Risk of Window Crack Escalating

tomsco on 05/09/2023 - 14:59
Last edited 05/09/2023 - 15:19 by 1 other user

Reently had our car at mechanics for over a week and they were doing some warranty work on it (2018 Carnival - auto door was playing up). Had a loaner car while they were working on it.

Go to pick up and there is a giant crack running down the windscreen. Spoke to one of the service staff and showed them and they said they would pass on and I'd hear from them tomorrow. In hindsight I wish I had pushed to return home with the loan car, but alas I didn't.

Called them today and it appears the message/urgency wasn't communicated. About to call them back - they've indicated me bringing it in to see the crack, but it's a 20 min drive on rural roads so mindful of that. They've also indicated any windscreen is to order, so seemed relucant on first call to commit loan car.

My concern with the size of the crack is that it may escalate very quickly, not to mention I would not be suprised for that to be classed unroadworthy. Basically putting the car off road until they resolve.

Just wanted to get some non-biased opinions on whether it would be fair that they should supply a loan car ASAP so we have a vehicle to use.

Poll Options

  • 7
    Do not drive unless necessary
  • 30
    OK to drive short distances
Automotive Car Kia Windshield

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 05/09/2023 - 15:02
    +2

    I wouldn’t risk it

    The repairers did the damage?

    • tomsco on 05/09/2023 - 15:03

      Done in their possession. I cannot say what specifically happened, but it wasn't there when I dropped it off last week.

  • try2bhelpful on 05/09/2023 - 15:15
    +1

    We had a warranty issue with an air conditioner that the dealer couldn’t find until they gave us a loaner car. We, basically, told them they wouldn’t get the loaner car back until the air con was fixed. Something that hadn’t been sorted for months was magically found, and repaired, in a couple of days. It does give them incentive to fix the problem.

    Do some googling on what constitutes road worthiness for the windscreen. If it isn’t road worthy say you need the loaner car to get around. They broke it they should fix it. In the meantime you need wheels.

    • tomsco on 06/09/2023 - 14:49

      Cheers.

      Yeah, I really wish I had thought of taking back the loan car as soon as I saw it.

      Looking at the CarExpert page, they state that if fractured or chipped within the area wiped by the windscreen wiper(s) to the extent that the driver’s vision is so impaired that the vehicle cannot be driven safely than it's unroadworthy. Vision not impaired, but I am very mindful of if I do need to use wipers - pushing at this angle.

  • Muzeeb on 05/09/2023 - 15:24
    +1

    I had a crack in my windscreen and it was going to take 2 weeks to get the replacement glass (regional location). I kept driving the car. If the cops pulled me over I was a just going to say it's on order.

  • Euphemistic on 05/09/2023 - 15:30
    +3

    It’ll be unroadworthy. It’s unlikely to catastrophically fail because windscreens are laminated and designed not to shatter into a million bits. It will probably grow, especially if you have cold frosty mornings and you crank up the heater on the windscreen.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/09/2023 - 15:53
      -1

      It will probably grow …

      ewwww …. grow what?

      • Euphemistic on 05/09/2023 - 16:46
        +1

        Weed normally.

        • [Deactivated] on 05/09/2023 - 18:49

          Not crack?

  • smurftastic on 05/09/2023 - 15:34

    Are you able to check with a glass repairer?
    I was on a car trip a few years ago, about a 5 hour drive from my home city when a truck kicked up a rock and hit my windscreen. It caused a single crack that spread across my windscreen pretty much from one side to the other. I called Windscreen O'Brien (part of insurance policy), they asked me a few questions about the crack and then told me that they would replace the windscreen it when I got home. I expressed concern that the windscreen would shatter, but they said that in this instance the windscreen would be fine and they are designed not to shatter.
    She did mention what situations it would be a problem to continue driving (e.g. if the crack was in a different direction or reaching a different point) but I cannot recall what the specifics were.
    We drove around for about a week like that, then the 5 hour drive home with no further issues, though that along smooth freeways.

  • Brian McGee on 05/09/2023 - 15:46

    When did the chip happen?

    I doubt they would've purposely thrown stones at the windscreen. If the chip was already there and they just happened to drive into a pothole that stressed the chip then thats unfortunate, but hardly their fault.

    Either way it needs a new windscreen and the car is technically unroadworthy.

    • Protractor on 05/09/2023 - 21:18

      The pothole would need to be like the Grand Canyon to develop from a chip and turn into that crack.
      Looks closer to a "drive by" wound ( any Harleys in the staff car-park?) or flying W/S tool (more likely) to me.

      • Brian McGee on 06/09/2023 - 07:38

        but it's a 20 min drive on rural roads so mindful of that

        So you are saying rural roads are billiard table smooth? OP knows the roads are terrible enough to make that comment, and anything could've kicked a rock up (bogans in lifted 4WDs, semi trailers dropping their fill, etc). And as far as I know there aren't many (any) flying tools in workshops.

        • Protractor on 06/09/2023 - 09:40

          Nope not making any claims about rural roads. It's a laminated windscreen. Once that crack reaches both end points unless they break the sound barrier its stability will remain for weeks or months.
          As for nothing flies in a workshop, have you never seen what a frustrated meth head or bad tempered moron can do with an object in their hand? Never seen a bearing collapse in a press? Never worked on and around laminated and hardened windscreens?
          My guess is the answer is no from you and no from the OP.
          But..
          It's a yes from me.
          The OP is convinced the damage occurred after drop off at the WS. That's what I'm basing my 'assumptions' on.
          BTW I think I drove with a cracked windscreen like that for months.You could drive for years if it wasn't for laws and the insurance fitting industry push to get laws based on "safety." (read $$$)
          https://metroautoglass.com.au/car-safety-glass-explained/
          Whatever delivered that chip and resultant crack would have been like a 303 slug if you were in the car when it hit.
          No way would OP have missed the noise.It would have scared the shit out of anyone.

          • Brian McGee on 06/09/2023 - 10:35

            @Protractor:

            Never seen a bearing collapse in a press?

            Bearings don't collapse in presses, they are either released or being pressed on. All the workshops I've ever WORKED in have been setup as not to have bearing presees, brake lathes, or any other type of dangerous machinery (welders, etc) located directly in front of a vehicle being serviced/repaired. They are in their own room or partitioned area away from the front of a vehicle.

            Never worked on and around laminated and hardened windscreens?

            Of course I've worked around laminated glass, everyone has. There's laminated glass everywhere, geeez.

            a frustrated meth head or bad tempered moron
            Does one want to share some personal demons? Worst I've seen is a couple of potheads falling asleep.

            You could drive for years if it wasn't for laws and the insurance fitting industry push to get laws based on "safety." (read $$$)

            Oh no, you're one of those people. The gummint's out ta get me

            would have been like a 303 slug

            And for normal people who don't adore guns, a .303 'slug' is released at 1850 feet per second, which equates to ~2030kph. I'm sure there'd me more than just a chip.

            • Protractor on 06/09/2023 - 10:50

              @Brian McGee: Oh no, you're one of those people. ? Nice pigeon hole you have there Bri Bri.

              Hate guns, not into conspiracies.Not all workshops operate like your perfect model
              Bearings indeed explode .Common enough when they are fused after seizing.
              (yep 'most' responsible fit for purpose WS mitigate that) But you'd have to be brave to EVER think 'most' WS trying to churn, don't take shortcuts. This forum is replete with the stories.
              So you've been lucky or led a sheltered life.

              Re the 303 slug, I was talking about how loud the sound of his chip would have been.No-one would have missed the event.
              You are ultra naive if you think there's no such thing as a drug user or bad tempered element in the workplace in 2023.
              Personal demons? Speak for yourself.
              I'm talking about being in workplaces and experiencing the behaviour of cretins like that.

    • tomsco on 06/09/2023 - 14:51

      At a previous attempt to fix the door, they damaged the panel. So this time, when repairing, they took it to a body shop to fix the panel. Assuming at this stage may have had a rock flick up at it.

  • JimB on 05/09/2023 - 16:13

    1 week for warranty work?

    When can they replace the windscreen and who's paying for it?

  • Protractor on 05/09/2023 - 17:27

    STEPS:
    (It's cracked, time for a new one)
    Book it into our preferred windscreen place, ring the car mechanic with the price etc and go to clumsy mechanics and get the money. Meantime, find a new mechanic.
    Stand up for yourself

    • tomsco on 06/09/2023 - 14:57

      They're claiming it happened on the way to a body shop (fixing previous panel damage from them) so going to give them the benefit of the doubt.

      They advise they have cameras going in and out (dealership workshop).

      Have committeed to fixing it for us, although they blame the bodyshop, it's now just a matter of timing.

      • Protractor on 06/09/2023 - 15:48

        Previous damage? Body shop? JH Christ
        You need to accelerate your learning process

        Let me guess, they can't / won't show you the footage

        • tomsco on 06/09/2023 - 18:10

          TBH the footage is irrelevant to me - they brought a car over and have taken our car until the windscreen arrives.

          Damage was minimal, on the rung (?) of the sliding door when they were working on it.

          • Protractor on 06/09/2023 - 19:45

            @tomsco: Sure-sure.
            So basically, your fear of "putting the car off the road till resolved" is now the chosen resolution?
            No worries. Looking fwd to the next dent saga courtesy your careful WS operators
            Happy travels. Thanks for the thread

  • franco cozzo on 05/09/2023 - 19:40
    -2

    yeah thats a pretty decent crack…try not to run into any animals & pedestrians in the meantime as its bound to go sooner rather than later

  • Protractor on 05/09/2023 - 21:14

    Looks like someone in the WShop spat it and flung a 15mm OER spanner at your car and cleaned up the windscreen. Or maybe a bit of shrapnel from a pinging bearing from the W/S press. Either way, you arrange to fix it where YOU choose, and demand they pay for it.
    Because they haven't just fessed up and worn it already tells me you need to change 'mechanics' cowboys.

  • capslock janitor on 05/09/2023 - 21:24
    +2

    they've indicated me bringing it in to see the crack,

    CAN'T THEY SEE THE PHOTO? ARE THEY DUMB

    https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MTY4MTk3NDQ5MDA2NTg5ODUz/b…

    • Mikefr on 06/09/2023 - 11:22
      +2

      The crack is bigger than I thought.

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