A cracked windshield often prompts drivers to seek quick solutions. Many consider common household items, such as super glue, hoping for a fast fix. This inclination stems from the adhesive’s reputation for strong bonding in various everyday repairs. The natural desire is to prevent the crack from spreading further and restore the windshield’s integrity without immediate professional intervention.
Why Super Glue Isn’t the Answer
Super glue, a cyanoacrylate adhesive, is unsuitable for repairing windshield cracks. Its cured state is rigid and brittle, lacking the flexibility needed for a vehicle’s dynamic environment. Windshields are designed to withstand constant vibrations, impacts, and significant thermal expansion and contraction, which a stiff adhesive cannot accommodate.
Automotive glass, particularly laminated safety glass, undergoes considerable expansion and contraction with temperature fluctuations. Super glue does not share the same coefficient of thermal expansion as glass, leading to stress concentrations within the bond. This difference can cause the adhesive to fail or exacerbate the existing crack as temperatures change. Exposure to sunlight, rain, and frost further degrades the glue over time.
Super glue often dries with poor optical clarity, leaving a cloudy, yellowish, or uneven residue that obstructs a driver’s vision. This visual distortion can create dangerous glare, especially in bright sunlight or at night, posing a safety hazard. The adhesive also fails to provide structural reinforcement to the windshield, a safety component of the vehicle’s design.
Applying super glue to a crack can contaminate the damaged area, making subsequent professional repair difficult. Professional auto glass technicians rely on specialized resins that require a clean channel to penetrate and bond with the glass. Dried super glue can block these channels, preventing the professional resin from effectively filling and curing the damage.
Effective Temporary Measures
While super glue is not a viable solution, drivers can take practical, short-term actions to mitigate further damage before professional repair. Applying clear packing tape over the crack or chip helps seal the damaged area from moisture, dirt, and debris. Ensuring the area is clean and dry before applying the tape helps create a better temporary seal.
For small chips, specialized over-the-counter DIY windshield repair kits are available. These kits contain a resin and an applicator designed to fill minor damage and prevent spreading. However, they are effective only for small chips or cracks, typically smaller than a quarter, and not comparable to professional services. Improper application can worsen the damage or impair visibility, making professional repair harder.
Avoiding sudden temperature changes is another important temporary measure to prevent cracks from spreading. Rapid temperature changes can stress the windshield, causing existing damage to worsen. Drivers should avoid blasting the defroster or air conditioner directly onto the damaged area. Parking in shaded areas minimizes direct sun exposure. Driving carefully and avoiding bumps can reduce stress on the windshield.
Professional Repair Options
For any windshield damage, consulting a professional auto glass technician is the most reliable course of action. Professionals assess the damage to determine if it qualifies for repair or requires replacement. Chips smaller than a quarter (one inch) and cracks shorter than three to six inches, not in the driver’s direct line of sight or near the edge, are candidates for repair. Damage that is deep, penetrates multiple layers of glass, or affects advanced driver-assistance system sensors typically requires replacement.
The professional repair process involves cleaning the damaged area, then injecting a specialized, high-quality resin into the chip or crack. This resin has a similar refractive index to glass and possesses the flexibility to withstand vehicle stresses. After injection, UV light cures the resin, hardening it and bonding it with the glass. This process restores the structural integrity of the windshield and improves optical clarity, often making the damage nearly invisible.
Choosing between repair and replacement depends on the extent and location of the damage. A repair, when feasible, is less expensive and quicker, taking 30 minutes to an hour. However, extensive damage, damage in the driver’s primary viewing area, or compromised structural integrity requires a full windshield replacement. A compromised windshield can reduce roof support in a rollover, impair airbag deployment, and increase occupant ejection risk during a collision.
Many automotive insurance policies, particularly those with comprehensive coverage, cover windshield repairs, often with a waived deductible. For replacements, a deductible usually applies, though some policies offer full glass coverage with no deductible. It is advisable to check with your insurance provider to understand your specific coverage and ensure repairs or replacements maintain the vehicle’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications for safety.