I have a question about windshield damage on a 2003 Santa Fe.

I was driving home from work on the freeway yesterday, when a rock or piece
of concrete about the size of a golf ball came flying right at the middle of
my windshield. I wasn't behind a truck, or anywhere near an overpass or
where someone could have thrown it; it must have been picked up by someone's
tires. The result is about a three quarter inch diameter starburst in the
center of the windshield, about six inches from the bottom.



Can something like this be repaired, or at least kept from getting worse?
It's not in my line of vision, but I'm concerned that if I don't do anything
with it, the cracks will start spreading.



If this isn't fixable, about what's it going to run to get a new windshield
for a Santa Fe?



I'm going to call around some places tomorrow, but I was hoping to get some
unbiased information from someone not trying to sell me anything..



Any information would be appreciated.



Mike O.

 

If you have insurance then a repair is usually free,(If it is
repairable) a new windshield
is about $300-400, paid for by the insurance co. less any deductible.

I have had the misfortune to have two windshields on my 2001 Elantra
suffer from those flying rocks. Both cost me $50 deductible for a full
replacement. One of them could have been repaired for free, but for
$50 why take a chance?

 

I'm carrying a $500 deductable on my insurance, but still $400 isn't as high
as I thought.

The closest I've been to replacing a windshield was on Pontiac Transport
minivan years ago. We were going through a Shell station car wash and the
overhead brush was damaged and chewed up the windshield (and the hood)
pretty badly. The windshield was about $900, but the gas station paid for
the repairs.

Thanks for the info. I did some google searching and it looks like I would
have a shot at getting it repaired, definately beats paying for a new
windshield.

Do you know how quickly the cracks could spread? Is this something that I
need to take care of tomorrow, or should a week or so be ok?


Thanks again.

Mike O.

 

The type of damage you reported is covered by comprehensive, not
collision. Chances are the deductable on your comprehensive is lower.
You might want to check specifically about glass coverage, as it's
typically an option on auto policies and you may have it without knowing it.

 

Your comprehensive on your Auto Insurance should pay for this. Most
auto policies have a comprehensive insurance as part of the policy
unless you deleted it. If no insurance, then it all depends on the
size and type of break. There are companies that specialize in this
type of repair. it is relatively inexpensive. If you can't find a
company, ask any auto insurance man, they can direct you.

 

On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 04:36:54 GMT, "Mike O'Donnell"


..

On my first damage, it was about five days before the replacement and
the spot was still the same.

On the second incident there was a crack that travelled about six
inches from the impact site in about two days, so I suppose it will
vary.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I went ahead and had it taken care of today.
The $500 deductable I referred to was on the comprehensive coverage I have,
but I found out that the insurance company (Progressive), waives the
deductable on glass repairs. The main concern I had was whether it would
increase my rates next time I renew, but everyone I talked to (at the
insurance company and at Safelite Autoglass), said it shouldn't since I've
had no other claims.

I called Safelite about 10:00am this morning, and about 12:30 the truck
showed up at my work. It was pouring down rain at the time. I watched him
cover the damaged area with a 12" plastic dome, dry the windshield, and
start drilling and applying the glue. About 1/2 hour later he was done.
From some of the pictures/ads I found on the net, I was hoping the cracks
would be less visible; they still show as much as before he started, but at
least they won't spread, and it's near the bottom of the windshield, so it's
not in my line of sight.

If I hadn't made an insurance claim the cost was going to be $64, including
tax. Still a lot cheaper than a new windshield.

Mike O.

 

You should have gotten a rubber mallet and hit it till the crack worked its
way out, then you could've gotten a new window.

 

The highways and roadways do have random, miscellaneous gravel, tire
carcasses, glass, and so forth.

Sometimes, a truck will kick-up a rock, or drop something from its bed.

Both have gotten me.

These trucks--especially dump trucks--are often untagged, or the tags
aren't readable.

Hmmm. I vonder vhy?

Your own vehicle could kick up something like a tire carcas on the road
bed, and damage your vehicle. Ya don't believe it?

All the above have happened to us.

That's why they call it comprehensive insurance & collision insurance.

There was a highway death in the Atlanta area caused by a new
refrigerator that fell off a pick-up truck last year, and an unlucky
family was wiped-out by a muffler (or part) literally on I-75 south of
Atlanta within the past few years.

Shite happens.

The authorities--police & roadway administrators--have big fish to fry,
such as radar-aided revenue raisings and whatever the road
administrators do.

They don't seem to bother with cleaning-up parts of intersections of
stones, metal, and pieces of glass, and nevermind the same
pothole-place complaint I called in to them at least twice after
scraping there more than once after rains.