How to Read the Date on Car Glass?
3 Answers
To read the date on car glass, follow these steps: 1. The number on the glass represents the year. For example, '5' means it was produced in 2015. The black dots on the left side of the number indicate the production month. Dots on the left represent the first half of the year, while dots on the right represent the second half. 2. If the dots are on the left, subtract the number of dots from 7 to get the month. If the dots are on the right, subtract the number of dots from 13. 3. Information typically found on car glass includes: the car manufacturer, the glass manufacturer, the 3C certification mark, the safety certification code of the glass manufacturer, the code of the European Economic Commission member country that issued the non-mandatory standard certificate for automotive parts, and the product certification code.
Last time I helped a friend check a used car, I used this trick. Checking the glass date is actually quite simple. Look for that string of numbers with dots in the corner of the windshield or side window, like '··8'. The number represents the last digit of the year, for example, '8' means 2018. The key is to see how the dots are distributed: if the dots are on the left side of the number, it means the glass was produced in the first half of the year, and the specific month is calculated by subtracting the number of dots from 7. For example, two dots mean 7 minus 2 equals May. If the dots are on the right side, it means the second half of the year, and you subtract the number of dots from 13. For example, '8··' means 13 minus 2 equals November. Some newer models directly use labels like '2023.07', which is more straightforward. If the glass date differs significantly from the production date on the nameplate, it might indicate that the glass has been replaced. For older cars, pay extra attention to the clarity of the dots—if they're blurry, you might need a flashlight to find them carefully.
As a mechanic who works with cars every day, here's how to read the glass date. First, look for the small label on the edge of the glass, usually composed of black dots and numbers representing the year code. The position of the number determines the year, for example, '3' stands for 2023. The number of dots on the left and right is crucial: dots on the left indicate the month in the first half of the year (7 minus the number of dots), while dots on the right indicate the month in the second half (13 minus the number of dots). In practice, if you encounter a format like '·3·', don't panic—once the middle number is identified, calculate the front and back dots separately. Imported cars often have an additional certification mark box, with the date code located at the bottom right corner of the box. Also, a reminder: if the dates on the left and right windows differ by more than three months, there's an 80% chance of accident repair records. In regions with heavy winter snow and rapid wear, it's best to check these marks every six months.
