Can You Go Through a Car Wash With a Cracked Windshield?

Ever find yourself behind a dump truck that suddenly hit a bump in the road and began throwing gravel, dirt, and trash out onto your car? That’s only one way to get a cracked windshield. Often it’s a rock kicked up from the road by the tires on the vehicle ahead of you that’s the culprit. Or it could be you parked too close to the baseball field and a stray foul ball is to blame.

The reasons go on and on. In fact, a cracked windshield is the most common insurance claim, so you can imagine the number of different reasons insurance companies hear. Regardless of how you cracked your windshield, you should know that taking your vehicle through a car wash with a cracked windshield is a no-no. Here’s why, along with a few other no-nos and some helpful advice about living with a cracked windshield and getting it fixed.

Windshield Facts

Image via Flickr by jamonitmack

First, you should understand that your windshield’s glass isn’t like other glass in your car or home or at the grocery store. It’s laminated glass. What that means is that it was manufactured as two layers of glass separated by a layer of plastic laminate. The reason for this is safety.

It’s safe to say that most people have seen glass break. You may have dropped a glass and seen it shatter or you could have dropped a storm window while putting in screens for the summer. Perhaps you were nearby when a neighborhood kid threw a ball through a window. Maybe you were that neighborhood kid.

Regardless of the circumstances, when glass breaks it does so spectacularly in most cases. Shards of glass go flying in all directions and sometimes people get hurt. Imagine if you were driving down the road and your windshield shattered, spraying you and your passengers with glass. Even if the glass didn’t hurt you, you would likely get in an accident due to the distraction it would cause.

That’s the reason for the inner plastic layer on your windshield. When an object strikes your windshield, the outer layer is usually the only layer that breaks. Even if the inner layer is damaged, the glass clings to the plastic laminate between the two layers, preventing a wholesale shattering that sprays glass everywhere.

Types of Windshield Damage

There are many ways your windshield can become damaged and compromised. A tiny pebble kicked up on the highway by a vehicle ahead can cause significant damage when you’re traveling at 65 mph or more. The result of a small pebble is usually only a tiny chip. You might not even notice it, which can be a problem of its own.

That tiny chip is now the weakest part of your windshield. Worse yet, the constant jarring motion created while driving can cause that chip to grow larger. In only a few days, that chip can turn into a crack. The crack might be half an inch but give it another week or month and the continued jarring will cause the crack to grow. It could grow in a straight line across your windshield or it could spiderweb in multiple directions.

A stray baseball will often cause a spiderweb effect upon impact. You’ll see a round indent in the center that has completely crushed the outer layer of your windshield. From there, you’ll see dozens of cracks spreading out from the center, with circular lines orbiting the point of impact. It looks very much like a spiderweb, hence the name.

Temperature can cause a windshield to crack all on its own. Glass will expand and contract in hot or cold weather and this can lead to cracking. It usually will start at the edge of your windshield. You’ll probably notice it on a cold, wintry morning when you return to your car after you’ve left it to warm up. Adding heat to cold glass is a recipe for cracking and damage.

Do’s and Don’ts With a Cracked Windshield

Number one on the list: Do not go through a car wash with a cracked windshield. The car wash uses water under high pressure to clean the dirt and grime from your car. This pressure can make cracks grow. You aren’t likely to get any water damage because of the plastic laminate between layers, but you could end up with a larger problem that could obstruct your view and further weaken your windshield. If you have to wash your car, do it by hand. Use your garden hose and a sponge, and have at it.

If you have a chip or crack in your windshield don’t use your defroster, at least right away. Obviously, in extremely cold weather you will need to use your defroster so you can keep your windshield clear. Just don’t start up your cold car with the defroster on. The added heat to the extremely cold glass could cause it to crack further. In fact, that is when it’s most likely to happen.

A good tip would be to start your car with the heat directed to the floor and vents, not the windshield. It’s better to wait until your car’s internal temperature warms up before directing heat to the windshield. The ambient heat inside the car allows for a more gradual heating of the windshield rather than a rapid change in temperature. This may not entirely avoid cracking, but it should help to limit it.

Avoiding bumpy roads is sound advice if your windshield is cracked. You may not be able to if you live down a dirt road. But if you have the option to avoid a pothole-ridden side street you should do so.

Get Your Windshield Fixed

The best advice is to get your windshield fixed right away. Most insurance plans cover your windshield’s replacement or repair at no cost to you, so don’t delay. At United Chevrolet Buick GMC, our service department is staffed with factory-trained professionals that know how to do the job right.

You can contact us today to see exactly how easy it is. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff can answer any questions and assist you with the claims process if necessary. Don’t let a small chip or crack turn into something more.