Windshield Chipped(ish - sorta) Fix it or Ignore?

[Wytchdctr]

Question to the mess that is below: Let someone attempt to fix it or just calm down?

I have read way to many posts about Ranger windshields cracking for no reason. Now mine might have a reason... maybe. Not a glass expert. Also, not in a state that requires insurance companies to replace broken windshields; don't want to end up paying for this later. Today on the way home from work I had something kicked up from an F150 I was passing. Whatever it was hit right in my line of sight. I now have a small chip in the outer layer of the windshield. Like; rice is bigger than this chip - pit - ding. I couldn't get a picture to upload because its.. tiny. From every angle I attempted; camera didn't pick it up enough to really see it. It is there for sure and I can feel it when I run a fingernail over the spot. So I know I am not that crazy.

Logic says its fine; i'll learn to ignore the small mark. It is annoying me currently.. but if it wont spread I will forget about it eventually.

Anxiety and reading about cracking for no reason tells me that when it gets to 105 degrees tomorrow I am going to see a crack running right across my line of sight.

Looking on glass forums / google... they seem to say the small chips like that, in one layer, are hard to fix and seem to be more for looks than any worry about it spreading. Something about them having to work the pit/chip/ding/whatever bigger at times to given the resin something to grab on. I am not sure if I want that to be a thing that happens. Especially after losing a windshield safelite fixed in the past that cracked after the fix. Also, not sure if I am right on it being in a single layer.

I am going to swing by a local windshield repair place tomorrow - but that seems like asking Firestone if I need an alignment or Autozone if my battery is good - Both are seem to always say its bad/needed/etc.


Not a good day for the Ranger; got battery low warnings from the app around lunch and later noticed paint peeling near the bottom of the drivers fender. I think I am going to blame the hottest August on record for Houston for both of those things.. windshield not so much. That was another Ford's fault.

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[9zero1790]

i would get the chip fixed. i had a chip that did not spread or anything for months. then one hot summer day i got back to the truck and it had spread all over. the sun reflecting off the cracked glass was a bitch.

 

[Joeiconic]

I had safelite fix a small crack in mine about a year and a half ago and it‘s still good.

 

[airline tech]

Yep, same that chip can last the life of the truck or poof and spread.
I had one spread just from pulling into a car wash bay, on a hot day - first hit with the wand and she went full length of the window. (CRAP) older car
and my car that was sold for the Ranger - still has the chip after 8 years, sold to Brother In Law
I did alot of hi-way driving back then and both cars sat low.
So, I got alot of rock dings on those cars.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Better safe than sorry - it’s worth the fix, even if just for your own peace of mind.

I think I recall someone else on the forum putting a piece of paper on one side of their windshield to take a picture of a chip.

 

[BS67]

I'd get it fixed. Sounds like a simple repair you can do in your driveway with a repair kit that costs about $12 from O'Reillys! Used this kit on 3 'dings' on my windshield already and all have worked great!

 

[MountainGoat]

Hmm maybe you could upgrade your auto insurance for glass replacement, just temporarily? Just throwing out a different idea.

 

[Wytchdctr]

I had safelite fix a small crack in mine about a year and a half ago and it‘s still good.

After their failed repair; avoiding them unless they are the only option.

 

[Wytchdctr]

Hmm maybe you could upgrade your auto insurance for glass replacement, just temporarily? Just throwing out a different idea.

Checked that before making the post. Not an option for USAA online anyway/in Texas(?). I might call them and see if its just not on a drop down for some weird reason.

 

[Wytchdctr]

Yep, same that chip can last the life of the truck or poof and spread.
I had one spread just from pulling into a car wash bay, on a hot day - first hit with the wand and she went full length of the window. (CRAP) older car
and my car that was sold for the Ranger - still has the chip after 8 years, sold to Brother In Law
I did alot of hi-way driving back then and both cars sat low.
So, I got alot of rock dings on those cars.

That is the sort of thing I am worried about, especially with it sitting right in my face. If it splits... that is a new windshield, law or no law behind it. That would drive me absolutely nuts.

 

[Friday yet?]

Checked that before making the post. Not an option for USAA online anyway/in Texas(?). I might call them and see if its just not on a drop down for some weird reason.

Weird. Used to have USAA when I lived in FL and had the glass replacement option. Must be a state by state thing.

I hate insurance.

 

[baybum10]

Fix it. The chip in my windshield was small and spread three weeks later. Cost for chip fix is probably much less than insurance deductible.

 

[JGF]

I had safelite fix a small crack in mine about a year and a half ago and it‘s still good.

Same here. No issues at all.

 

[9zero1790]

project farm did a chip repair show down recently. a diy didnt look too bad.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

I have a few tiny chips in my windshield and nothing has popped so far. There is also no guarantee with a chip fix service either. at the end of the day it may or may not crack so it really comes down to do you want to pay money now for something that may or may not be a non-issue?

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