I can't help but think that routine use if the defroster contributed to the chip turning in to a long crack. But the day the crack formed I was not using it, it was only -5 out so it was pretty warm to begin with

 

I actually don't think it's the angle of the glass but the thinness, quality of glass and the fact that it's glued in solid.
My '03 Jeep TJ's windshield is just a few degrees from being vertical and I just turned over 86,000 miles and it's held in with a rubber gasket.

My 4R's windshield has been cracked for over 4 years now and it's not going to be replaced anytime soon. it's at 107,000 miles so far.

Also the w/s in my old '73 FJ-40 was replaced by me because it was severely pitted and scratched from the w/s wipers pushing mud back and forth.
It was held in with a rubber gasket too.

 

The Safelite online tool quoted me $1100 USD in Illinois, about an hour outside of Chicago. We'll see what they say on the phone and whether or not that changes with insurance. Crack started at about 45k and now stretches across the majority of the windshield at 49.5k miles.

 

I did that but with an owl. Thankfully I was wearing sunglasses and did not get anything in my eyes. I have specs of glass in my hair and mouth.