Windshield 'nick'

[NorthGeorgia]

Well....it happened.....my vehicle is only 2 months old and I've got a stone nick in the windshield. And yes the fingernail test indicates that it can be felt. Which means I guess cannot be rubbed out? I've read on the 'internet' that what I have cannot be fixed? I've had 'stars' in previous vehicles and did the 'epoxy' thing done by the pros; with mixed results. This one is only a nick but noticeable because it is kinda in 'eye shot view'.

Anyone had any luck with buffing or whatever?

 

[JExpedition07]

I always see those safelite commercials with some sort of injection before it gets bad

 

[mossback]

I had two rock chips in the first week I got mine. Brutal... but had them filled in and, while not totally gone, much better and won’t spread further. It’s important you get it filled right away, especially in cold weather, when the risk of cracking is increased. If possible I’d suggest finding a good local shop with someone who really cares about doing a good job.

 

[AllBoostNoEco]

Isn’t glass repair/replacement free in GA by law?
I had 3 different windshields (one crack and one large chip; the cracked one they replaced again because it had bubbles in the interior layer) on my F-150s replaced by Safelite because the service advisor said they were all unrepairable. No issues with their service or ease of getting it done, and insurance covered it all with no deductible.

 

[NorthGeorgia]

I think I need to clarify my situation. I don't really have a 'chip'. I have a 'nick'. What I have, I guess, are cosmetic? The stone, or whatever, left 3 'nicks' on the windshield. They are not deep; just can be felt (and seen). All the 'repairs' I see on the internet and at windshield repair websites show quite visible chips and 'stars'. Mine are cosmetic but visible and unfortunately in 'eye view'. By what I read.... polishing will leave an optical distortion. So I guess I'm stuck? I guess I would allow the windshield places to make a fix if it would cosmetically hide the 'NICKS'?

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

My daughter picked up a stone chip in her windshield on her 2007 Fusion a couple of weeks ago. We have 100% coverage on compensation claims. I called the insurance company the had Safelite call me, I told them that I wanted the windshield replaced. (it was ten years old and had lots of abrasion from years of driving. The Safelite guy looked at it and said he couldn't make the chip go completely away and that since the windshield was covered, he recommended replacing the windshield, so that's what I told him to do.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I think I need to clarify my situation. I don't really have a 'chip'. I have a 'nick'. What I have, I guess, are cosmetic? The stone, or whatever, left 3 'nicks' on the windshield. They are not deep; just can be felt (and seen). All the 'repairs' I see on the internet and at windshield repair websites show quite visible chips and 'stars'. Mine are cosmetic but visible and unfortunately in 'eye view'. By what I read.... polishing will leave an optical distortion. So I guess I'm stuck? I guess I would allow the windshield places to make a fix if it would cosmetically hide the 'NICKS'?

I think you are talking about chips, just very small ones. If you don't fill them they will eventually tear up your wiper blades. If your insurance will not cover replacing the windshield, then the best thing is to see if they can fill the deep abrasions and polish it smooth.

 

[Adieu]

How odd... my '09 hasn't got a single mark in what appears to be an original factory windshield with 175k miles on it

And I'm no stranger to chips, cracks, stars, and "sandblasts", my '11 bimmer's windshield was an utter disaster with more marks than I could count when I replaced it at 164k (8 cracks, 15+ unrepaired stars, ~10 repaired stars, and utterly pockmarked with sand damage)

I always just figured the height / material / design of the Ford's windshield made for inherently higher durability

 

[NorthGeorgia]

Being a 'geezer', in age, I think the windshields of yester-year did not nick as much as the newer ones? Maybe they did shatter, which is not good, but they didn't seem to nick or chip as easily??? I have had 'big' vehicles and 'smaller' vehicles these last few decades and the windshields on them all seem to have the same fault as compared to the olden' days vehicles.

 

[bobmbx]

Being a 'geezer', in age, I think the windshields of yester-year did not nick as much as the newer ones? Maybe they did shatter, which is not good, but they didn't seem to nick or chip as easily??? I have had 'big' vehicles and 'smaller' vehicles these last few decades and the windshields on them all seem to have the same fault as compared to the olden' days vehicles.

They are also made with a high percentage of recycled glass, which contains particles that makes your window seem dirty no matter how hard/often you clean it.

I had a brand new windshield installed on my Sport Trac and it was absolutely opaque with the right sun angle because of all the trash embedded in the glass.

 

[J Ski]

Well....it happened.....my vehicle is only 2 months old and I've got a stone nick in the windshield. And yes the fingernail test indicates that it can be felt. Which means I guess cannot be rubbed out? I've read on the 'internet' that what I have cannot be fixed? I've had 'stars' in previous vehicles and did the 'epoxy' thing done by the pros; with mixed results. This one is only a nick but noticeable because it is kinda in 'eye shot view'.

Anyone had any luck with buffing or whatever?

Have it filled or let it be. Not the last one you’ll get. It’s a vehicle that’s gonna get nicks and scratches and dents and chips. Can’t help it because it’s the front of the vehicle...

 

[Adieu]

They are also made with a high percentage of recycled glass, which contains particles that makes your window seem dirty no matter how hard/often you clean it.

I had a brand new windshield installed on my Sport Trac and it was absolutely opaque with the right sun angle because of all the trash embedded in the glass.

You shouldnt have accepted that one.

Safelite and the such let you inspect and OK or veto pre-install, you know??

 

[Plati]

I think I need to clarify my situation. I don't really have a 'chip'. I have a 'nick'. What I have, I guess, are cosmetic? The stone, or whatever, left 3 'nicks' on the windshield. They are not deep; just can be felt (and seen). All the 'repairs' I see on the internet and at windshield repair websites show quite visible chips and 'stars'. Mine are cosmetic but visible and unfortunately in 'eye view'. By what I read.... polishing will leave an optical distortion. So I guess I'm stuck? I guess I would allow the windshield places to make a fix if it would cosmetically hide the 'NICKS'?

I found a nick in my 03 windshield and called it in for repair. Then I looked around and found 6 more. Must have all been there for a while. Maybe years. I'm just letting them go. Insurance wouldn't do 7! All very small.

 

[rjdelp7]

I would not break the factory seal, for a "nick". A windshield claim, is still a claim. One more reason, for them to raise your rates. I had the repair done twice. Both times, the spot was barely noticeable. My dealers body shop, does it for free. Neither got any worse, so I say it works.

 

[JExpedition07]

How odd... my '09 hasn't got a single mark in what appears to be an original factory windshield with 175k miles on it

And I'm no stranger to chips, cracks, stars, and "sandblasts", my '11 bimmer's windshield was an utter disaster with more marks than I could count when I replaced it at 164k (8 cracks, 15+ unrepaired stars, ~10 repaired stars, and utterly pockmarked with sand damage)

I always just figured the height / material / design of the Ford's windshield made for inherently higher durability

My 07 is original as well.

 

[the bus]

Permatex has a nice kit to fix chips. It did a really nice job on my windshield. Take your time with the kit, I believe a doubled all the wait times between the steps to make sure all the bubbles were pulled out. I think Chris fix on you tube has a how to vid. For an annoying chip .. better than insurance claim imo.

 

[CyberVinnie]

I got a chip in the first few months of my ‘17 too but had it fixed right away (tip: DO NOT use your defrosters while waiting to get it fixed and keep it dry for 24-hours before the repair). Mine is better but fortunately not directly in my line of sight.

I think the OP should also try an epoxy repair even on a nick, just so it will be less visible.

There are films you can apply to new windshields to prevent nicks and pitting, so maybe next time I replace a wind shield I’ll give that a go.