1. Cracks Due to Objects Striking the Glass

1) How to determine if glass damage is due to objects striking the glass.

Cracks from objects striking the glass





Most windshield damage that occurs due to impact is easily identified as shown above.

Cracks can spread and become larger from the original strike point or crush mark due to:

^ Thermal stresses caused by temperature fluctuation

^ External physical stresses, such as hand touch, wind force, or vehicle vibration during driving (pot holes).

A lead, or crack from one of the star cracked impact points can run to the edge of the glass and appear to be a low stress crack starting from the glass outside edge.

Single crack beginning or ending at the edge of the glass

Single cracks must be inspected along the entire crack for impact marks.





^ If any impact mark is found anywhere along the crack, it indicates the damage occurred from an object striking the windshield. This is not covered under warranty.

^ A magnifying glass (10X magnification) must be used to identify impact marks that may be less than 1 mm in diameter.

NOTE:
A lead, or crack from an impact point can run to the edge of the glass and appear to be a low stress crack starting from the glass outside edge.

Compound crack beginning or ending at the edge of the glass





This type of crack is always caused by impact to the glass. The point of impact is located where the crack "branches out".

Cracks that are only in the middle of the glass





This type of crack does not begin or end at the edge of the glass.

^ These cracks are always caused by an impact to the glass and are not covered under warranty.