Car washes keep your car looking like new. When you drive your own car, you want it to look spotlessly clean to the point where it impresses. However, if your car’s windshield gets cracked, you may find yourself at a crossroads, wondering whether it would be safe to get it washed.
Can You Get A Carwash With A Cracked Windshield?
Image via Flickr by NatalieMaynor
Technically, you can physically get your car washed if it has a cracked windshield, but it may not be in your best interest. Your car’s windshield is a glass sandwich—two sheets of glass with a layer of plastic laminated between them—which means there’s room for water or moisture to get inside. If you get your car washed, water can seep into the crack and get trapped, weakening the structure of the glass. Weakened glass is more likely to expand and warp, making the crack worse or causing the windshield to shatter.
Also, if you go through an automatic car wash, which uses high-pressure water jets, high-velocity rollers, and abrasive roller brushes, you could put too much pressure on your windshield. Applying that pressure could cause the crack to increase or break entirely.
What You Can Do With A Cracked Windshield
Here are a few things you can do if you have a cracked windshield:
- Measure the crack: If the crack is less than 12 inches long, the damage can be repaired instead of having to replace the entire windshield.
- Protect the crack against dirt: Dirt that gets trapped in a crack can make it more difficult to fix. Covering the crack with clear tape can help, but make sure the tape doesn’t obstruct your vision when you’re driving.
- Keep your vehicle out of the sun: Built-up heat can weaken the structure of your windshield and cause the crack to spread.
- Use a windshield repair kit: You can purchase authentic windshield repair kits at your local hardware stores. To use the kit, you need to bore a small hole into the top layer of your windshield using a 1/16-inch drill bit. Then, insert the specialized resin from the repair kit into the hole to seal the glass. If you do the job well, you can reduce stress on your windshield and prevent cracks from getting worse.
- Use a cleaner designed for glass: Whether or not your car’s windshield is cracked, you should use a glass cleaner specifically developed for your car’s windshield. Don’t use regular glass cleaner or dish soap on your windshield, as you may end up with a streaky mess. Regular glass cleaners, such as Windex, often contain ammonia, which can eat through any tinting you have on your car’s windshield.
- Apply clear nail polish or superglue: Before attempting to fill the crack, you should clean your car’s windshield with an auto glass cleaner. Then, apply a clear super glue or nail polish to the crack. Allow the glue or polish to dry for a couple of hours, and then place a piece of clear tape over the crack to help keep dirt out until you can have the damage fixed.
What You Can’t Do With A Cracked Windshield
Aside from avoiding car washes, there are a few other things you should never do if you have a cracked windshield. These include:
- Don’t drive your car if the crack is more than 12 inches: The larger the crack, the greater the chance that it will shatter unexpectedly. In some states, you need to replace your cracked windshield with a new one to pass your safety inspection. Driving with such a larger crack can be very dangerous.
- Don’t use your car’s heating vent: Glass expands in hot temperatures and contracts when it gets cold. If you direct your car’s heating vent to your cracked windshield in cold weather, this may cause the damage to grow abruptly.
- Don’t jolt your car: Any kind of extreme motion that would cause your car to jolt could cause more damage. From driving over bumps at high speeds to slamming your car door and trunk, avoid jolting your vehicle altogether. This small action could turn a small crack into a large one, which means a minor, inexpensive repair could turn into replacing the whole windshield.
- Don’t use your car’s defroster: With cold weather still lingering, you may have to use your car’s defroster in order to see out your windshield. But, heating a cold glass quickly can cause your windshield’s crack to spread, or even shatter your windshield completely. Instead, warm up your vehicle for about five minutes before turning your defroster on.
- Don’t use paper products: While tissues, paper towels, and other paper products are designed to clean up messes, they can leave behind dusty residue and particles when they are used on glass. This residue can settle in your car’s windshield cracks. And while a tissue or paper towel may seem soft, it was not designed to clean your car’s windshield and it can actually scratch the surface of the glass. Instead, use a microfiber towel that won’t leave behind a filmy residue or scratch your windshield.
When To Replace Your Cracked Windshield
As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to replace your car’s windshield if:
- The glass in not laminated
- The crack is longer than 12 inches or the size of a quarter
- The crack is large enough that it runs across a large area of your windshield
- The crack extends to the outside edge of your windshield
Get Your Cracked Windshield Repaired
When your car’s windshield gets cracked, you can have it inspected by an auto glass professional. Your local auto glass shop technician has the equipment, training, and expertise to get the windshield repairs done right. They can help you decide what’s the best solution for repairing your cracked windshield and get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Now that you have finished reading this guide, we at Panama City Toyota hope you’ve learned some of the risks associated with washing your vehicle if your windshield is cracked. If you have additional questions before you start washing your car, or if you are looking for a new or used Toyota vehicle, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can also visit us for a quick cracked windshield repair.
