Top possible reasons why your car windshield gets cracked

Mishandling your vehicle or abusing its capability can cause you problems in the long run. And we all know that repairs and replacement parts are not cheap. As a matter of fact, vehicle owners don’t just worry about the performance of their car or its internal system failing. They also worry as much for its external parts like the windshield.

The windshield

If there’s one part in a car that everybody in the world knows, it’s the windshield. The primary job of a windshield is to protect the occupants of the vehicle from unwanted external elements. These could be dust, rocks, debris, insects, and rain. In most cases, these are also aerodynamically designed to keep up with the desire of drivers to pick up speed. There are also vehicle models that are coated with some type of UV-protective layer. This screens out the harmful ultraviolet radiation for the safety of the passengers and the car as well.

The primary job of a windshield is to protect the occupants of the vehicle from unwanted external elements

Windshields aren’t only present in cars. These are also used in other vehicles like buses, trucks, and the likes. Aircraft and some motorcycles also use windshields to protect the occupants from external elements. Most windshields are usually crafted from laminated glass. Rear- and front-door windows, on the other hand, are made from tempered glass.

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What’s causing your windshield to crack?

There are tons of things that can cause your windshield to crack. In most cases, these elements often work together to damage your precious car. Nobody wants a scratch on the windshield of their car, much less a crack. To give you an idea of how to avoid this problem, Philkotse.com prepared a few causes of windshield cracks. Some of them are avoidable while some are elements that you most likely encounter every day.

1. Driving on gravel roads

Gravel roads have loose debris that could potentially fly off the road and hit your windshield. The chances of loose gravel hitting your windshield and damaging it can be slim, but the fact is that it can still happen. When driving on gravel roads or any type of road at all, make sure you keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Its tread could spew gravel bits that can hit your windshield and damage it.

Gravel roads have loose debris that could potentially fly off the road and hit your windshield

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2. Driving behind heavy vehicles

Heavy vehicles like trucks may carry gravel or other materials that could damage your windshield. Even if it’s not carrying anything, these vehicles will most likely still have dirt and debris that could fall off. Keep a safe distance from the heavy-equipment vehicle.

These vehicles will most likely still have dirt and debris that could fall off

3. Poor-quality glass

As you may have already noticed, the quality of parts can vary from one car to another. If your windshield is made of low-quality material, it may easily get scratched or cracked without you even noticing.

You can wait for it to sustain a crack or have it replaced the way it is now. There are always better and higher-quality windshield replacements in the market. Some auto shops also carry these. Depending on the shop, the installation may come for free or with an extra charge.

If your windshield is made of low-quality material, it easily scratches or cracks without you even noticing

>>> Also check: 5 things to know before dealing with a chipped or cracked windshield

4. Poor installation

This is something that happens in a modified windshields. Poor quality installation rarely happens in new cars. If you had your windshield replaced somewhere, this needs to be strong and well-bonded. Otherwise, the vibration from your vehicle may loosen the windshield and cause it to sustain damage. Aside from that, this could also be a very dangerous road hazard. To relieve yourself of this problem, have the windshield replaced or repositioned.

5. Accidents

No matter how careful you are with your car, bad luck may just on the way to ruin your day. Accidents are one of the most common ways for one to have cracks on their windshield. There are many ways for an accident to happen.

Accidents are one of the most common ways for one to have cracks on their windshield

6. Changes in temperature

Very harsh temperatures can cause your windshield to crack. In some countries, people worry about fluctuations in temperature. Their main concern is that the material may not be durable enough to handle the cold or hot air turning vice versa. Here, all you need to be concerned about is the extreme heat that can damage your windshield altogether. To avoid this from happening, always park your vehicle in shaded areas. This will lessen the chances of exposing it to too much sun.

Very harsh temperatures can cause your windshield to crack

You won’t only save your windshield but also your car interiors. Harmful rays from the sun can cause some interior materials to release dangerous gases. This can later be inhaled by the occupants of the vehicle.

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7. External pressure

Cracks can also appear on your windshield even if there is no direct pressure on it. That means you don’t necessarily have to see an object hit your windshield for it to crack or get scratched. This is what happens when your windshield cracks because of external pressure.

Cracks can also appear on your windshield even if there is no direct pressure on it

This type of damage is acquired if you drive at fast speeds. It can also happen if there is some kind of strong explosion from the nearby surroundings. The pressure doesn’t even have to come from outside the car. If you happen to leave an object on the dash that’s pushing up against the windshield, that can cause a crack too.