You’re just driving along and all of a sudden a stone comes out of nowhere and leaves a chip in your windshield. While it’s upsetting because no one wants damage to their vehicle, in any way, a small chip does need to be looked at and isn’t something you should continue driving around with. You might be thinking that it’s just a small chip, not a big deal but here’s why you need to get it looked at.
It could grow
It might, for right now, just be a small little cosmetic chip in the windshield – you may not even notice it unless you really look for it. Any object that hits the windshield can compromise it in a number of different ways, so a small chip could cause a bigger chip or even a large crack as the vehicle is driven. Your windshield is exposed to the elements so as the weather heats and cools this will cause expansion and shrinking meaning if the glass is already compromised then it’s more likely to crack further.
It could obstruct your vision
Depending on where the stone, or debris, hit your windshield it could be right in the middle of your point of view. If you cannot see clearly then you’re risking the safety of yourself and any passengers you might ever have in your vehicle. A crack or chip in your windshield that is right in your point of view becomes a serious safety issue and that is definitely a reason to get it fixed as soon as possible.
It could compromise your vehicle
The engineering of your vehicle was designed with the assumption that all parts will not be damaged or otherwise compromised. With a chip or crack in your windshield the overall structural integrity of your vehicle may be an issue. If you were, unfortunately, in an accident with a chipped windshield the vehicle may not stand up the same way to a collision.
When windshields are built, they have this very thin and transparent piece of resin place over the glass piece. What this resin does is, if you’re in a collision, it will keep the glass from completely shattering and instead it will just come out in one piece, if impacted. If you have a chip, you can damage this resin and it could tear away from other parts of the windshield.
It’s an easy fix
If you have a small chip in your windshield, it’s potentially the easiest car fix you could ever have done (maybe besides a tire change). Many companies are offering a solution they inject into the windshield to fill in the chipped area and it’s as though you never even had the chip.
If you find you have a chip in your windshield and don’t feel comfortable driving it then you can contact a tow company to take your vehicle in to be repaired. There are companies that specialize in fixing windshields but most mechanic shops can help you out too. If you don’t feel safe driving, call us and we will make sure you get to where you need to be safely.
Up Next – A brief history of tow trucks