Do I need a "glass exorcism" ?

Deschodt · 07:34 AM

I don't know what to make of this... I am averaging one windshield hit every 2 weeks so far this year... Sometimes it's just a scratch, but more often a bullseye or it's bad enough to require a new windshield...

My 2008 GTI is already on its 3rd windshield and 4th repair (6 incidents, majority this year!!!). The 911 has maybe 6 repairs in the last 2 years, and a new windshield since last month... The irony is that some colleagues commute on the same road as me and have no incidents to report... Just me... A few years back, my ex-boxster took 3 hits in 3 weeks !!! If it helps, street lights also seem to burn out as I drive under them, must be my magnetic personality at work !!! ;-)

I'm sure it's the interstate, trucks dumping stuff, and my early commute (before others sweep the rocks for me), but sh#$#$ ! I'm not following close, most of the time the rocks I can see come from another lane... Crazy... Any counterspells you can think of before my insurance dumps me ? (they have to fix this for free by FL law, but I bet they are hating me)

oldE · 02-26-2010, 04:33 AM

Greg,

How's your following distance?

I went through a similar period, years ago. Windshield chips all the time and the front edge of the hood was pitted.

I thought about it and made an effort to increase my following distance by 2 car lengths. Helped a lot. Your results may differ.

Good luck
Les

Deschodt · 02-26-2010, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldE

Greg,

How's your following distance?

Good luck
Les

The same it's been for 22 years ;-) I'm not a tailgater... Seriously, 90% of the time there isn't even a car in front of me in the left lane, the rocks come from the middle lane as I pass a truck or a car... Sometimes if the sun's coming up ( I commute around 6AM) I can see the stone do a graceful arc in the air as it comes and shatters my windshield - I don't even duck or flinch anymore... No, really, I need a counterspell or a deathrace2000 kinda car ! steel windshield !!!

Dueller · 02-26-2010, 06:29 AM

I'm almost convinced that the glass maufacturers are creating this problem...up until the mid-late 80's I never recalled windshields being so prone to crack/run/chip. Sometime in there it seems windshields became a maintenance item. Planned obsolesence?

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Sounds like a rash of bad luck, a little dance to the God Windex should fix that right up.

masraum · 02-26-2010, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I don't know what to make of this... I am averaging one windshield hit every 2 weeks so far this year... Sometimes it's just a scratch, but more often a bullseye or it's bad enough to require a new windshield...

You know that there's a kit that will fix bullseyes? Most of the windshield fixing places advertise that they can fix cracks as long as 12 inches.

I've fixed bullseyes and stars with the kits from the auto parts stores.

But then here in Texas, the Ins co isn't obligated to cover a windshield for free. We put in claims for 2 windshields in 2 different cars years ago. The claims were for fixing chips and were less than $100 each. A couple of years later, the Ins company included those claims when saying that we'd had too many claims so they were dropping us.

Deschodt · 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

You know that there's a kit that will fix bullseyes?

Oh, trust me, I know ;-) I also know Safelite mobile repair employees by their first name now... In FL glass claims are free and cannot be a reason to drop you. So I am VERY familiar with all the repair procedures, I let them repair 3 or 4 times and then I ask for a new windshield, generally...

But really, law or no law, I am thinking 10+glass claims per year cannot be good for staying with my insurance ;-) They'll find another reason to drop me ! I need to stop getting hit !