windshield crack on newly purchased car – what should I do?

[rbracch]

Hi there,

Hi everyone, how’s it goin’? I was wondering if someone could give me some advice….yesterday (Monday 4/12) I purchased a used vehicle from an authorized Honda dealership, drove it home and then, about 2 hours later, noticed a front windshield crack – it is located about even with the rearview mirror and it’s total size is a little smaller than a penny. It is sort of hard to notice since it’s right near the spotted sun tint and behind the rearview mirror, which blocks it. It definitely didn’t happen on the ride home, as I had talk radio on low, and would have heard the cracking sound as the object hit. Now….I guess there’s a slight chance that it happened while I was in Dunkin’ Donuts for 15 minutes, where I stopped on the ride home. After Dunkin’ Donuts, I drove straight home, parked the car in my driveway for about 40 minutes, and then I drove to work (I noticed the crack right before I went into work.) I immediately called the dealership and informed them of the windshield crack. They said to bring it in and that they would have to inspect the car first, and then decide whether or not they will replace the windshield. I just spent $14,000 on this used car and I’m quite bummed out to see this crack. I guess that there’s a slight chance that it could have happened near Dunkin’ Donuts or in my driveway, but both spots seem highly unlikely as neither spots have a lot of trees around where an acorn or something could fall and hit, and in both spots I was parked with the front windshield facing away from the street side. I’m going to the dealership tomorrow, and I was hoping someone could give me some solid advice on what to say and expect from them? What would you do?

Thanks so much in advance,
rbracch

[Ray paulsen]

I would like to give you some answers prior to your return to the dealership and what to expect, but first answer this.

When you say you noticed a front windshield crack, is it a running crack, a bullseye with no hairline, or what is called a star break, meaning a bullseye with tiny hairline cracks ?

http://www.usedcartips.org/

[rbracch]

Thanks so much for your offer of help. Here are more details about the windshield crack – it appears to be closest to a “running crack”. It has about three or four “runs” from the center, which doesn’t seem to have much of a bullseye in the center at all. Also, it seems to be a strictly “internal crack”, because I ran my hand along both the inside and outside of the windshield, and both sides feel very smooth. If you need any more details, please let me know.

Thanks again,
rbracch

[Ray paulsen]

You say does not seem to have a bulls eye, it may be tiny but it does because something hit that spot and with time hairlines will appear and grow beyond control unless you get the bullseye repaired with liquid resin to prevent hairline.

I can't say 100% that the windshield damage was there prior to you taking delivery, but my thoughts are it was, because here is what happens in most cases that I am sure we have all experienced one time or another.

You're driving along the hwy most likely behind a truck, something hits your windshield, most likely a stone, if you are unlucky what is called a tiny bullseye will appear, and if not repaired with time can spread starting with tiny hairlines that cannot be repaired in most cases once they go beyond a few mm.

In your case you mention 3 to 4 runs from centre, tells me it was there most likely prior to you taking delivery, it's like a cancer, if the hairlines have not spread to far the dealer can have them sealed for a cost less than $50.

give us an update after your visit to the dealership.

[rbracch]

Hi Ray,

Thanks again for the input. I'll keep ya updated.

Take care,
rbracch