Auto Glass - breakage question

[captmello]

So I came out of the store, got into our '01 chrysler minivan, shut the door, BOOM. Rear glass shatters.

Anyone ever have something like that happen? It's been a little cool here in MN, maybe part of the problem?

 

[UnregisteredUser]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

In the past I have seen both weather extremes cause auto glass to break suddenly. That is the reason why I always leave the outside air control open on my heater/air controls.

Many of todays cars are pretty airtight even though there is usually a relief valve found inside of the truck or rear of the vehicle. The air pressure still has to maneuver through and around all the inside trim and panels before it can escape.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

Does it have a rear wiper? With a rear wiper or even without the rear glass picks up micro scratches and just gave way.

Seems to be common to have glass break in the winter here too. I bet I have been through 8 windshields in the last 15 yrs....... gotta love the sand and pebbles on the roads.

 

[DJ]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

So I came out of the store, got into our '01 chrysler minivan, shut the door, BOOM. Rear glass shatters.

Anyone ever have something like that happen? It's been a little cool here in MN, maybe part of the problem?

Yup, not uncommon at all.

I saw it happen BIG TIME once in Rapid City-So. Dak.

The temp. went from -10 to 60 above inside of one hour. Even store front windows were popping.

Any scratches, inperfections, etc. (as mentioned) in the glass will make it much more suseptible.

 

[arks]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

Check your insurance policy comprehensive coverage. Glass breakage is covered there. From past experience I've learned it's very cost-effective to have zero-deductible comp. It's something like an extra $30/year.

 

[jeffreyfrog]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

The air pressure still has to maneuver through and around all the inside trim and panels before it can escape.


az windshield

 

[rwise]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

yep quit common, see it all the time, you never get all the glass back out either,,,

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

Yep, somewhat common as others are mentioning.
It can happen to any vehicle. I know of a piece of bullet resistant glass that has cracked due to the extreme temperature changes we've had in Illinois lately!

The glass breaking is, of course, covered under your comprehensive policy, if you have comp coverage. Arks, not everyone's comp premiums are going to be the same. So for you $0 deductible on comp is $30/yr. But for me it would be $300/yr. Well, a windshield for my Impala is only $199, not worth it.

Mello, (and everyone else) if you didn't turn this in to your insurance company (but I highly doubt you are paying cash, especially when you found out what the glass will cost!), when you call a glass company for a price, don't tell them your insurance carrier, ask them for their "CASH PRICE". This should be the lowest price, by far. The only catch is that when they come install the glass you have to give them cash or a check!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

I haven't seen this in many years, but remember it happening to my parents car in the early 60s. We had a Ford Falcon station wagon (http://www.stationwagon.com/gallery/1962_Ford_Falcon.html), which suffered a shattered rear window during a winter time trip.

We were driving from St. Louis to Philadelphia and found the shattered glass one morning after spending the night in a hotel. My dad thought someone had tried to breal into it at first, but there were no signs of forced entry. There were no signs of damage to the body parts and no signs of an impact point in the glass - just a very evenly and totally shattered piece of glass.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

I would think that the force or impact of closing the door, rather than air pressure is the trigger that released the built up stress in that glass.
Two main factors in my experience. One is the tempering on those glass panels, second is the uneven stresses imparted by the rear window defrost grids.

I had an Olds wagon with the "frameless" glass rear window. Rear defogger grid had a couple of broken elements due to small scratches. LocTite has a product that you can use to repair the grids....comes in a container/applicator a bit like a nail polish bottle i.e. C/W brush.
Did the repair as per the instructions, did a quick test in the driveway after the drying period and all seemed fine.
First actual trip ( with the defroster on), after ~ 2 miles, was stopped at a light and there was a really loud bang and a bump that made me think I had been rear ended. Turns out that the rear glass had literally exploded...there were a couple of small pieces that had made it all the way to the FRONT Seat.
There had to be a LOT of stresses built up in that glass for it to let go with that much energy.

And re: insurance, I was about 3 blocks from an auto glass place....they had the glass, had an open bay....1/2 an hour and I was on my way, cost me $25- for the deductible paid to the glass shop, they dealt with the insurance company.

 

[captmello]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

Well thought I should update, seems like this is not uncommon.

I called the insurance co., they tried to steer me toward a glass company instead of a body shop because they weren't going to pay body shop hourly rates apparently. I've got a buddy who's a body man and told them I was bringing it to him, that he would accept their standard pay rates.

All went fine. Then I got a call from my buddy three weeks later saying I had to do a conference call with some third party that pays out the claims.
We did the call and all is well.

I felt a little bad that my buddy had to purchase the glass, install it for about 50 bucks labor in his heated shop and wait a month to be paid. I guess thats insurance work though.

For that money I'm suprised he would want that work.

Thanks for all the feedback!!

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

I have a buddy who owns a MAACO franchise and he subs all his glass work to a glass shop, as do many body shops. He says he gets better results 'cause the glass guys are always up-to-date on tools and techniques just on the volume they do, and their increased familiarity with glass repair....it is a specialty.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Auto Glass - breakage question

Well thought I should update, seems like this is not uncommon.

I called the insurance co., they tried to steer me toward a glass company instead of a body shop because they weren't going to pay body shop hourly rates apparently. I've got a buddy who's a body man and told them I was bringing it to him, that he would accept their standard pay rates.

If you were paying the bill, which would you rather pay, a flat $40 to a specialty glass shop, or 2.5hrs labor at $40-$55/hr to a body shop?

Expertise at a fair price is exactly why your insurance company "directed" you to a glass shop.