How to Check the Production Date of a Car Through the Glass?
4 Answers
You cannot check the production date of a car through the glass. The methods to check the production date of a car are as follows: 1. Engine compartment nameplate: The nameplate in the engine compartment contains information such as the car's serial number, engine displacement, model, brand, and production date. 2. Door frame nameplate: There is also a nameplate around the door frame of the driver's or passenger's compartment. You can verify the production date by comparing it with the nameplate in the engine compartment. 3. VIN number under the windshield: The 10th digit of the VIN number indicates the production date of the car, and each car has a unique VIN number.
A few days ago, my friend taught me how to read the date code on car glass, which is quite practical. You can find a small label, usually in the lower right corner of the windshield or side window, printed with numbers and dots, like "20·8". The two digits before the dot represent the last two digits of the year, e.g., 20 stands for 2020, and the digit after the dot is the month, so 8 means August. Different manufacturers might slightly adjust the format—some use dots to indicate weeks, with smaller digits (1 to 10) after the dot representing months. Why is this important? When buying a used car, checking if the glass is original and matching the date helps determine the car's age, and it’s also useful when replacing glass. Last time I went to the repair shop, the mechanic said inconsistent glass dates might indicate an accident, so it’s best to address it promptly to avoid safety risks from weakened glass while driving. I recommend checking it occasionally—taking a photo with your phone and comparing it to the manual will give more accurate results.
As a car enthusiast, I'm always curious about the little details on vehicles, like the glass date codes that are hidden in plain sight but often overlooked. The method is to look for small labels in the corners of the glass, where a combination of numbers and dots is a common format. For example, '19·3' represents glass produced in March 2019. The key is knowing how to interpret it: the digits before the dot indicate the year, and the two after represent the month. However, European cars might differ, with the digits after the dot indicating the week number, like '52' for the end of the year. This coding stems from safety standards, helping to track product batches for quick identification in case of recalls. When buying a used car, I often use it to verify the vehicle's history—glass that's too new might indicate replacement, hinting at potential accident risks. By the way, when cleaning the glass, a gentle wipe is enough to reveal the code; avoid pressing too hard to prevent scratches. Remember, the standardized format makes it easy to check production dates yourself, saving a trip to the repair shop for nothing.
When I first started learning to drive, I didn't understand the meaning of the codes on the glass. Now I know it's quite simple. When checking car glass, first look for small markings in the corners, like the bottom left or top right, which show numbers such as "21·5". The number before the dot indicates the year (21 means 2021), and the number after the dot is the month (May). Some cars use smaller numbers after the dot to represent the first few months of the year. You can easily look it up yourself—no need to pay for a shop consultation. Why is this important? Knowing the date helps avoid tricks like glass replacement when buying used cars. I often use this method to check my friends' cars, and it only takes two minutes.
