Scratched Windscreen

It's even worse when you're on a motorway that's been gritted, filthy spray everywhere and after some time, you suddenly run out of water - next squirt, nothing comes out and then the wipers smear the muck on the windscreen, with no way to get rid of it!

I wonder how long it'll be before some manufacturer goes back to the old system and sells it as a safety feature?

SteveW

Steve Walker gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

It also helps to prevent the windows from misting, too, since it warms the glass.

I've done it for years - and never had a problem, even on windscreens with stonechips and pre-existing cracks.

As I understand it you have the EU to thank for a ruling which makes that clause illegal and unenforceable. You have the right to go to whomever you choose but the cost (presumably to the insurance company) mustn't exceed that charged by AG. They're trying it on.

I seem to remember (but I've been wrong a lot recently) that it's all related to the ruling that stops manufacturers insisting that you have your car serviced at one of their garages or you void the warrantee.

Pre-existing cracks. ... That's what has prevented me doing this in recent years. For many years I would use 25 to 35 degrees C water to do the job straight from a kettle that horrified viewers with all the steam arising! But in those days did not have screens "magically" repaired.

Never used de-icer for the reasons others have mentioned. I've just got used to doing that which I don't like. Start the motor, full hot blower to the screen and rear heater on whilst the motor is running at tickover on cold oil. (Help!) that poor bl$$dy engine. How effective is that oil pump at a

I doubt that you do really? But, they certainly have downsides!

Too true! I hate these magic repairs and the uncertainty I have of the impact on premiums of claiming a new screen.

It'd be worth checking, but screens may not have to be declared when changing insurers?

SteveW

when ever I have done so it has had to have been declared, but experimenting with the quote systems it didn't seem to affect the premium (though I guess if you did it lots it might, but how often does a windscreen need replacing? - for me once in 30 years so far)

I think you may give insurance companies algorithms too much credit, and that they probably just work on total number of claims - in which case using up one of your "lives" to save a few pounds on a repair or not many more on a replacement may not be worthwhile.

Unless a proposal form says something like "you need not declare windscreen claims", I think you should declare it as a claim like any other, rather than hope they won't mind if they find out.

And I still fail to see how a drop of glue on an impact crater in a windscreen, no matter how applied, sucked in, or uv cured, is going to affect the stress concentration at the end of a crack. Aircraft manufacturers could save a fortune if only they had this magic glue.

I'm skeptical about the reinforcing properties of the treatment too but they certainly do fill up the crack and so prevent water ingress. Once there is water in there then freeze-thaw action will add lots of stress.

But don't aircraft have significantly higher stresses on their windscreens? 500mph v 100mph.

chris French gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

After a bloody great big thwack earlier today, I'll be phoning in the week to get a second new screen put into the Saab in two years...

I was thinking that deHavilland could have used it round Comet rivet holes if it's as good as Autoglass claim at stopping cracks from propogating.