Crack in new windscreen after 4 days!
Discussion
I had a new windscreen put in my 306 on Monday to replace the previous which had a 6" crack in it, caused by a stone chip which was subsequently poorly repaired.
Unfortunately, less than a week later, the brand new windscreen has a large (8-10") crack in it extending from below the scuttle cover up into the drivers view.
There is no stone chip or anything obvious that would have caused this (indeed, the car has only covered a few miles since) and the fact that it started below the scuttle cover indicates, to me at least, that the product is faulty.
I've phoned/emailed the company concerned but of course they are closed on a bank holiday.
The crack was not present when he finished the job and I signed to say the job was completed satisfactorily - because it was.
Will I have to fork out another £100 to replace it again or can I reasonably ask for t a FOC replacement due to faulty product??
Unfortunately, less than a week later, the brand new windscreen has a large (8-10") crack in it extending from below the scuttle cover up into the drivers view.
There is no stone chip or anything obvious that would have caused this (indeed, the car has only covered a few miles since) and the fact that it started below the scuttle cover indicates, to me at least, that the product is faulty.
I've phoned/emailed the company concerned but of course they are closed on a bank holiday.
The crack was not present when he finished the job and I signed to say the job was completed satisfactorily - because it was.
Will I have to fork out another £100 to replace it again or can I reasonably ask for t a FOC replacement due to faulty product??
I suspect poor workmanship by the fitter.
Having just had 2 new windscreens fitted by 2 different companies, both of which are very poor.
Expect to be given the run around by the windscreen company, like I am currently going through! Go back through your insurance company and get them to sort it. Don't expect a speedy result though.
Having just had 2 new windscreens fitted by 2 different companies, both of which are very poor.
Expect to be given the run around by the windscreen company, like I am currently going through! Go back through your insurance company and get them to sort it. Don't expect a speedy result though.
There are an alarming number of 'fitters' in the trade who will call 'stress crack' at times like these. While the possibility of stress fractures does exist, in my experience (19 years fitting windscreens and body glass) I have come to the conclusion that 99% of the causes of these 'stress cracks' are down to human error.
During those 19 years, I can put several breakages down to unknown cause but generally, the reason can be attributed to a shell/damage to edge of the glass; poor/unsuitable use of height blocks under/below the windscreen; over tightening of constituent parts such as trims, wiper cowl, moudlings etc.
ETA: there have also been a few shaping issues with some windscreens over the years
Depends on the car / style of fitting etc etc.
FWIW, the 306 windscreen should be sat on rubber blocks at the bottom; the wiper cowl has a recess which slots over the windscreen (bottom edge) and is designed to fit snug-up-tight to the bottom of the glass (and even to be used as some support against the glass sliding down as the polyurethane dries).
OP: feel free to give me a call / email if you'd like some more tips on what to look for / expect.
Happy to help.
During those 19 years, I can put several breakages down to unknown cause but generally, the reason can be attributed to a shell/damage to edge of the glass; poor/unsuitable use of height blocks under/below the windscreen; over tightening of constituent parts such as trims, wiper cowl, moudlings etc.
ETA: there have also been a few shaping issues with some windscreens over the years
Depends on the car / style of fitting etc etc.
FWIW, the 306 windscreen should be sat on rubber blocks at the bottom; the wiper cowl has a recess which slots over the windscreen (bottom edge) and is designed to fit snug-up-tight to the bottom of the glass (and even to be used as some support against the glass sliding down as the polyurethane dries).
OP: feel free to give me a call / email if you'd like some more tips on what to look for / expect.
Happy to help.
Edited by Glassman on Saturday 23 April 18:47
Hi Glassman. I was hoping you'd see this thread and reply 
I'll see what they have to say on Tuesday. I'll also take a picture of the crack, and there is absolutely no chips or marks - the screen looks brand new, which is hardly surprising as it's been fitted four days and covered a handful of miles! The crack is on the outer glass starting below the scuttle cover.
The screen cost me £105 inc VAT. It isn't a huge amount of money but I don't want to pay for it again if at all possible, and certainly don't want to pay again for it to crack once again if it is a fitting issue that might be repeated.
I'll see what they have to say on Tuesday. I'll also take a picture of the crack, and there is absolutely no chips or marks - the screen looks brand new, which is hardly surprising as it's been fitted four days and covered a handful of miles! The crack is on the outer glass starting below the scuttle cover.
The screen cost me £105 inc VAT. It isn't a huge amount of money but I don't want to pay for it again if at all possible, and certainly don't want to pay again for it to crack once again if it is a fitting issue that might be repeated.
Hmmmm funny you should post this. I had a new screen fitted last nov and about a week ago it was hit by something while on the motorway. Next morning a foot long crack had appearred that ran from the bottom edge of the screen through the tiniest mark where the something had hit the screen. Strange that the tiny mark at the bottom has made such as mess of the screen while other impacts at the top of the screen haven't .
I swear winscreens must be getting worse? I can't remember my parents ever having a crack or chip particularly, whereas Ive had one crack leading to a new screen, one chip repair a few weeks ago which has now chipped so badly I'm contemplating another new screen, and my mr2 has just developed a huge crack by the rear view mirror that will require s new screen too... I mean I know our roads have deteriorated, but really?!
When I had a new screen fitted in my first fiesta, a few days later, it started cracking (I think, can't remember exactly what it was because it was so long ago).
Took the car back and they were fine about replacing it, no extra cost, no trying to get out of it or anything. They just said that new screens sometimes do crack, whether that's true or not didn't bother me as they were replacing it anyway.
Took the car back and they were fine about replacing it, no extra cost, no trying to get out of it or anything. They just said that new screens sometimes do crack, whether that's true or not didn't bother me as they were replacing it anyway.
Acheron said:
Did they note the mileage on the paperwork? If so, avoid using it, so they cant acuse you of doing a few hundred motorway miles and blaming it on that or some sort of collision.
No, no mileage noted. It was replaced on Monday and I noticed the crack Friday am. I've been off work all week so it literally has only done a handful of miles.Funny you should mention this because I watched Auto Windscreens fitting a windscreen to a car last week - with the car sitting on a steeply sloping driveway..
When I had a screen replaced years ago, the fitter insisted on moving the car from our carpark because there was "hardly a flat spot in it" (it was paved but the paving was well knackered) - he ended-up doing the work on a local MOT station's HGV stand in the end...
No idea how much it matters, but once upon a time fitters were certainly pickier about the situations they'd work in - hell one of our company cars once spend 4 days in a dealer to get the screen changed (as they muttered about 'curing' or somesuch thing).
When I had a screen replaced years ago, the fitter insisted on moving the car from our carpark because there was "hardly a flat spot in it" (it was paved but the paving was well knackered) - he ended-up doing the work on a local MOT station's HGV stand in the end...
No idea how much it matters, but once upon a time fitters were certainly pickier about the situations they'd work in - hell one of our company cars once spend 4 days in a dealer to get the screen changed (as they muttered about 'curing' or somesuch thing).
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