What to Do When the Car Windshield Is Hit by a Stone?
3 Answers
The car windshield needs to be repaired if it is hit by a stone. The repair method is as follows: 1. First, purchase a repair kit from an automotive store or online, which usually includes a base, syringe, and other related accessories. 2. Clean the damaged area with alcohol and glass cleaner, removing any glass fragments and debris. After cleaning, use a hairdryer to dry and clean the area. If there are cracks, try to make the glass as smooth as possible. 3. Fix the base onto the damaged area of the glass, then inject the repair solution into the base until it is full. 4. After filling the base with the repair solution, insert the syringe into the base and move the piston back and forth to maintain a vacuum state for 10 minutes. 5. After 10 minutes, remove the piston, scrape off any excess adhesive from the rubber tip with a blade, and then let the repaired area dry under sunlight for 20-30 minutes.
Last time when a stone hit my windshield while driving, I got really nervous. I immediately slowed down, pulled over, and checked the size of the crack. It was only about the size of a small fingernail and located in the corner, so I thought it wasn't a big issue. I bought a windshield repair kit myself: first, I cleaned the glass surface with the included cleaner to ensure there was no dust, then injected resin to fill the crack, and finally used the small UV light that came with the kit to cure it for about half an hour. The result was great—it looked as good as new and only cost me around fifty or sixty yuan, saving me the hassle of going to a repair shop. However, if the crack extends to the edge of the glass or forms a star-shaped pattern, professional replacement is necessary. Safety comes first; otherwise, the glass is more prone to shattering under the pressure of high-speed driving or leaking during rain, which could affect visibility. I recommend checking with your insurance to see if the cost is covered—prevention is always better than regret. When driving daily, keep a safe distance from trucks and avoid areas with lots of sand and gravel.
When encountering a cracked windshield, my first instinct is usually to save some money. I bought a DIY repair kit to try it out: first, clean the cracked area thoroughly, leaving no dirt behind, then use the syringe from the kit to inject resin into the crack and slowly fill the gap. Cure it under sunlight or UV light for half an hour, and it's done. Small cracks repaired this way are almost invisible, saving the two or three hundred bucks you'd spend at a repair shop—simple and practical. However, if the crack is too large, say bigger than a coin, don't force it—you'll likely need to replace the glass, which could cost thousands. Check with your insurance company about the claims policy; comprehensive coverage or a low deductible can save you a lot. I usually keep a good distance from the car in front to avoid flying debris, especially around construction zones on highways. Repaired glass doesn’t lose its overall strength, but delaying repairs can worsen the damage, even increasing wind noise and reducing comfort—so fix it as soon as possible.
