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Rock hit windshield and caused a dime sized chip/web

3K views 27 replies 17 participants last post by  cdeslandes 
#1 ·
I'm sure this has happened to others here as it's an unfortunate part of driving. What's nuts is while I know many people who have had their windshield chipped or cracked from rocks flying up on the road and hitting it...ive never has this happen to me until now. I've had rocks hit my windshield hard over the years but never to the point of chipping or cracking.

I had my last Jeep with over 10k miles before it got totalled in an accident and rocks hit it a few times but it didn't chip. I've had my New Jeep just over a week and it finally happened. I was driving on the freeway when a truck slung up a rock that hit my windshield pretty hard. There's now a dime sized Web. What is good is that the chip is at the very top of my windshield covered almost completely from the black Jeep grill logo on the top. You can't feel anything from the inside so it didn't chip deep enough to feel anything from the inside. On the outside you can barely feel it as well. It looks like a dime sized Spider Web. I'll take a picture later.

It sucks it happened so soon with my new Jeep but I guess it was my time as ive been driving 23 years and have had rocks hit my windshields on my prior vehicles more times than I can count and I've always gotten lucky to not sustain any damage. Anyway, anyone have any suggestions on how to prevent this from getting any bigger? . I'm not so concerned about concealing it as much as I am from preventing it from getting worse. As I mentioned it's nearly impossible to notice so high on the windshield especially with the black Jeep grill logo at the top covering a lot of it.

Any good suggestions on how to prevent it from getting worse?
 
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#2 ·
Safelite or similar company will vacume inject a clear resin that will "freeze" it and diminish it quite a bit. Get on it quick though. Comprehensive (non-chargeable) part of your auto policy. They will probably wave your deductible for the repair And you retain your OE windshield.
 
#3 ·
Try getting one of those outfits like Safelite to fill the chip, maybe that will keep it from spreading.
 
#6 ·
My insurance covers it for free. Last week while towing my jeep I had a DB drift into the ditch in front of me tossing up rocks that chiped one spot on my truck and three spots on my jeep's windshield. Had a them filled Wensday and it didn't cost me a dime.
 
#7 ·
My insurance covers it for free. Last week while towing my jeep I had a DB drift into the ditch in front of me tossing up rocks that chiped one spot on my truck and three spots on my jeep's windshield. Had a them filled Wensday and it didn't cost me a dime.
Not unusual, a Repair saves them Hundreds.... My windshields in my Toyotas (4runner and fjcruiser) were about $1400.00 Each.
 
#8 ·
Windshield cips

My 2011 JK went through three windshields - all on the pavement! $@!! Pebbles
Left over from freeway resurfacing. State Farm told me no more windshields! Bought separate windshield insurance at time of purchase of my my 2015 JKU. Picked up the vehicle two weeks ago and within an hr. On the freeway a nasty pebble hit - large than a quarter, smaller than a half dollar but starting to run. I could have had the windshield replaced, but didn't want to break the seal on a new vehicle. I knew there would be more coming. Safelite worked on it - a small spider web is still present, but the run has stopped. I think Jeeps are susceptible for chips because of the upright windshield. I strongly recommend windshield insurance - the policy cost me $298.00.
 
#11 ·
if you get a chip like that cover it with tape as soon as can to keep the cracks clean that makes it easier more invisible when you get it repaired. oils/bug guts/dirt etc get into the little cracks and the chip repair is not as clear.
 
#13 ·
Im reading more and more about these nasty windshield chips especially on the newer JK's. Could it be the glass itself or just a turn a bad luck for many Jeepers? Had plenty of rocks hit my XJ windshield, almost scared for one to hit my JK now haha.
 
#14 ·
Had plenty of rocks hit my 2014 JK hard and none chipped or cracked it. Just bad luck on this one but I've gotten away my life of driving without a chip on any vehicle I've driven as I mentioned so if I can duplicate that the next 25 years I'll be good. : )
 
#15 ·
I've gone through 3 windshields in 6 months on my 14 jku in the New England winter. It seemed like one after the other. I also noticed a lot of rock chip damage to the nose of my hood. I bought a hood deflector, repainted the chips, replaced the last windshield, and for now I haven't had any more instances. I attribute the fairly straight nature of the windshield to all the damage. I think the little deflection from the hood now has taken the curse out of most of the rocks and my windshields are better protected. Just MHO.
 
#16 ·
I'm in the process of replacing my 2nd windshield in 6 months on my 2012 jeep. Rock thrown off the road put a web on it. Called insurance and safe lite but it took 5 days to be able to get an appointment at safe lite. By then it spread beyond repair. Now waiting a month for a new windshield. They say they don't have any in stock , they are on back order. I had a rock hit my 2005 jeep years ago and it took years to spread without getting a repair. I currently have a 2012 & 2015 wrangler. I have a feeling I'm going to be replacing a lot of windshields!
 
#17 ·
I hear ya. Got my first windshield crack from a rock ever on my JK back around February. Had many rocks hit other vehicle windshields and never a crack. Mines spread a little since I first got it, but holding off on replacing since it seems to be common issue on jeeps. Funny thing is I've gotten hit much much harder about three times since the initial crack all of which just bounced off...weird. Welcome to the club.
 
#20 ·
On my TJ, I finally was forced to replace the windshield so it would pass inspection here in Texas. 6 days after getting the new one, got a rock chip. Finally had to replace that one, and maybe a couple months later, another chip. Due to the angle, it probably won't get damaged in a hail storm, so we've got that going for us...
 
#22 ·
I remember similar threads when I had my Toyotas, It is quite possible the "trend" is thinner (more fragile) Glass. It certainly would fit into this "race to trim weight" direction that the Rule of unintended consequences seems to be fueling the car industry and the CAFE standards - Oh how I love when our "Nanny Govt" comes to save the day !!!

Politicians Definition: One who likes the smell of their own Farts, Believes everything they hear come out of their own mouth, Never held a real Job or was truly accountable for ANYTHING, Never signed the FRONT of a paycheck - Ever and Lives an entitled life untouched and unfettered by ANY of their own decisions that Effect Our Lives.

Oh, Windshields... Yeah and Ugly Light Bulbs, Toilets that don't flush, and Food Labels that make you feel like you just committed suicide by eating a cracker.
 
#23 ·
Get it fixed very quickly. Friday I got hit pretty good just to the left of my rear view mirror and it made about a 1" diameter spider web crack, but I was on my way out of town for a trip and couldn't get it fixed right then. As of now, it has spread all the way to the left edge of the windshield, the top edge of the windshield, and about 1-1.5 feet to the right of the crack. Completely unrepairable now.
 
#25 ·
I took your advice without even knowing it. I called safelite this morning and made an appointment. The guy came out with the safelite truck and repaired the chip/Spider web I had. It's quite a procedure. It took him just over an hour because he had to vacuum any dirt and moisture out then had to fill the spider Web area with a special power tool and thinner resin of some sort. He did the spider Web areas twice to get it filled fully. He then filled the small hole itself with a thicker resin. He applied a UV light to both areas after he was done with each. He said it's all filled and he doubts it will spread any further. I watched the entire process it took just over an hour.

Some insurance companies cover this repair fully... My insurance company doesn't, however, I do get a discount with my insurance so the total cost for everything was $50 and I have a lifetime warranty with safelite. It would of cost me just over $110 with everything without my insurance discount. I don't know what those self repair kits do in full but they definitely aren't nearly as detailed as what safelite does. I was impressed with the process and customer service.
 
#24 ·
Rule of thumb for a "Repair" is: Smaller than a dollar bill and not in the sweep of the driver side windshield wiper.
And as Ferret correctly states, Speed to repair is critical. I do everthing I can to keep my OE windshield.
 
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