Window glass burst - Can this happen ?

prince_alex · 12th July 2006, 14:53

Yesterday night while I was driving back home I heard a blast like sound from behind my car . I immediately stopped my car and found that my driver side rear window glass is all cracked. To my knowledge no vehicle was passing by when this happened.

The road is also pretty wide hence i don't think sombody has thrown a stone at my window from the other side of the road.

Can this happen due to some sort of pressure build up inside the car, I always drive with all windows rolled up, vent closed and A/C on.

One of my friend also had a similar experience sometime back.

Its sad that I need to shell out 3K for the glass replacement ... in just a week after I got my Innova.

Note from the Team-BHP Support Staff : This topic has been moved to the appropriate section.

We thank you for your thread, and would appreciate you taking the effort to post in the correct section.

Wheeliej · 12th July 2006, 15:09

I havent heard of window glass breaking like this. Perhaps you can get it replaced under warranty. it is possible that it wasnt fitting properly in the 1st place and thats why it lasted only for 1 week.

diesel_headrock · 12th July 2006, 15:19

Dude, the same thing happened with me, only on a larger scale. I was driving at about 60 on a wide open road. Suddenly, heard this loud bang. Stopped my car immediately just to find out that my rear windshield had been cracked completely. For a second, I thought something fell on my car, rock or something. But later, I realised that if that would have happened it, would make a scratch on my hood also, as I was travelling in the forward direction, but nothing. Also there was no one single point where the cracks started. But it was al through out. The glass was transformed into a large number of tiny pieces. Luckily it was held by the thin film from inside as my relatives were inside. Consulted many car techniques. Everyone is telling me it was because of the A.C. I had actually parked my car in the hot sun in a mall for a good 3 hours and then, when I started it, within 10 minutes I switched on the A.C. as i thought it would be ok now. Then, after about half an hour it broke. I somehow couldn't believe them as I think our windshield glass is made to withstand all such situations, isn't it? Anyway, I had to spend Rs. 3,900 for the same. Since then, have been taking extra care about the A.C.

suman · 12th July 2006, 15:27

Happened in my Ikon last year - LOUD bang and then the rear windscreen disintegrated; was passing through Nehru Place, just before the flyover going towards GK. Slow moving traffic & no way that a stone from a car in front or the side could have caused that.

On subsequent examination after I got home, noticed a small hole like would have been caused by something travelling through the glass at high speed. Don't know what caused it, the workshop said it may have just been the age of the glass and perhaps a pellet or something had hit it, it was just the velocity or perhaps the angle......

sandeepmdas · 12th July 2006, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheeliej

it is possible that it wasnt fitting properly in the 1st place and thats why it lasted only for 1 week.

By all chance.

Could be a problem related to the channel/beadings that would have made the glass bent.

Perhaps it could be a problem with the glass itself. Microscopic cracks? It can happen if the annealing (Hardening glass by heat treatment) had gone awry. In that case, it could affect the entire batch of Innovas....

sumitkalindi · 12th July 2006, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandeepmdas

By all chance.

Could be a problem related to the channel/beadings that would have made the glass bent...

This seems to be the perfect explaination. Seems that the glass fitment itself was not perfect, and it was under stress. And it shattered due to vibrations putting extra stress on the glass.

sbasak · 12th July 2006, 20:27

Around 7-8 years back I witnessed this event. I was travelling in an Ambassador (taxi) at around 40 km/h - suddenly the entire windscreen cracked - fortunately the glasses didn't sprung to passenger cabin.

Honestly speaking, I didn't know why it happened. It was a non AC car - so there had been no sudden temperature change.

islero · 12th July 2006, 20:34

Is it some kind of stress damage or something: ie windscreen not fitted properly and under constant stress, that kinda thing?

Please forgive if this question sounds very stupid, but it is a genuine query.

varunroy · 12th July 2006, 21:07

Once while travelling on the highway I happen to follow a Truck laden with small jelly stones used in concrete. There were many such stone flying on all direction but nothing of a size that could cause damage to my car. Suddenly I just heard a loud bang and saw a nice bullet hole on the front windscreen. Later I found a small marble size stone that had wizzed past the wing screen with such force that it drilled a nice hole in it. I could only thank god that it didn't pass through the occupants of the car. So watch out while tailing such lorries.

What could have happened to prince_alex is that some stone lying on the road could have sprung up when the Tyre edge of an oncoming vehicle went over it. This would have come at a considerable speed and hit the window. Just a possibility..........

So long....

condor · 12th July 2006, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunroy

So watch out while tailing such lorries.

OT: Actually, need to watchout when following Any laden lorry - could be bags of onions, stones, anything .. the stuff can fall from the lorry, and he wouldnt even know. And there's no way one can ask / get them to own up for bad loading or the like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunroy

.. some stone lying on the road could have sprung up when the Tyre edge of an oncoming vehicle went over it. This would have come at a considerable speed and hit the window. Just a possibility..........

Very much possible. but had never thought that stones flying like this can cause so much damage. Thanks guys ..

Poseidon · 12th July 2006, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunroy

........some stone lying on the road could have sprung up when the Tyre edge of an oncoming vehicle went over it. This would have come at a considerable speed and hit the window. Just a possibility..........

More than a possibility. Its the most plausible explanation. My friend's rear door glass broke while travelling on a gravel road some time ago. He concluded it was flying gravel stones as they were already making a racket on the chassis before the glass burst.

Another friend traveling with his family in his 118NE saw to his horror, an urchin fling a medium-sized stone at his front wind screen. The projectile sailed through the cabin, missed the occupants, and exited through the rear screen. He was so badly shaken, didnt drive for a whole week..

Captain Pings · 12th July 2006, 23:27

Agree with above posts - built in stresses (owing to mis-alignment etc) ; thermal stresses and projectile damage are probably the leading causes in automobile windows cracking. (not in order)

I remember the winter of 2000 in delhi, after a particularly cold night, our Maruti 800 front windscreen had cracked up completely (at about 0800 when temperatures were starting to climb again) - and the very same night, the Air force Motor transport section had 5 different cat.s of vehicles (from vans to 6 Tonners) with similar damage.

The freakiest I've seen is the forward porthole (window) of a Gas Carrier (a ship carrying liquified glass) exploding during operations - the failure was attributed to a combination of fatigue, thermal stresses and structural stresses - fyg, the window was 14mm thick safety glass in a reinforced aluminum alloy frame. And I've never seen any ships glass crack like that before!

tsk1979 · 12th July 2006, 23:42

What about the rear defroster, was it on by any chance? In hot weather with AC on rear defroster can be a culprit. Some Indigo's also had this problem, luckily the member did not face much problem from Tata in getting the warranty.

varunroy · 14th July 2006, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor

OT: Actually, need to watchout when following Any laden lorry - could be bags of onions, stones, anything .. the stuff can fall from the lorry, and he wouldnt even know. And there's no way one can ask / get them to own up for bad loading or the like.

Condor, just reading about what you have written here sends a shiver down my spine and have goose pimples all over just now. While travelling to Mysore in my Sumo a few years back, somewhere near Maddur I was following a Tourist Bus at reasonably safe distance when suddenly I saw a Tender Coconut break from its bunch,(kept on the luggage carrier) fall a couple of feet before my car whizzed past my wind screen at great velocity and bouncing just over the roof of my car. I was so shaken that I lost control of my car and almost crashed out of the road. But thank GOD that it did not hit my car and more than that there was no other vehicle behind mine.

so long....

prince_alex · 17th July 2006, 19:53

thanks for all your comments

Got the glass replaced, cost of the glass Rs.900, while the sun film cost me Rs. 1000 !!

The service guy told me that this could have happened due to stone hit from the tyre, but I am not convinced.

12th July 2006, 14:53	#1
prince_alex BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: 0 Times	Window glass burst - Can this happen ? Yesterday night while I was driving back home I heard a blast like sound from behind my car . I immediately stopped my car and found that my driver side rear window glass is all cracked. To my knowledge no vehicle was passing by when this happened. The road is also pretty wide hence i don't think sombody has thrown a stone at my window from the other side of the road. Can this happen due to some sort of pressure build up inside the car, I always drive with all windows rolled up, vent closed and A/C on. One of my friend also had a similar experience sometime back. Its sad that I need to shell out 3K for the glass replacement ... in just a week after I got my Innova. Note from the Team-BHP Support Staff : This topic has been moved to the appropriate section. We thank you for your thread, and would appreciate you taking the effort to post in the correct section. Last edited by tsk1979 : 12th July 2006 at 23:40.
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 15:09	#2
Wheeliej BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 284 Thanked: 47 Times	I havent heard of window glass breaking like this. Perhaps you can get it replaced under warranty. it is possible that it wasnt fitting properly in the 1st place and thats why it lasted only for 1 week.
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 15:19	#3
diesel_headrock BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 147 Thanked: 5 Times	same situation. Dude, the same thing happened with me, only on a larger scale. I was driving at about 60 on a wide open road. Suddenly, heard this loud bang. Stopped my car immediately just to find out that my rear windshield had been cracked completely. For a second, I thought something fell on my car, rock or something. But later, I realised that if that would have happened it, would make a scratch on my hood also, as I was travelling in the forward direction, but nothing. Also there was no one single point where the cracks started. But it was al through out. The glass was transformed into a large number of tiny pieces. Luckily it was held by the thin film from inside as my relatives were inside. Consulted many car techniques. Everyone is telling me it was because of the A.C. I had actually parked my car in the hot sun in a mall for a good 3 hours and then, when I started it, within 10 minutes I switched on the A.C. as i thought it would be ok now. Then, after about half an hour it broke. I somehow couldn't believe them as I think our windshield glass is made to withstand all such situations, isn't it? Anyway, I had to spend Rs. 3,900 for the same. Since then, have been taking extra care about the A.C. Last edited by Aditya : 30th May 2022 at 17:45. Reason: Edited for readability
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 15:27	#4
suman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 4,589 Thanked: 279 Times View My Garage	Happened in my Ikon last year - LOUD bang and then the rear windscreen disintegrated; was passing through Nehru Place, just before the flyover going towards GK. Slow moving traffic & no way that a stone from a car in front or the side could have caused that. On subsequent examination after I got home, noticed a small hole like would have been caused by something travelling through the glass at high speed. Don't know what caused it, the workshop said it may have just been the age of the glass and perhaps a pellet or something had hit it, it was just the velocity or perhaps the angle......
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 20:27	#7
sbasak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CCU-LTN Posts: 608 Thanked: 14 Times	Around 7-8 years back I witnessed this event. I was travelling in an Ambassador (taxi) at around 40 km/h - suddenly the entire windscreen cracked - fortunately the glasses didn't sprung to passenger cabin. Honestly speaking, I didn't know why it happened. It was a non AC car - so there had been no sudden temperature change.
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 20:34	#8
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Is it some kind of stress damage or something: ie windscreen not fitted properly and under constant stress, that kinda thing? Please forgive if this question sounds very stupid, but it is a genuine query.
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 21:07	#9
varunroy BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 385 Thanked: 13 Times	Once while travelling on the highway I happen to follow a Truck laden with small jelly stones used in concrete. There were many such stone flying on all direction but nothing of a size that could cause damage to my car. Suddenly I just heard a loud bang and saw a nice bullet hole on the front windscreen. Later I found a small marble size stone that had wizzed past the wing screen with such force that it drilled a nice hole in it. I could only thank god that it didn't pass through the occupants of the car. So watch out while tailing such lorries. What could have happened to prince_alex is that some stone lying on the road could have sprung up when the Tyre edge of an oncoming vehicle went over it. This would have come at a considerable speed and hit the window. Just a possibility.......... So long....
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 23:27	#12
Captain Pings BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 61 Thanked: 3 Times View My Garage	Agree with above posts - built in stresses (owing to mis-alignment etc) ; thermal stresses and projectile damage are probably the leading causes in automobile windows cracking. (not in order) I remember the winter of 2000 in delhi, after a particularly cold night, our Maruti 800 front windscreen had cracked up completely (at about 0800 when temperatures were starting to climb again) - and the very same night, the Air force Motor transport section had 5 different cat.s of vehicles (from vans to 6 Tonners) with similar damage. The freakiest I've seen is the forward porthole (window) of a Gas Carrier (a ship carrying liquified glass) exploding during operations - the failure was attributed to a combination of fatigue, thermal stresses and structural stresses - fyg, the window was 14mm thick safety glass in a reinforced aluminum alloy frame. And I've never seen any ships glass crack like that before!
	() Thanks

12th July 2006, 23:42	#13
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	What about the rear defroster, was it on by any chance? In hot weather with AC on rear defroster can be a culprit. Some Indigo's also had this problem, luckily the member did not face much problem from Tata in getting the warranty.
	() Thanks

17th July 2006, 19:53	#15
prince_alex BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: 0 Times	thanks for all your comments Got the glass replaced, cost of the glass Rs.900, while the sun film cost me Rs. 1000 !! The service guy told me that this could have happened due to stone hit from the tyre, but I am not convinced.
	() Thanks