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Heated Screens Cracking?

2haw

2haw

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VIP Member
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1,728
Location
Essex
Vehicle
T6.1 Ocean 150
Hello,

I’ve now had 6 VW vans in total and only the last 2 have had heated windscreens, which have both now cracked in their first year.

I’ve only had 3 windscreens crack on me in over 30 years of driving and now had 2 in the last 6 months!

Anyone else had a heated screen crack as I’m wondering if they are weaker than the standard windscreen or have I just been unlucky?
 
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2haw said:
Hello,

I’ve now had 6 VW vans in total and only the last 2 have had heated windscreens, which have both now cracked in their first year.

I’ve only had 3 windscreens crack on me in over 30 years of driving and now had 2 in the last 6 months!

Anyone else had a heated screen crack as I’m wondering if they are weaker than the standard windscreen or have I just been unlucky?
Click to expand...
I’ve only had one crack after a large stone impact at high speed.
Replacement was OEM.
No issues at all with the heated screen in nearly 6 years Of use.
I like the heated screen
 
Perfectos said:
I’ve only had one crack after a large stone impact at high speed.
Replacement was OEM.
No issues at all with the heated screen in nearly 6 years Of use.
I like the heated screen
Click to expand...
I like the heated screen, just gutted another one has cracked on me. Only a small stone about 4 inches from the edge. I guess I must just be unlucky.
 
2haw said:
I like the heated screen, just gutted another one has cracked on me. Only a small stone about 4 inches from the edge. I guess I must just be unlucky.
Click to expand...
That’s the problem with modern Bonded screens, any damage becomes a weak point, particularly as the glass is part of the rigid structure of the vehicle.


My wifed car, no heated screen, had a stone chip in the windscreen, the screen company broke it whilst trying to “repair“ the chip ! They had said I could break whilst repairing !

once a screen has been damaged it’s compromised structurally.
Temperature Change, structural flex, heat from one side etc stresses the glass, damage simply allows the glass to crack at a weak point.
 
Perfectos said:
I’ve only had one crack after a large stone impact at high speed.
Replacement was OEM.
No issues at all with the heated screen in nearly 6 years Of use.
I like the heated scree
Click to expand...
Had mine 10 years, been replaced once for a stone chip, nothing to do with heated side of screen. I wouldn’t buy a car without it now.
 
Califan61 said:
Had mine 10 years, been replaced once for a stone chip, nothing to do with heated side of screen. I wouldn’t buy a car without it now.
Click to expand...
I can. Redundant on a California. Fire up the Parking Heater and ALL windows are defrosted and the vehicle warmed up in 30 minutes or so.
 
Anyone know the lead time for a replacement heated windscreen v standard?
 
andyinluton said:
Heated is available off the shelf at Autoglass when I asked on Friday. I got hit by a brick last week so not surprised that the screen is cracked.
Click to expand...
OK, have to ask. But how did a brick land on the windshield? Not usually something that gets kicked up by the vehicle ahead of you.
 
andyinluton said:
Thats fine as long as you have half an hours notice that you need to go out. The heated screen also deals well with the screen misting up.
Click to expand...
But does nothing for the rest of the windows, and you can drive with the Parking Heater on.
 
Suffice to say if you have a heated windscreen In the U.K. you’ll use it.

Today my front screen had thick frost on the windscreen, none on the sides.
the heated screen cleared it before the Diesel heater would have been anywhere near warm enough to have an impact, let alone warmed the whole van enough to clear ice from outside screens.

Horses for courses.

I love mine and use it regularly, if you don’t have one then you’ll have to use the diesel heater well in advance of when you want to drive the van or go old Skool and scrape the screen first.
 
Corradobrit said:
OK, have to ask. But how did a brick land on the windshield? Not usually something that gets kicked up by the vehicle ahead of you.
Click to expand...
It was actually what looked like half a brick, on the North Circular , am guessing it had been stuck between the twin rear wheels on a tipper truck or similar. I didnt see where it came from, just saw it at the last second & a big bang.

Its the sort of incident that makes you think twice about driving a sports car without a windscreen.
 
andyinluton said:
It was actually what looked like half a brick, on the North Circular , am guessing it had been stuck between the twin rear wheels on a tipper truck or similar. I didnt see where it came from, just saw it at the last second & a big bang.

Its the sort of incident that makes you think twice about driving a sports car without a windscreen.
Click to expand...
Or riding on a bicycle/motorbike without adequate protection or a visor. I ran over a 2x4 that had been dropped by someone while riding a motorbike. Hit it before even realising it was there. Luckily hit square and managed to ride over it otherwise it could have been a different story.
In the USA they have these warnings plastered on the back of dumper lorries in an attempt to avoid responsibility.

Curious Nashville: Stay back 100 feet? Here's the truth ...
When debris falls out of a dump truck damaging a vehicle, who is liable? | Pahrump Valley Times
 
WelshGas said:
But does nothing for the rest of the windows, and you can drive with the Parking Heater on.
Click to expand...
You can wind the side windows down, turn on the heated screen & be off the drive on about 2 minutes with good visibility.

I wouldn't want the heated screen as a replacement for the Parking Heater, but I do like having both.
 
I needed a new (heated) screen which is nothing unusual on the road I used to commute on as stones fly up every day its so poorly maintained for an 'A' road but the replacement which incidentally was a genuine VW screen has so many element lines that are since broken its been very disappointing.
I'd insisted on the VW screen ( though I wouldn't bother again) to try to avoid any chance of inferior options. Deep down I was telling myself it would be the same product even if unbranded but as I was able to insist , I did.

I almost want the thing to crack now so I can replace it and have all the lines de-mist properly.
I know it was poorly fitted and the guy (name and shame auto glass) got the black muck on my head lining. He was mortified, started sweating up and just made things worse with every nervous move he made to try to correct it which probably damaged the elements here and there.
He reported it himself so fair play but trouble is they were compensating me with cash for a replacement head lining and I took the money with the caveat that was the last of the story.
So when the elements proved defective come winter I was lumbered.
It is annoying to have about 4 or 5 strips where the screen doesn't clear via use of the heat.
 
Ocean Spirit said:
I needed a new (heated) screen which is nothing unusual on the road I used to commute on as stones fly up every day its so poorly maintained for an 'A' road but the replacement which incidentally was a genuine VW screen has so many element lines that are since broken its been very disappointing.
I'd insisted on the VW screen ( though I wouldn't bother again) to try to avoid any chance of inferior options. Deep down I was telling myself it would be the same product even if unbranded but as I was able to insist , I did.

I almost want the thing to crack now so I can replace it and have all the lines de-mist properly.
I know it was poorly fitted and the guy (name and shame auto glass) got the black muck on my head lining. He was mortified, started sweating up and just made things worse with every nervous move he made to try to correct it which probably damaged the elements here and there.
He reported it himself so fair play but trouble is they were compensating me with cash for a replacement head lining and I took the money with the caveat that was the last of the story.
So when the elements proved defective come winter I was lumbered.
It is annoying to have about 4 or 5 strips where the screen doesn't clear via use of the heat.
Click to expand...
My Autoglass supplied OEM screen, has a lifetime warranty against faults and faulty instal, whilst I own the vehicle.
 
Ocean Spirit said:
I needed a new (heated) screen which is nothing unusual on the road I used to commute on as stones fly up every day its so poorly maintained for an 'A' road but the replacement which incidentally was a genuine VW screen has so many element lines that are since broken its been very disappointing.
I'd insisted on the VW screen ( though I wouldn't bother again) to try to avoid any chance of inferior options. Deep down I was telling myself it would be the same product even if unbranded but as I was able to insist , I did.

I almost want the thing to crack now so I can replace it and have all the lines de-mist properly.
I know it was poorly fitted and the guy (name and shame auto glass) got the black muck on my head lining. He was mortified, started sweating up and just made things worse with every nervous move he made to try to correct it which probably damaged the elements here and there.
He reported it himself so fair play but trouble is they were compensating me with cash for a replacement head lining and I took the money with the caveat that was the last of the story.
So when the elements proved defective come winter I was lumbered.
It is annoying to have about 4 or 5 strips where the screen doesn't clear via use of the heat.
Click to expand...
I’d go back to them. You settled in cash for the headlining damage. A defective screen is another matter.
 
Perfectos said:
My Autoglass supplied OEM screen, has a lifetime warranty against faults and faulty instal, whilst I own the vehicle.
Click to expand...
Thats interesting, was it your insurance that used auto glass or a purchase between you and out glass?
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
I’d go back to them. You settled in cash for the headlining damage. A defective screen is another matter.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, it's been a while (like about 5 years now).
 
Ocean Spirit said:
Thats interesting, was it your insurance that used auto glass or a purchase between you and out glass?
Click to expand...
Insurance LV , however it’s done via Autoglass app / website, the guy that fitted the screen made sure to tell me that the warranty covered the glass and fitting for the life of the vehicle (while I own it) not sure if that’s LV or Autoglass, but the guarantee is direct !
Can’t image Autoglass having different T&Cs for the end user

edit from Autoglass

Our quality & guarantee | Autoglass® UK

Information about the guarantee we offer at Autoglass®
www.autoglass.co.uk www.autoglass.co.uk

EEAA8E01-C2FE-4C44-9DB3-52AE2C87F9AD.jpeg

edit: Simple online form to fill out with basic info , then the claim goes in to be assessed , looks pretty straight forward and in Autoglass intrest not to get any bad press for poor workmanship etc !
 
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