Hi

I have a crack in the windscreen of my everyday car.

It starts in the bottom left and travels for about 12 inches towards the middle with the last 5 inches or so cracking parallel to the bonnet about 3 inches up.

The MOT is due in January and I'm wondering if I need to replace it before then?

It was only replaced last year


Any thoughts.

Cheers

Mark

PS. I don't have insurance on the screen because I don't like the companies who I have to use and the cost is £20 more than the excess anyway!!

i was told it will fail if the crack is more than an inch long in any area of the drivers view (where the wipers go) or more than 3 inches anywhere else

as said i heard the rule of thumb is if it's within the drivers side wiper blade sweep it's a possible fail..

Ned.

cost 800 quid for a new windscreen for a 03 reg megane!!!!!!!!!!!


atb

steve

second that ned, thats what i heard

BUT

that sounds like a pretty big crack, and the windscreen makes a quite substantial contribution to cab strength

Thanks chaps

I think you have confirmed what I thought.

Steve, that Megane sounds like a nightmare!!!!

This windscreen is for a Nissan Almera and costs £76 fitted on my drive!!!

Mind you, this is the second screen in just over a year

Thanks for the replies.

Cheers

Mark

Steve,
Would that be because it's a heated screen on the Megane?
You can get heated puma screens (parts only) for £150 which aint so bad really.
Seems to be only Ford and Renault that do 'em. Brilliant in this weather.

I've got a heated screen and fully comp with windscreen cover, so all mine are free!

If you need renault parts gies a buzz.. i work for them.

The price of some parts is scandalous!

Mark

Ok MOT Definition. :-

Zone 'A' = swept area 10cm either side of steering centre line. - A crack, scratch, damage or obscurement greater than that contained within a 10mm circle is reason for failure.

Zone 'B' = The rest of the windscreen that is swept by the wiper blade(s). - as above but the item must exceed a size of ( sorry I cannot remember the excact size but I believe it to be )10cm.


I Hope this helps.

the screen actually cost nowt, cos it was covered by the insurance.... didnt lose no claims - but for 800 quid thats like an accident!!!!!!

its not heated.

The only reason I can think that it cost that much is cos its a trick screen - its light sensing to allow auto operation of the wipers when rain falls on it. All it is, is a sensor thats stuck on the screen with some optical gel behind the mirror. The guy that fitted it didnt have the gel, so we have a 800 quid, doesnt work replacement. That was about 9 months ago. by the time misses got round to complaining, she had lost the paperwork!!!!!


atb

steve


and thanks for the offer Mark - im hoping never to need it!



[Edited on 10/12/04 by stephen_gusterson]

Thanks for the replies chaps again.

An update on the screen.

On the way home last night the crack decided to travel to the other side from left to right.

Think it was trying to tell me something.

Being replaced on Monday.

Cheers again.

Mark