Weird phenomena viewing through car windshield...

[tigerbalm2424]

I was recently handed down an old used 96 pontiac bonneville from my father because he doesnt want the extra vehicle sitting around. As soon as i sat in the passanger seat I asked "whats up with the windshield?" He immediately stated that my sister had concerns too and asked to have it replaced, but he never did. Sister said it caused her headaches as she felt "drunk" while looking through the windshield. I've been driving it for two weeks now and its still there, its weird, and looking through the glass the view appears as if I made myself cross-eyed. Looking out any other window in the vehicle it is normal, i've never seen this before. The condition is much worse when it is sunny out. I called in a window replacement company to look(covered through insurance) at it today but its raining/cloudy so im guessing they will note that there is nothing wrong. The phenomena is apparent at angle any and position that you look through the windshield.

Anyone ever seen or heard of something like this happening before?

 

[HellaFab]

our work cavalier has something like that too.

is your windsheild as dirty as our work cars is?

 

[Bill Bowman]

China replacement glass? Bill

 

[rob in nh]

its a bad piece of glass either made in mexico or china. i had that problem with a customers car before, had to have it replaced.

 

[tigerbalm2424]

its a bad piece of glass either made in mexico or china. i had that problem with a customers car before, had to have it replaced.

Anything you suggest I tell the company other than just showing them? Just concerned they wont see it because its cloudy and wont replace it. Im thinking I should have just busted it out before I called insurance

 

[Richard D]

I don't think I'd commit insurance fraud, make a claim(which, if done often enough, can raise your rates), and pay a deductible over a $100-$200 piece of glass.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I don't think I'd commit insurance fraud, make a claim(which, if done often enough, can raise your rates), and pay a deductible over a $100-$200 piece of glass.

It's not insurance fraud if somebody else does it and you don't know it.

 

[Chaznsc]

Its cheap glass. If you have full glass coverage, just follow a gravel truck around one day

 

[Rookie2]

It's not that uncommon in any automotive laminated glass.

 

[rob in nh]

depending on the ins co it doesnt have to be cracked to need a replacement. a lot of times if the glass is pitted the ins will cover it. talk to a glass co to see what they have to say.

 

[383 240z]

I used to work for an auto glass company, if we got a call about a distorted glass, it was a no question asked replacement. Just call them up. BTW My company was safelite. Keith

 

[James E]

I've seen it several times. Even on cars where you don't notice it, you may find places in the windshield where you see this effect if you lean way over to one side or another. More common at the edges where there are more curves.

I've never had one that was bad enough to need replacement but I have seen other people's cars where the distortion was in the field of view and I would have definitely requested a warranty replacement.

 

[Helios]

Yep. Not uncommon in cheap lower end replacement glass, though it's typically more noticeable towards the edges. That's why I typically prefer OE glass if it's still available, and in my budget. Hell, sometimes the OE glass is actually cheaper than aftermarket.

 

[astroracer]

Actually... Mr. Magoo used to own that car... He had the windshield ground to match his eyeglass prescription... I know this because I saw it on TV...

 

[mrodgers]

I don't think I'd commit insurance fraud, make a claim(which, if done often enough, can raise your rates), and pay a deductible over a $100-$200 piece of glass.

First time I needed a windshield replaced (crack) I called the insurance company. $250 deductible, but they would give me a $50 coupon by going through one of their approved companies. It would have cost me $200 after the coupon plus an insurance claim on record to go through Safelite. Called Safelite directly, $200 to replace a windshield out of pocket.

OEM quality vs. cheap replacement quality? I never knew what quality glass was until I bought my VW. I love RainX and use it every time I wash my cars. The quality of the VW glass is unbelievable compared to anything else I've purchased and I don't even use the RainX on it. Water beads up and flies right off the glass without the RainX. My old Ford, I had to apply RainX on it at least monthly.