NASCAR fans, NASCAR.com just put out a press release, “Don’t let your windshield crack under the strain”.

They state some of the very things I have been saying all along. Among the items, ” The windshield is a critical component of a cars safety system and needs extra special attention during winter months when extreme variations in temperature can make existing damage more severe.” They also state that by repairing chips on your windshield that you will be restoring the structural integrity of the windshield and prevent cracks.

Other things they state that I will quote.

• Do have chips in your windshield repaired before cold weather hits.
• Do gradually warm your car up in cold weather to prevent making chips in the windshield worsen to cracks.
• Do let your defroster partially thaw ice before using a scraper on your windshield.
• Don’t turn your cold car’s heat and fan settings to maximum in freezing temperatures.
• Don’t use hot water to defrost your car’s windshield.
• Don’t chop or stab at icy patches while using an ice scraper on your windshield.

They further cite safety as a reason to repair a windshield and that it is a “cost saving option”.

A news story out of Amarillo’s News 7, has more information on removing ice, while preventing a cracked windshield.

Need an ice scraper? Try a Texas or Oklahoma driver’s license. That’s one of the things mentioned in this story, Deicing windshields and myths, by Melissa Maeyer, that what she recommends.

Hot water is a no, no, it will crack or shatter your windshield or auto glass.

This story also implies that you should use something plastic, if you don’t have an ice scraper. I had one individual discover the hard way that even a piece of glass used to remove ice, will scratch a BMW windshield.

It also states that turning the defroster on high can crack a windshield. Another thing I would like to pass on is that even if you have an ice scraper, if you use it to hammer the ice off, you can crack your windshield.

If you would like to read this article click here: Deicing windshields and myths

I just found and read this article in the Lodi-Sentinel, from their staff; in Lodi CA: Helpful tips to prevent ice on your windshield.

It mentions one idea I gave earlier about using table salt to melt and remove ice from your windshield.

While I mentioned also that you can seriously scratch your windshield by using metal items like a kitchen spatula, they claim that a plastic spatula could work in a pinch. Being plastic they most likely are correct.

Also they mentioned that a credit card could be used. Talk about frozen credit.

Some other things to note. They state that by placing floor mats or cardboard over your windshield, that you could simply lift them off with the ice. I have known of some that have tried this only to find in the morning that the cardboard or floor mats were frozen to the windshield because water had gotten under them. Trash bags are also mentioned and it may work. That idea involves putting enough bags together with tape to stretch across your windshield and then holding them in place by closing them in the front doors.

Aquapel, Rain-X and other windshield treatments aren’t shown in this article, but experience has shown me that these products really work at helping to remove ice. My better half has informed we she won’t drive her car unless it has been treated. Their only draw back is that they must be applied on dry auto glass with temperatures above 50.

A word of caution is stated here also, not to use hot water or heat the windshield up fast as it could crack it. This would be very true if the windshield had a chip on it.

The whole article can be read by clicking here: Helpful tips to prevent ice on your windshield 

That last cold spell brought out the usual calls about suddenly having a cracked windshield. Many called stating that the crack was only an inch or two long, not knowing that the crack had extended through the black portion of the windshield to the edge. A number didn’t realize that they had a chip in the black area of the windshield until it was too late. That’s one reason why I say you should check your windshield each time you fuel and from the outside. There are areas on the windshield that can’t be seen from the inside.

That black area that is on the outside edge of the windshield is called a “frit”. No, its not there to hide chips until they crack out. To begin with it is a ceramic paint that is bonded to the inside portion of the windshield. It provides a surface for the adhesive that bonds your windshield to your car’s body. It also protects the adhesive from sun light. The ultraviolet light from the sun, the same thing that gives you a sunburn destroys the adhesive. The frit also provides a cosmetic improvement to your car or truck’s appearance. Otherwise since many vehicles anymore have little or no molding around the windshield, you would get to look at the adhesive.

The dotted area around some rear view mirrors is also made out of the ceramic paint. That is what is called a third visor. 

Windshield chips in the third visor and/or frit also need to be repaired. For a repair tech it does present a challenge because a chip is simply an air pocket that has been created. The biggest problem is the air pocket has a black discoloration, so the repair person is looking for a black spot on a black back ground.

An easy way to locate damage in the frit is to look for pits, which will show up as a white spot. If you locate a pit in the frit area, take a closer look to verify it doesn’t have a small crack or circular (bullseye) damage which is a chip.

By locating and repairing damage on your windshield you can easily save $150 or more. You also will be preserving the factory seal, meaning no leaks and the passenger side air bag will work properly in an accident.

The first winter storm has hit as the weather man predicted. Likewise the yearly rush to get the windshields repaired before hand. I think this rush was worse this year.

The consumer really needs to grasp the seriousness of a chipped windshield. By putting off the repair they risk a cracked windshield and the expense that goes with the replacement, along with the safety hazard.

In talking with a number of people it is very clear to me that many don’t understand why I say you should get your windshield repaired in a timely fashion.

• First is that it can crack out at anytime. The answer some have given me for not repairing their windshield right away; I’ll wait until it starts to move, is an invitation for a disaster. Once a chip begins to move, it can crack beyond repair in less than a second.
• The myth that a windshield won’t crack out unless it is cold is FALSE. I get just as many calls about a cracked windshield when it’s hot. It makes no difference whether the outside of the windshield is hot or cold, if the inside layer is the opposite temperature, the chip can and will crack out. Thermal shock is thermal shock.
• Understand that a chip is an air pocket, that each time the windshield gets wet, the chip gets filled with the liquid. When the liquid dries whatever was in the liquid “Stays Inside Your Chip”. The contaminates inside the chip can’t be removed, they can block passages and make a clear repair no longer possible. If you repeatedly fill a drinking glass with water and let it air dry, it will become discolored. The difference is rain water off the street that gets on your windshield, can contain almost anything.
• By procrastinating and waiting to the last minute before a winter storm arrives, can rob you of getting a repair that will help maintain your vehicle resale or trade in value. Understand that when you do this, you aren’t the only one. Further the ideal conditions to repair a windshield are temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees, besides being dry. Working in wet, cold conditions slows the process. If all the water isn’t removed before the resin is injected, means you just wasted your time and money.

One thing you can do besides repairing a chip in a timely fashion is to keep it clean. Cover the chip with clear tape, by placing it on the outside, over the chip. This keeps dirt and moisture out, for a stronger and better looking windshield repair.

With the freezing rain and sleet we have had here in Oklahoma City, I’ve already taken some calls about scratched windshields. It seems these individuals have had a layer of ice on their windshields and have not had an ice scraper.  That said they have grabbed what ever they could find; hey if it can remove ice it has to be OK. WRONG, now their windshield has lots of scratches, some so deep nothing can be done and replacement is the only answer to correct the problem.

Here is a list of items that people have told me they have used to clean ice off their windshield. They all have resulted in a scratched windshield or worse every glass on the car being severely scratched. Don’t use any of these.

• A Pocket, Putty or Kitchen Knife
• A Spatula
• A Pop Can
• A Glass Bottle
• A Spray Can
• A Screwdriver 
• A Piece of Metal
• A Coat Hanger
• A Shovel

Also, don’t pour hot water on your auto glass, it can shatter it instantly.

To further prevent damage, make sure your windshield wiper blades aren’t frozen to the windshield before you turn them on. If they are frozen to the glass and you turn them on, the rubber can be torn off and the metal blade will quickly destroy your windshield.

Tip: Use table salt if you don’t have an ice scraper. It’s the same product that is put on the roads to melt ice, except it’s much finer and has been sanitized. When combined with the defroster, it will remove ice. It may take a little longer, but you won’t have a scratched windshield.