Cracked Windshield

What's you insurance status? Some insurance companies will pay for the repair. With zero payment on your part.

 

I would go to a reputable shop and be guided by their recommendation. I would not attempt a DIY repair. They are the experts.

 

I'd be very surprised if that could be repaired instead of replaced, since the cracks have already propagated beyond the point of impact. As others have already said, don't bother trying the DIY repair.

 

I had a smaller one, though similar, to yours. My insurance company gave me a claim number and told me to call a company local to me. I called and within an hour, a guy showed up to repair the windshield. The guy didnt do a very thorough job (based on what I saw in a variety of youtube videos as I contemplated doing it myself). I think the guy spent all of 5 minutes, and 2 of those minutes was him getting all his tools ready.

As it is, the repair is hard to spot from the outside (in fact, I can never see it from the outside when I look for it), but it is visible from the inside. Its smaller than it was originally, but its there (can't unsee it once you see it). It never progressed any further. So I guess it worked.

I ultimately went the insurance company route because it was "free" and it'd be done "professionally". But after seeing the less than stellar work, I was thinking I should've just done it myself

I will also add that I watched a different repair guy fix my co-worker's windshield and he used some kind of pump/pressurized device (which I read is used to force the "goo" into all the crevices and cracks). The guy that came to fix my windshield didnt have or use such a device.

 

Have you asked your insurance if they would cover it? I had a $500 deductible and I got a rock chip fixed for free by my insurance.

 

I have used a kit similar to the Loctite one pictured with mixed success on several previous vehicles. The key is the use the kit as soon as possible after you notice the chip in the glass to prevent the crack from spreading and propagating.

Also, when you are applying the round disc to the glass around the chip, it is important not to use too much downward force around the chip. I learned the hard way that this will make the chip spread.

One thing you will have to realize is this repair kit won't make the glass 100%, but keep the chip from spreading and getting worse by filling in the void with the adhesive and prevent water from getting in there and expanding and contracting and making the damage worse than it already is. In other words, it won't make the chip disappear completely.

I hope this helps.

 

I had a dime-sized chip in my truck windshield repaired by Safelite this week. You can schedule the house call on Safelite AutoGlass® - Windshield Repair & Replacement. They claim to be able to repair most cracks smaller than a dollar bill in length. My insurance company (USAA) paid for the repair with no deductible. There is still a blemish there, but it's better than it was and they claim it will stop further expansion of the crack.

If your insurance company won't pay for it, I'd probably go the $30 route you describe. Then save for the $500 for a replacement if/when the crack goes full-bore.

 

you'll probably be fine.