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I always blame it on the heat from the sun

sirusX:
I always blame it on the heat from the sun

so are saying now that heat is a factor leading to cracks?

dmgr:



so are saying now that heat is a factor leading to cracks?

A very big factor. From physics point of view. Glass is a very bad conductor of heat. When a car windscreen has been subjected to excessive heat and all of a sudden you start the car and turn on the ac, the rate at which the inner part of the glass is being cooled is not same as the outer part. Thus, the inner part of the glass contracts while the outer part still remains expanded, this non uniformity results in cracks.

python1:

A very big factor. From physics point of view. Glass is a very bad conductor of heat. When a car windscreen has been subjected to excessive heat and all of a sudden you start the car and turn on the ac, the rate at which the inner part of the glass is being cooled is not same as the outer part. Thus, the inner part of the glass contracts while the outer part still remains expanded, this non uniformity results in cracks.

Thanks for this

Top 6 reasons windscreens crack and chip

Windscreen cracks are one of the most common problems that car owners face.
Some windscreens don’t show any immediate signs of a chip or crack, but the next day, the crack may become lengthened across the entire screen and distort the driver’s view. Here is a list of the top causes of windscreen cracks and chips that every car owner should know about.


Extreme cold
Changes in temperature can expand and contract the windscreen continuously, so much so that small cracks appear on the length of the glass. Moisture can also cause large cracks to expand at a faster rate. If the inside air of the car registers 20 degrees Celsius and the outside temperature is 40 degrees, the glass contracts and causes distortion. This can happen, for instance, when and icy windscreen is defrosted using hot water. In fact, any small defect in the windscreen can cause chips or cracks.


Direct sunlight
Direct sunlight isn’t one of the most common causes of windscreen cracks, because we don’t very often experience extreme high temperatures in England, but when we do the intense heat can fracture the windscreen or distort the shape of the glass. To avoid this from happening, either park your car in the shade, or place a sun shade inside the car in order to block the direct sunlight from causing damage to your windscreen.


Stones and road debris
One of the most common causes of cracking in windscreens is little stones that are thrown in front of the driver. This happens when roads are under construction and have loose stones on the motorway, or big trucks are passing and drop little stones as they drive ahead. The stones bounce off the ground and hit the screens of cars behind car. In order to avoid this, it is important to reduce your speed, especially when another vehicle is overtaking. Remember that even the tiniest crack can easily expand, and before you know it, you will end up having to replace the entire screen.


Mother nature
Adverse weather is another cause of windscreen chips. Thunderstorms can blow the debris from the road and send them flying. Hail or chunks of ice can also hit your car’s glass and create chips. Hurricanes cause weather-related damage so it is advisable to avoid driving in a storm and park your car in the garage or a covered area in order to prevent it from getting damaged.

Structural weakness
Windscreens play a vital role in a vehicle’s safety systems. They support the roof in case of an accident, as well as deflect the airbags in the passenger side upon an accident. This is why windscreens are installed using a strong adhesive, however, structural pressure can cause them to crack. It also depends on the quality of the glass and the manufacturing process. When a glass is heated and then cooled down, the residual impact is often found along the perimeter. This is why the edges of the windscreens are always the weakest and more prone to breakage.

Direct impact
Direct impact is another likely cause of cracks. This is often unpredicted by the driver and most difficult to avoid. Accidents can happen at any time, and depending on how severe the crash is, your windscreen may get shattered or cracked as a result. Another direct impact can be from animals on the road. A flying bird or other wildlife hitting the car can be responsible for cracking your vehicle’s glass

Once you analyse your windscreen after driving on the motorway, you may come across small chips or splits on the glass. Not repairing a damaged glass right away can potentially work out more expensive later on. Although prevention is better than cure, there are times when you have done your absolute best to take preventative measures and something still damages your windscreen. If this happens, make sure you refer to an auto glass specialist immediately.

https://www.thewindscreenco.co.uk/news/top-6-reasons-windscreens-crack-and-chip/

Lovetinz:
Top 6 reasons windscreens crack and chip

Windscreen cracks are one of the most common problems that car owners face.
Some windscreens don’t show any immediate signs of a chip or crack, but the next day, the crack may become lengthened across the entire screen and distort the driver’s view. Here is a list of the top causes of windscreen cracks and chips that every car owner should know about.


Extreme cold
Changes in temperature can expand and contract the windscreen continuously, so much so that small cracks appear on the length of the glass. Moisture can also cause large cracks to expand at a faster rate. If the inside air of the car registers 20 degrees Celsius and the outside temperature is 40 degrees, the glass contracts and causes distortion. This can happen, for instance, when and icy windscreen is defrosted using hot water. In fact, any small defect in the windscreen can cause chips or cracks.


Direct sunlight
Direct sunlight isn’t one of the most common causes of windscreen cracks, because we don’t very often experience extreme high temperatures in England, but when we do the intense heat can fracture the windscreen or distort the shape of the glass. To avoid this from happening, either park your car in the shade, or place a sun shade inside the car in order to block the direct sunlight from causing damage to your windscreen.


Stones and road debris
One of the most common causes of cracking in windscreens is little stones that are thrown in front of the driver. This happens when roads are under construction and have loose stones on the motorway, or big trucks are passing and drop little stones as they drive ahead. The stones bounce off the ground and hit the screens of cars behind car. In order to avoid this, it is important to reduce your speed, especially when another vehicle is overtaking. Remember that even the tiniest crack can easily expand, and before you know it, you will end up having to replace the entire screen.


Mother nature
Adverse weather is another cause of windscreen chips. Thunderstorms can blow the debris from the road and send them flying. Hail or chunks of ice can also hit your car’s glass and create chips. Hurricanes cause weather-related damage so it is advisable to avoid driving in a storm and park your car in the garage or a covered area in order to prevent it from getting damaged.

Structural weakness
Windscreens play a vital role in a vehicle’s safety systems. They support the roof in case of an accident, as well as deflect the airbags in the passenger side upon an accident. This is why windscreens are installed using a strong adhesive, however, structural pressure can cause them to crack. It also depends on the quality of the glass and the manufacturing process. When a glass is heated and then cooled down, the residual impact is often found along the perimeter. This is why the edges of the windscreens are always the weakest and more prone to breakage.

Direct impact
Direct impact is another likely cause of cracks. This is often unpredicted by the driver and most difficult to avoid. Accidents can happen at any time, and depending on how severe the crash is, your windscreen may get shattered or cracked as a result. Another direct impact can be from animals on the road. A flying bird or other wildlife hitting the car can be responsible for cracking your vehicle’s glass

Once you analyse your windscreen after driving on the motorway, you may come across small chips or splits on the glass. Not repairing a damaged glass right away can potentially work out more expensive later on. Although prevention is better than cure, there are times when you have done your absolute best to take preventative measures and something still damages your windscreen. If this happens, make sure you refer to an auto glass specialist immediately.

https://www.thewindscreenco.co.uk/news/top-6-reasons-windscreens-crack-and-chip/

thanks for sharing

It's simple, when the weather is boiling hot and you are going to park your vehicle for long periods, don't fully wind 2 windows fully up (creating room for cross ventilation + heat escape channels)......

Lexusgs430:
It's simple, when the weather is boiling hot and you are going to park your vehicle for long periods, don't fully wind 2 windows fully up (creating room for cross ventilation + heat escape channels)......

This may depend on the volume of air in the car. For a large SUV it may not have that kind of effect. Also remember that cars with deep tint don't get as hot as cars without tint. Some car manufacturers double their glass while some don't. There are quite a number of variables and my advise would be for each person to research on the weakness of his car so he'd know how best to attend to it.
For fixing already cracked windshields, there a few quality service companies that will fix it in Lagos. If you're a DIYer, you could buy a kit off ebay.com or amazon.com and get the crack fixed.
Goodluck

ivoryhouse:

This may depend on the volume of air in the car. For a large SUV it may not have that kind of effect. Also remember that cars with deep tint don't get as hot as cars without tint. Some car manufacturers double their glass while some don't. There are quite a number of variables and my advise would be for each person to research on the weakness of his car so he'd know how best to attend to it.
For fixing already cracked windshields, there a few quality service companies that will fix it in Lagos. If you're a DIYer, you could buy a kit off ebay.com or amazon.com and get the crack fixed.
Goodluck

My window lowering technique is an effective way of saving cracks....