Cracked windscreen

[Silenceisgolden]

I have just had the third windscreen in my MY2012 D4 crack after a tiny pebble hit the screen. The same with the previous two screens, virtually unmarked except for the crack.

Has anyone else had this problem? My Defender and both my Okas have huge chips out of them from BIG stones, but no cracking.

Both new screens were supplied and fitted by the dealer, presumably with OE screens.

Thanks for any comments.

[Plane Fixer]

If the stone hits down low near the wipers it will crack as I was told it is a weak point on the screen. This happened to me.
My remedy has been some clear polyurethane tape below the wipers and so far so good.

[Briar]

If the stone hits down low near the wipers it will crack as I was told it is a weak point on the screen. This happened to me.
My remedy has been some clear polyurethane tape below the wipers and so far so good.

I had a stone hit about 1cm from the bottom of screen below wiper. Very small stone, crack developed within an hour and ended up 1/3 of way across screen in a couple of weeks. Got replaced through insurance which was great but like the idea of protecting this area if it's a weak spot. Exactly what type/ brand of tape did you use to help out here. Interesting idea.

[scomac]

Doesn't matter where it is in my experience. Got hit with one in the D4 coming back from the Kimberley, 2 inches in on the passenger side. Two days ago got one smack bang in the middle of a brand new Ford transit van and now the crack is across the screen.
Cheers
Scott.

[BobD]

I had that with the original screen on the car. A large horizontal crack low down across the screen starting at a little chip near the middle.


I replaced it with an after market OptiCool screen a couple of years ago and this one has three large chips from blue metal flicked up by my son's muddies and a truck going the other way. After nearly a year they have not spread at all. I went to get them glued up because I was worried about the same thing happening but the windscreen guy said they were OK and not to worry about them.

[Silenceisgolden]

Thanks gents for the replies. So it seems that I made the wrong choice sticking with the OE screen. Excellent advice as always form the forum, I will try the Opticool next.
Thanks again,
Cheers, Paul

[Disco-tastic]

I thought the OEM was an Optikool screen?

[BobD]

You need an Optikool screen regardless of OEM or after market. You don't want the much cheaper plain laminated glass windscreen. It is just a name for a heat reducing windscreen, not a brand name. The one I have is a Chinese knock of that is much cheaper and doesn't crack! If I find a brand name I well post it. It was all the repairer could supply but has turned out great.

[jon3950]

Optikool is a Trade Mark of Pilkington, who supply the OEM screens:

Solar Control (http://www.pilkington.com/pilkington-information/about+pilkington/education/glass+in+vehicles/solar+control.htm)

Cheers,
Jon

[BobD]

I should have said that mine is an Optikool equivalent. The Chinese knock off uses the term Solar Control instead of Optikool. I can't really give a brand name but I had the choice of a normal windscreen or a Solar Control version at a significantly higher price when replacing my windscreen a few years ago now.


Sorry for the confusion but I was going on memory and wasn't near the car.

[Plane Fixer]

Briar
I simply had some clear tape left over from protecting an aircraft leading edge.
Try looking in Bunnings and there may be some clear or black tape which has some thickness. It only has to cover from the plenum rubber to just below the wipers which is approx 2". It is not seen from the drivers seat at all. The idea is that it will absorb a hit at the most vulnerable part of the screen which is below the wipers.
Cheers, Graeme

[Orangi]

NRMA said to me they will only replace the windscreen with an original if the car is less than three years old. Lucky I made it within the time frame. So I am getting Alto's at St Leonards to replace mine.

[Russrobe]

I had no dramas with mine. It had a stone crack the size of a 10c piece when i bought it. 2 months later i finnaly got around to getting Obrien to glue it and it's been fime ever since. Saw some chip repair stuff at BCF yesterday which i was tempted to get for long trips....

[Hugh Jars]

As a former glassie, I can reassure you there is no 'weak spot' in laminated automotive glass. It's just unlucky you took hits in the lower part of the screen.
What tends to spread cracks is body flex (don't know if these vehicles have any) which can increase loading on the glass. Urethane installs mitigate (to a small extent by its own flexibility) the transmission of twisting or flexing forces which may be encountered over rough ground or even speed humps :)

Toughened glass? That's an entirely different kettle of fish. Its weakest point is on the side edge. So don't go whacking the exposed edge of your open door windows with a sharp object now :D