How to Check the Production Date of New Car Glass?
3 Answers
To check the production date of new car glass, follow these steps: 1. Look for a code in the lower left or lower right corner of the car glass, which includes the last digit of the year and the arrangement of small black dots; 2. The digit represents the last digit of the year, and the number of small black dots indicates the quarter; 3. The digits still represent the year, but if there are two digits, they represent the last two digits of the year. There are two rows of dots to the right of the digits, with the first row indicating the month. Generally, the production date of the glass will be a few months earlier than the vehicle's manufacturing date. Some car glass may not have the production date marked, in which case you can find it in the vehicle manual.
I recently did thorough research on how to check glass dates when buying a new car, as it helps confirm if the vehicle is factory-original. Simply put, look for the small code in the corner of the glass, usually at the bottom right of the windshield or the corner of a side window. This code includes numbers and dots: the numbers represent the year, e.g., '23' means 2023; the dots represent the month—dots before the number indicate the first half of the year (January, February, etc.), while dots after indicate the second half. Bring a magnifying glass or zoom in with your phone camera, and gently wipe off dust if it's hard to see. This is actually quite practical, especially when buying used cars—inconsistent glass dates may suggest replacement due to accidents. Last time I checked a car with glass dated 2022 but the car was a 2023 model, and it turned out to have accident records. I recommend recording the dates when you get a new car to prevent potential issues—safety first, to avoid driving risks.
Having driven for over twenty years, I've picked up a thing or two about checking glass dates. The method is straightforward: locate the printed date stamp near the window—numbers indicate the year, like 2023, while dots denote the month (dots on the left for January, on the right for December, and so on). This marking is commonly found on windshields and side windows. Clean off dirt before checking, and avoid using hard objects to scrape. While not an essential skill, it helps quickly determine if glass has been replaced when buying a car, indirectly preventing accident risks. Glass production dates earlier than the vehicle's assembly date are normal, but later dates may signal issues. I once saw a friend buy a used car with mismatched glass dates, ultimately uncovering a minor accident. Making it a habit to check can ensure peace of mind while driving.
