How to Check the Date on Car Glass?
2 Answers
Method to check the date on car glass: There is a code at the bottom left or right of the car window glass. The last or second last row contains a number and several small black dots, which indicate the production date of the glass. The number represents the last digit of the year, and the small black dots are used to determine the production month of the glass. Generally, the glass marking consists of a combination of graphics, numbers, and English letters, printed in the lower left corner of the glass, including information such as the car brand, glass brand, certification mark, glass type, and production date. If the dots are in front of the number, it indicates the first half of the year, calculated by subtracting the number of dots before the number from 7 to get the month; if the dots are behind the number, it indicates the second half of the year, calculated by subtracting the number of dots after the number from 13 to get the month. Some car glass date codes may also have a few small black star-shaped dots after the year and month code, which indicate the specific week of the month.
As a veteran mechanic with 20 years of experience, I'll teach you this little-known trick to decode the production date on car windows. Each glass panel has a code like "···8" in the corner—the number represents the last digit of the year (e.g., 8 means 2018). The key is the small black dots around the number: Dots before the digit indicate the first half of the year, where the month = 7 minus the number of dots (e.g., 3 dots means 7-3=April). Dots after the digit signify the second half, with the month = 13 minus the dot count. If you encounter a complex marking like "18·", don’t panic—just read it as "year-month" (e.g., July 2018). The glass date should always be earlier than the car's production date; if the glass is newer, be wary of a potential accident history!
