Anyone ever wake up to a new windshield crack?

[ExoShield]

Anyone else ever walk out to their Jeep and find a new crack that definitely wasn’t there the day before?

Some cracks don’t come from a new rock hit. They start from:

• Old micro-pits you can barely see
• Cold overnight temps
• Then heat + vibration from driving or hitting the trail

That’s why so many cracks show up overnight or right after a cold start.

We’ve been hearing these recent arctic cold snaps in the USA and Canada have been cracking windshields - has this happened to any of you?

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[Alpine Warthog]

Yup, I went into Lowes came back out 30 minutes later with a U shaped crack all the way across.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Good thing to do at night is put a piece of that corrugated waxy type poster board across your windshield if it stays outside. Keeps the ice off and adds a tiny bit of insulation. Good for frost anyway. Never tried it in a thick snow and ice area.

 

[JonMN]

Now that you mention it . . . We headed out in our Class B at about 5 degrees F a few days ago. Ours is based on a Ford Transit. When I started it up, I knew I had a windshield crack of a few inches near the bottom on the passenger side.

Made the classic mistake of turning on the defroster, and started moving things in. Next time I looked at the windshield, the crack had moved full length across to the driver side. Drove off anyway, and might have it fixed down here in Florida if they can get a Ford windshield in time.

 

[zcashio]

Yes. My windshield is a perfect oval crack. Strong and durable “Gorilla Glass” for the win!

 

[agoldxj]

I took my windshield out after the 3rd in 1.5 years of owning it. I just wear my snowboard goggles now. All jokes aside yes, a downfall of driving a brick. My wife’s gorilla glass seems a lot better, has a few chips but no cracks yet.

 

[Pliny]

Doesn't need to be cold out or even driving it. Pulled out of the garage (Phoenix AZ) the other day to get at some items in the bed, went to back it in, and a foot long crack had appeared on the driver side.

 

[ExoShield]

Yup, I went into Lowes came back out 30 minutes later with a U shaped crack all the way across.

ohhh no! Those “park it and come back to a crack” ones are the worst!

I’ve noticed those U-shaped cracks tend to show up when it’s cold and sometimes there was already some pitting you couldn’t even see.


Was it freezing temperatures outside when that happened?

 

[ExoShield]

Doesn't need to be cold out or even driving it. Pulled out of the garage (Phoenix AZ) the other day to get at some items in the bed, went to back it in, and a foot long crack had appeared on the driver side.

Yeah, that tracks. Doesn’t always need cold or a rock hit.

Sometimes once there’s a weak spot, even normal use is enough for it to crack.

And sadly always happens when you least expect it.

 

[ExoShield]

I took my windshield out after the 3rd in 1.5 years of owning it. I just wear my snowboard goggles now. All jokes aside yes, a downfall of driving a brick. My wife’s gorilla glass seems a lot better, has a few chips but no cracks yet.

Snowboard goggles might honestly be the move at this point

But yeah, driving a brick definitely doesn’t help. Once you’re upright like that, the glass just takes everything head-on.

Interesting you mentioned Gorilla Glass — We've been hearing similar things, fewer cracks, but it still gets beat up. Seems like it delays the inevitable more than preventing it. Curious how long it holds up long term.

 

[ExoShield]

Yes. My windshield is a perfect oval crack. Strong and durable “Gorilla Glass” for the win!

“Strong and durable” until it isn’t.

Seems like when they go, they really go. Did it start from a chip or just randomly show up one day?

 

[ExoShield]

Now that you mention it . . . We headed out in our Class B at about 5 degrees F a few days ago. Ours is based on a Ford Transit. When I started it up, I knew I had a windshield crack of a few inches near the bottom on the passenger side.

Made the classic mistake of turning on the defroster, and started moving things in. Next time I looked at the windshield, the crack had moved full length across to the driver side. Drove off anyway, and might have it fixed down here in Florida if they can get a Ford windshield in time.

Oh man that's rough... So tempting to crank up the deforst especially when it's cold. That instant heat on cold glass will do it, especially if there’s already a crack starting near the edge. Once it runs, it runs fast.

Hopefully Florida temps at least keep it from spreading any more. Safe travels and fingers crossed they can source the glass quickly.

 

[ExoShield]

Good thing to do at night is put a piece of that corrugated waxy type poster board across your windshield if it stays outside. Keeps the ice off and adds a tiny bit of insulation. Good for frost anyway. Never tried it in a thick snow and ice area.

Thanks, that sounds like a solid tip

Keeping frost and ice off helps more than people realize, and anything that slows down that initial temp shock on the glass is a win. Even a little insulation beats scraping frozen glass and then blasting heat on it.

Thinking something similar would be a windshield cover. Definitely easier for frost than heavy snow, but every bit helps when temps are swinging.

Do you just tuck the board under the wipers or secure it somehow so it doesn’t blow off?

 

[JonMN]

Oh man that's rough... So tempting to crank up the deforst especially when it's cold. That instant heat on cold glass will do it, especially if there’s already a crack starting near the edge. Once it runs, it runs fast.

Hopefully Florida temps at least keep it from spreading any more. Safe travels and fingers crossed they can source the glass quickly.

Thanks! It travelled fine, so I am sure I can make it home if it does not get fixed. Replaced my JT windshield last year due to a large stone impact. Funny, I went about 50 years of driving without a windshield replacement, but the JT and the Transit are the first time I have driven bricks . . . (Like them both, however)

 

[ExoShield]

Thanks! It travelled fine, so I am sure I can make it home if it does not get fixed. Replaced my JT windshield last year due to a large stone impact. Funny, I went about 50 years of driving without a windshield replacement, but the JT and the Transit are the first time I have driven bricks . . . (Like them both, however)

That’s actually kind of funny when you put it that way

Go 50 years no issues… then start driving bricks and suddenly you’re on a first-name basis with the glass shop.

The upright windshield definitely changes the game. Great visibility, great vibes… not so great for windshields. Kind of a “love the truck, hate the windshield” situation.

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