Cheap windshield or just bad luck???

SlipperyPete · 05-31-2004, 09:38 PM

Well for the second time in so many months I've been the victim of an errant pebble. I had the first one fixed because it was in the lower left hand corner. Well the other day I was hit once again, and once again another star, this time in the middle lower section of the windshield. I was just going to get this one fixed too, however within two hours it's spread all the way to the bottom of the glass and about six inches higher.

Just curious now, since I've read of at least four others on this site have had their windshields replaced and several others have had them fixed, is this just really cheap glass or what? Of all the vehicle I've owned in the past, I've had to repair one other rock chip. I've had several pebbles bounce off before, but so far, never with the Titan. So it's either got to be the cheapest glass on the market or a terrible angle?

tomcattweek · 06-01-2004, 10:07 AM

I got hit this weekend on the freeway. It hit right at the bottom of the windshield and the crack went up about 6 inches and then went left about 4 inches.
For those of you who have had the windshield replaced, was it the same as the factory, i.e. did it have the black "silk screened" stuff by the rear view mirror? Also, does anyone know what that's for?

Bayou Titan · 06-01-2004, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomcattweek

I got hit this weekend on the freeway. It hit right at the bottom of the windshield and the crack went up about 6 inches and then went left about 4 inches.
For those of you who have had the windshield replaced, was it the same as the factory, i.e. did it have the black "silk screened" stuff by the rear view mirror? Also, does anyone know what that's for?

I was wondering that too. That black stuff around the rearview mirror and the perimeter of the glass is called several different things, shading for example. On my windshield, the dots were smeared when they were wet. It looks real bad; I can't wait until my windshield cracks so that I can get rid of that when the windshield gets repalced.

I didn't want Nissan to replace the winshield because the problem is only cosmetic and and I don't want to risk a leaking windshield or other problems just to fix a cosmetic problem.

Deepwater · 06-01-2004, 10:48 AM

I to also just got a chip in the windsheild. And hope that this is not going to be a problem. We will just have to see. I hope not, I really don't like them working on my truck! Some of these window shops have some real hacks working for them. I almost want to take off work and watch them do the install!

ski_freak · 06-01-2004, 10:59 AM

I'm guessing at the black spotted pattern around the rearview mirror. My guess is it helps to filter bright sunlight that is not blocked out by the sun visors. If you flip down the visors you will see the visors match the outline of the pattern. So my guess its to help filter out bright sunlight.

1Titan · 06-01-2004, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlipperyPete

Well for the second time in so many months I've been the victim of an errant pebble. I had the first one fixed because it was in the lower left hand corner. Well the other day I was hit once again, and once again another star, this time in the middle lower section of the windshield. I was just going to get this one fixed too, however within two hours it's spread all the way to the bottom of the glass and about six inches higher.

Just curious now, since I've read of at least four others on this site have had their windshields replaced and several others have had them fixed, is this just really cheap glass or what? Of all the vehicle I've owned in the past, I've had to repair one other rock chip. I've had several pebbles bounce off before, but so far, never with the Titan. So it's either got to be the cheapest glass on the market or a terrible angle?

Sorry to hear that! I was wondering would Nissan replace the windshield for such a problem? Or would they say something like that was an act of God! Normally when you get a chip such as you described then have it travel six inches higher takes a heck of a long time but 2 hrs!

SlipperyPete · 06-02-2004, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Titan

Sorry to hear that! I was wondering would Nissan replace the windshield for such a problem? Or would they say something like that was an act of God! Normally when you get a chip such as you described then have it travel six inches higher takes a heck of a long time but 2 hrs!

I'm sure they're going to say rock chips are a normal part of driving and that's what insurance is for, but yes, I'm going to ask. I realize you run the risk of getting chips but agree, it shouldn't crack like that. I'm not sure about replacing it either, will I just get another cheap piece of glass that I'll have to replace again in 2 months?

Bayou Titan · 06-02-2004, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlipperyPete

I'm sure they're going to say rock chips are a normal part of driving and that's what insurance is for, but yes, I'm going to ask. I realize you run the risk of getting chips but agree, it shouldn't crack like that. I'm not sure about replacing it either, will I just get another cheap piece of glass that I'll have to replace again in 2 months?

If you fear that the glass that Nissan uses is cheap, go ahead and replace it but make sure that whoever replaces it uses a glass from a different manufacturer. I think the Titan has Carlex glass; whoever replaces it will probably use different glass.

I can't tell from your profile where you live SlipperyPete but in the summertime with your windows rolled up, the heat can cause a small crack in your windshield to run "coast to coast" pretty quick.

SlipperyPete · 06-02-2004, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayou Titan

If you fear that the glass that Nissan uses is cheap, go ahead and replace it but make sure that whoever replaces it uses a glass from a different manufacturer. I think the Titan has Carlex glass; whoever replaces it will probably use different glass.

I can't tell from your profile where you live SlipperyPete but in the summertime with your windows rolled up, the heat can cause a small crack in your windshield to run "coast to coast" pretty quick.

This is good point, thanks Bayou. I'll see about getting a different manufacturer when I get it replaced and see if that makes a difference. And I live in the Midwest, IA-SD-NE area, but it was only in the low 80's, windy and cloudy when it cracked. Sure the heat inside the truck could have caused it, if it was cheap glass... Never seen this happen as quick in any other vehicle is all I'm saying.

Sportzfan · 06-02-2004, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomcattweek

For those of you who have had the windshield replaced, was it the same as the factory, i.e. did it have the black "silk screened" stuff by the rear view mirror? Also, does anyone know what that's for?

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]I had mine replaced about 7 weeks ago. The new one is identical to the original. The company I used came out to my work to do the install. I watched the entire process. It did take them two trips though. Since this was their first Titan, they did not know that the seal was not reusable. They called the local dealer to get one and there were not any available. It took two weeks to get one in.
They had a time removing the old glass. When they finally got it out it looked like it had been beat with a sledgehammer. The only negative was the small pieces of glass that remained in the truck. I went to the carwash and vacuumed it out.[/FONT]