Show us your crack (windshields)

[Adam-Oz]

Not sure you need the Spanish Inquisition, object of certain size and mass traveling at speed hits almost flat & near vertical windscreen at 90 degree angle of impact and penetrates outer glass layer and contacts sandwich laminate film. Laminate flexes and prevents full penetration of object but impacts with inner glass layer which partially shatters. Random and highly unlikely but still statistically possible outcome.

I understand that this might seem like an odd fixation but having had dozens of windows hit and many, many cracks in similar situations and even worse (disco’s have a similar close to vertical windscreen) why has this situation resulted in a significant amount of glass shattering and spraying in my face (and all over). If your answer is correct then this wouldn’t be a first time occurrence for me given I have had worse happen to windscreens before. I am not a scientist or engineer but I do think it’s worthwhile to ask the questions because if nothing else it might prevent this from happening to someone else. There are any number of explanations possible here and many possible explanations would mean that it’s a one off occurrence. Happy if that’s the case.

 

[Shopkeep]

I understand that this might seem like an odd fixation but having had dozens of windows hit and many, many cracks in similar situations and even worse (disco’s have a similar close to vertical windscreen) why has this situation resulted in a significant amount of glass shattering and spraying in my face (and all over). If your answer is correct then this wouldn’t be a first time occurrence for me given I have had worse happen to windscreens before. I am not a scientist or engineer but I do think it’s worthwhile to ask the questions because if nothing else it might prevent this from happening to someone else. There are any number of explanations possible here and many possible explanations would mean that it’s a one off occurrence. Happy if that’s the case.

Fair enough. There are aftermarket windscreens available in Australia (specifically in QLD) from XYG, maybe ask the company tasked with replacing the windscreen to source this instead of the OEM Pilkington unit. I would think the XYG would be significantly lower in price than the Pilkington so it may happen by default anyway.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Not sure you need the Spanish Inquisition, object of certain size and mass traveling at speed hits almost flat & near vertical windscreen at 90 degree angle of impact and penetrates outer glass layer and contacts sandwich laminate film. Laminate flexes and prevents full penetration of object but impacts with inner glass layer which partially shatters. Random and highly unlikely but still statistically possible outcome.

C’mon now - first windshield strike in the world blowing glass into the cabin? And THIS group of clowns? Of COURSE we need the Spanish Inquisition!

 

[Adam-Oz]

Fair enough. There are aftermarket windscreens available in Australia (specifically in QLD) from XYG, maybe ask the company tasked with replacing the windscreen to source this instead of the OEM Pilkington unit. I would think the XYG would be significantly lower in price than the Pilkington so it may happen by default anyway.

Much appreciated for the heads up. Is XYG a Chinese brand? Never heard of it before.

 

[CRH]

Fair enough. There are aftermarket windscreens available in Australia (specifically in QLD) from XYG, maybe ask the company tasked with replacing the windscreen to source this instead of the OEM Pilkington unit. I would think the XYG would be significantly lower in price than the Pilkington so it may happen by default anyway.

Autoglass chappy who replaced my Abarth screen was saying that Pilkington aren't as good as they used to be

 

[Adam-Oz]

Autoglass chappy who replaced my Abarth screen was saying that Pilkington aren't as good as they used to be

Did he say why?

 

[MattA]

I think there are three simple questions worth considering in light of what I experienced.

1. What contributed to the glass shattering on the drivers side as a result of this impact.
2. Was the design parameters and performance specification of the front windscreen in line with what actually occurred.
3. Under what circumstances will this occurrence be repeated again? (Hopefully not something that happens to anyone)

You forgot the 4th question!!
Should you / all grenadier owners be wearing safety glasses while driving

 

[Shopkeep]

Much appreciated for the heads up. Is XYG a Chinese brand? Never heard of it before.

XYG is Xinyi Glass, massive Chinese glass manufacturer which has 12% of global float glass production capacity and 25% of the replacement windscreen market. Given the many issues with the Pilkington units and its exorbitant price the entry of XYG into the market is welcome news.

 

[Adam-Oz]

XYG is Xinyi Glass, massive Chinese glass manufacturer which has 12% of global float glass production capacity and 25% of the replacement windscreen market. Given the many issues with the Pilkington units and its exorbitant price the entry of XYG into the market is welcome news.

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated.

 

[CRH]

Did he say why?

Said they had been taken over, other than that, no

 

[Adam-Oz]

Worth a read

Asymmetrically strengthened glass

This was an interesting read.

What stuck out was one comment at the bottom which I have copied directly from the paost "THEY ARE MANUFACTUED BY PILKINGTON FOR THE OEM AND THEY ARE ALL DELAMINATING AS WE SPEAK. WE HAVE REPLACED MORE THAN A DOZEN FOR MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER THEY ARE STILL GETTING THE OEM WINDSHIELD WHICH IS STILL MADE BY PILKINGTON AND FITS TERRIBLY BECAUSE IT IS SO WAVY. MAYBE BOB IS ON TO SOMETHING IF THE INNER LAYER IS SOFTER MAYBE IT IS FLEXING A LITTLE WITH THE BODY MOVEMENT WHILE THE OUTSIDE IS NOT. OR THE CHEMICAL MAKE UP IS CAUSING THEM TO COME APART BECAUSE OF BONDING ISSUES. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE STAY AWAY FROM THE PILKINGTON WINDSHIELDS ALTHOUGH I THINK THEY ARE THE ONLY COMPANY MAKING IT."

The comment about the windscfreen being wavy got my attention because thats how it would describe mine becUAE I have had a terrible time with wiper blades (good quality new ones) skimming across the surface of my windscreen. It may just be conincidence I will see if I can find any dimensional qulaity issues with my windscreen.

 

[Jiman01]

I think there are three simple questions worth considering in light of what I experienced.

1. What contributed to the glass shattering on the drivers side as a result of this impact.
2. Was the design parameters and performance specification of the front windscreen in line with what actually occurred.
3. Under what circumstances will this occurrence be repeated again? (Hopefully not something that happens to anyone)

I’ve worked lots of accidents, and glass on the inside as you experienced is not uncommon if the windshield sustains a great enough impact. I’ve seen impacts from bird strikes, crap falling off the back of tractor trailers (ie bricks, pipes, tools, etc…), large pieces of steel belted rubber from an exploding tire, etc…all do this. It’s common to see the driver/passenger(s) with glass on them if there’s any glass damaged from the accident.

And then you have things that are more criminal, like baseball bats, axes, and gunshots that will all cause spalling.

IMHO as scary as glass might be to get in your eyes, breathing in the glass “dust” is much worse because if it enters your lungs, there's no way to get it out. Glass in your eye can be bad, but most of the time, not rubbing and washing your eye(s) with water will get it out.

I suppose there could be a manufacturing/design defect but considering the size of the bullesye and radial rings, it appears that the glass did it’s job.

 

[Adam-Oz]

I’ve worked lots of accidents, and glass on the inside as you experienced is not uncommon if the windshield sustains a great enough impact. I’ve seen impacts from bird strikes, crap falling off the back of tractor trailers (ie bricks, pipes, tools, etc…), large pieces of steel belted rubber from an exploding tire, etc…all do this. It’s common to see the driver/passenger(s) with glass on them if there’s any glass damaged from the accident.

And then you have things that are more criminal, like baseball bats, axes, and gunshots that will all cause spalling.

IMHO as scary as glass might be to get in your eyes, breathing in the glass “dust” is much worse because if it enters your lungs, there's no way to get it out. Glass in your eye can be bad, but most of the time, not rubbing and washing your eye(s) with water will get it out.

I suppose there could be a manufacturing/design defect but considering the size of the bullesye and radial rings, it appears that the glass did it’s job.

Thanks for your insights. Much appreciated.

 

[shiv.nandak]

I had the windshield replaced and a month later got another chip and a rapidly expanding crack. I don’t even tailgate. What is up with the low quality windshield from Ineos? It cannot be because it is vertical, i have never has a single chip in my previous cars. My wife has never had a chip either.

At $2400 replacement cost, my insurance is going to drop me at this pace. I also have to travel 4hrs away to the dealer each time.

 

[shiv.nandak]

This was an interesting read.

What stuck out was one comment at the bottom which I have copied directly from the paost "THEY ARE MANUFACTUED BY PILKINGTON FOR THE OEM AND THEY ARE ALL DELAMINATING AS WE SPEAK. WE HAVE REPLACED MORE THAN A DOZEN FOR MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER THEY ARE STILL GETTING THE OEM WINDSHIELD WHICH IS STILL MADE BY PILKINGTON AND FITS TERRIBLY BECAUSE IT IS SO WAVY. MAYBE BOB IS ON TO SOMETHING IF THE INNER LAYER IS SOFTER MAYBE IT IS FLEXING A LITTLE WITH THE BODY MOVEMENT WHILE THE OUTSIDE IS NOT. OR THE CHEMICAL MAKE UP IS CAUSING THEM TO COME APART BECAUSE OF BONDING ISSUES. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE STAY AWAY FROM THE PILKINGTON WINDSHIELDS ALTHOUGH I THINK THEY ARE THE ONLY COMPANY MAKING IT."

The comment about the windscfreen being wavy got my attention because thats how it would describe mine becUAE I have had a terrible time with wiper blades (good quality new ones) skimming across the surface of my windscreen. It may just be conincidence I will see if I can find any dimensional qulaity issues with my windscreen.

I had the wiper skipping issue just like you. At the time i believed the problem was the wiper blade, so i tried various different blades until i found something that worked. Try Denso 160-3116, the skipping will stop. My original windshield was also wavy.

 

[shiv.nandak]

Will insurance replace unlimited amount of windshields?

Yes, until they drop you

 

[nuclearbeef]

I think there are three simple questions worth considering in light of what I experienced.

1. What contributed to the glass shattering on the drivers side as a result of this impact.
2. Was the design parameters and performance specification of the front windscreen in line with what actually occurred.
3. Under what circumstances will this occurrence be repeated again? (Hopefully not something that happens to anyone)

I shattered a windshield from the inside with my head during an accident some time ago. I was picking glass shards out of my forehead for YEARS afterwards.

I learned after that incident that the inner interior facing layer of a windshield is glass, not plastic. Only the inner middle layer of the sandwich is plastic.
They could put another plastic layer on the inside of the windshield, but people did not like the reduced clarity and the possibility of scratching the plastic layer.

Also learned that windshield glass is never tempered.
IIRC this is because if tempered glass chips, it will shatter across the entire windshield, compromising visibility.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

I shattered a windshield from the inside with my head during an accident some time ago. I was picking glass shards out of my forehead for YEARS afterwards.

I learned after that incident that the inner interior facing layer of a windshield is glass, not plastic. Only the inner middle layer of the sandwich is plastic.
They could put another plastic layer on the inside of the windshield, but people did not like the reduced clarity and the possibility of scratching the plastic layer.

Also learned that windshield glass is never tempered.
IIRC this is because if tempered glass chips, it will shatter across the entire windshield, compromising visibility.

God damn Ineos… I have never had to be concerned with core windshield concerns through my adult life. Look at what this windshield deficiency has subjected us to… reading windshield design tradeoffs that i would otherwise could care less about

 

[CRH]

God damn Ineos… I have never had to be concerned with core windshield concerns through my adult life. Look at what this windshield deficiency has subjected us to… reading windshield design tradeoffs that i would otherwise could care less about

Is it Ineos or is it Pilkington, as they said at the beginning, they would use leaders in their field and we all would have assumed Pilkington would provide a quality product. Sadly not anymore

 

[Shopkeep]

Is it Ineos or is it Pilkington, as they said at the beginning, they would use leaders in their field and we all would have assumed Pilkington would provide a quality product. Sadly not anymore

Being a French made vehicle I wonder why they did not use Saint-Gobain Sekurit for the glass?