How to Check the Date on Car Glass?
3 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!
Just figured out how to read the manufacturing date on car windows, sharing with fellow car enthusiasts! Look for a dotted code in the corner of the windshield or side windows. For example, if you see 『·17·』, focus on the number 17 – it means the year 2017. The position of the small black dots determines the month: dots on the left side of the number indicate the first half of the year, with the number of dots representing the month (two dots mean February). Dots on the right side indicate the second half, calculated as month = 13 minus the number of dots (three dots mean October). Yesterday, while helping a friend inspect a used car, I noticed the driver's side window was marked 『7··』 while the passenger side showed 『·19』, instantly revealing the right side glass had been replaced. Such details are super practical during car inspections!
