How to Interpret the Small Dots on Glass Date Codes?
2 Answers
Numbers indicate the production year of the glass, representing the last digit of the year. If the small black dots are located before the number, subtract the count of dots from 7. If the dots appear after the number, subtract the dot count from 13.
When repairing cars, I often help people check the date dots on the glass. The method involves locating the code in the corner of the glass: usually, there's a number representing the last two digits of the year, such as 23 for 2023. Next to the number, there are small dots indicating the month—one dot for January, two dots for February, up to twelve dots for December. In practice, I clean the glass and use a magnifying glass to count the dots, ensuring an accurate determination of the production date. This marking is a standard design for all automotive glass, intended to track manufacturing dates and prevent forgery or repair fraud. From my experience, if the dots are unclear, cleaning off dust or adjusting the lighting may help. Remember, the location is usually at the lower right corner of the windshield or the edge of the side window, though it may vary by vehicle model, but the principle remains similar. Checking these dots is useful for maintenance and buying used cars, especially to avoid using outdated parts.
