I noticed a stone chip in my windscreen a few days ago.  It's pretty much smack in my sightline but not very big - maybe ~2mm across, certainly no more - so not particularly distracting.  I took the car to Auto Windscreens to see what they could do about it.  The chap there said he couldn't repair it, AIUI because there was no way that he could get the resin to penetrate effectively (he suggested rather disparagingly that Halfords probably would try to fix it, even though he didn't think it was practical to do so).  He noted that there were no cracks emanating from it, and advised that he didn't regard it as risky in structural terms.

 

His recommendation was to leave it until the MoT and get it repaired if it's picked up then.

 

Does this seem reasonable?  I can monitor the chip between now MoT time (October) and get it looked at again if it appears to deteriorate e.g. cracks begin to form.  Are there any other steps I could/should take?

Is that who your Insurers say to use?

http://autowindscreens.co.uk

 

 

Personally if there is a £75 excess to have the screen replaced under your insurance i would be having it.

At least they have time to get in the correct screen and fitted to suit you.   Handier than if really cold weather comes and it breaks.

 

 

 

Edited 19 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

The older a chip gets the higher the risk of a repair not "taking" that is what Autoglass told me.

Why not just send a photo of the damage to autoglass. They will advise if the damage is repairable. I recently damaged my windscreen, see picture. Autoglass did a good job. Can hardly see the damage now and it passed mot.

37 minutes ago, Daveyeti said:

Why not just send a photo of the damage to autoglass.

 

Sorry, it was Autoglass that I took the car to, not Auto Windscreens (don't know where I got that from).

 

45 minutes ago, gumdrop said:

The older a chip gets the higher the risk of a repair not "taking" that is what Autoglass told me.

 

The chip is relatively recent.  The chap who looked at my car did not mention age as a reason why the chip could not be repaired.

 

2 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

Personally if there is a £75 excess to have the screen replaced under your insurance i would be having it.

 

With my insurer the excess is £115 😞

I have 2 nasty chips in my screen that happened within a few weeks of getting the car. Neither in a critical mot view area fortunately, indeed one is on the hatched area around the rear view mirror.

I decided to leave them until they failed completely, as each has short cracks radiating out, but 30 months on the screen has not got any worse.

Think I paid the £35 excess to Autoglass to have a stone chip repaired which 'was on the limit'. Sent the picture to Autoglass and they came round about a week later.  It was al fixed, with the proviso that if it does crack further then Autoglass will replace the heated windscreen free of charge and without an excess.  Has stayed good so far...

6 hours ago, ejstubbs said:

His recommendation was to leave it until the MoT and get it repaired if it's picked up then.

 

Does this seem reasonable?  I can monitor the chip between now MoT time (October) and get it looked at again if it appears to deteriorate e.g. cracks begin to form.  Are there any other steps I could/should take?

Seems reasonable to me. If it does start to crack, you will need to get it repaired while it is less than 10mm, otherwise replacement will be necessary for MOT. If replacement becomes necessary for some reason, leave it as late as possible before MOT. You never know when you might get another chip.

 

I had a chip on my screen, sort of line of vision, Auto windscreens said and tried to repair it FOC, the screen cracked more when the piece of kit was applied and curing started, they ended up up replacing my screen FOC  ---  I was well pleased!!

With the tighter MOT restrictions would it not be better to get it done now at your leisure,also you can usually decide the amount you pay for windscreen cover before choosing the insurance policy and insurers usually see if it’s repairable FOC to you before having the screen replaced.

I have a tiny surface only chip right in the drivers view, its tiny and is smaller than a bug splat or bit of dirt on the windscreen. I didn't even know it was there until I had an MOT. It came back as:

 

Quote

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):

• Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

 

Autoglass said they couldn't repair it. I've only had the car a year and I've had 3 stone chips already, one that was repaired two that are surface only (only one in drivers view). After 9 years with my previous car having only one this car seems like a stone magnet.

 

Will probably get it replaced before the next MOT.

I had a stone hit the screen, edge on, it left a jagged line of chips (VW Golf) the mobile screen chap took one look at it

and phoned it in as a replacement. I don't know what was said but a spring loaded centre punch was applied and

the screen split across the bottom. Screen replaced.

1 hour ago, Confused_Cheese said:

After 9 years with my previous car having only one this car seems like a stone magnet.

 

Totally agree. I love almost everything about the Yeti but the windscreen seems to chip if you so much as look at it! I read/was told once that heated screens are more prone to this than "normal" screens but I don't know if there is any truth in this or its just an urban myth. 

4 minutes ago, Paul52 said:

 

Totally agree. I love almost everything about the Yeti but the windscreen seems to chip if you so much as look at it! I read/was told once that heated screens are more prone to this than "normal" screens but I don't know if there is any truth in this or its just an urban myth. 

 

Mine's actually a Fabia III, I'm just forever lurking 🐱‍👤

I am sure it is the wires in the screen which has stopped the cracks around the chip extending?

This happened to my 245 last week70+ MPH and a large stone was thrown on the windscreen by a passing wagon going the other way.  It's around 7 Centi M long and 3 Centi M wide.

 

Passenger side. Made Mrs G jump........

 

New screen fitted tomorrow  with £75 excess 

15 hours ago, OldBoyScout said:

If replacement becomes necessary for some reason, leave it as late as possible before MOT.

 

My understanding is that one of the reasons why cracked screens need to be replaced is because the screen is a structural part of the vehicle, and having a sufficiently large crack in it will reduce the crashworthiness of the vehicle (even if you never plan to crash yourself, there's no guarantee that someone else won't have a different idea, involving you as an innocent third party).

 

So I'm afraid I'm not convinced that this particular piece of advice should be relied upon.

 

(Note that the chap at Autoglass told me explicitly that in his opinion my small, crack-free surface chip is not a structural risk.)

 

BTW, I have tried to photograph the chip on my windscreen, both with my phone camera and my digital compact, but so far with zero success.  Neither camera seems to be able to focus on it.

 

As for the comments about the Yeti being a stone magnet: I do seem to hear a worrying number of stone strikes these days, although only one has resulted in an actual chip to either screen or paintwork that I am aware of so far.  I suspect it's as much to do with the state of the roads (potholes generate a lot of loose gravel) as any particular type of car.

2 hours ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

This happened to my 245 last week70+ MPH and a large stone was thrown on the windscreen by a passing wagon going the other way.  It's around 7 Centi M long and 3 Centi M wide.

 

Passenger side. Made Mrs G jump........

 

New screen fitted tomorrow  with £75 excess 

Ouch.

1 hour ago, ejstubbs said:

 

My understanding is that one of the reasons why cracked screens need to be replaced is because the screen is a structural part of the vehicle, and having a sufficiently large crack in it will reduce the crashworthiness of the vehicle (even if you never plan to crash yourself, there's no guarantee that someone else won't have a different idea, involving you as an innocent third party).

 

So I'm afraid I'm not convinced that this particular piece of advice should be relied upon.

 

(Note that the chap at Autoglass told me explicitly that in his opinion my small, crack-free surface chip is not a structural risk.)

 

BTW, I have tried to photograph the chip on my windscreen, both with my phone camera and my digital compact, but so far with zero success.  Neither camera seems to be able to focus on it.

 

As for the comments about the Yeti being a stone magnet: I do seem to hear a worrying number of stone strikes these days, although only one has resulted in an actual chip to either screen or paintwork that I am aware of so far.  I suspect it's as much to do with the state of the roads (potholes generate a lot of loose gravel) as any particular type of car.

 

I think that the amount of stone derbies on the roads is the result of millions of pot holes. There is one near us and its about 9 inches deep and capable of swallowing a wheel and it's got red spray paint all around it so the authorities know about it. Its a disgrace tom be honest 

19 hours ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

This happened to my 245 last week70+ MPH and a large stone was thrown on the windscreen by a passing wagon going the other way.  It's around 7 Centi M long and 3 Centi M wide...

 

VG photograph of a totalled screen.  Not funny for Mrs G - glad she's OK.

20 hours ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

This happened to my 245 last week70+ MPH and a large stone was thrown on the windscreen by a passing wagon going the other way.  It's around 7 Centi M long and 3 Centi M wide.

Passenger side. Made Mrs G jump........

 

Can you imagine the consequences if that was a toughened screen 😯

2 hours ago, Brijo said:

VG photograph of a totalled screen.  Not funny for Mrs G - glad she's OK.

Mrs G is fine thank you Good job we had been shopping as I had to stop and get some wipes  and loo roll from the boot.    🧻

Car was in Yesterday for a new screen, took around 2 1/2 hours and included the Lane assist camera calibration.  Top job, you wouldn't't even know the screen had been replaced, looks Identical to the old one, Dash cam refitted, no glue showing, no scratches Highly recommended   " Auto Windscreens,  Hull "  👍

 

**  I have no connection to this company, I'm just sharing my experience with them **

14 minutes ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

Car was in Yesterday for a new screen, took around 2 1/2 hours and included the Lane assist camera calibration.  Top job, you wouldn't't even know the screen had been replaced, looks Identical to the old one, Dash cam refitted, no glue showing, no scratches Highly recommended   " Auto Windscreens,  Hull "  👍

 

**  I have no connection to this company, I'm just sharing my experience with them **

Who was the lane asst calibration done by,auto windscreens or dealer?

40 minutes ago, Sad555 said:

Who was the lane asst calibration done by,auto windscreens or dealer?

 

Auto Windscreens, on site 

 

Just to add, the housing for the Lane assist came bonded on the windscreen then it was just a case of fitting the camera into it, when the screen goes in it all fits into the inside trim.  Perfect fit, 

Edited 22 January, 20206 yr by Auric Goldfinger