hl replied:

Don't bet on the $60.00 job.....
I had a crack, just like you describe, about 2 inches long from the bottom of the windscreen. Also a chip on the other side. cost me $80.00 for the crack and addtional $40.00 for the chip. It looked ok, however, a week later the car was in the sun and I decided to wash it (bad idea). When I hosed the screen the crack went right across. Now the fellow (Novus) did say it was guaranteed, but I didn't read the fine print. The fine print said THEY would supply a new screen at wholesale price. Fair enough, except their "wholesale" price was more than O'Briens and if you add the initial $120.00.... not a good deal.
From now on, new windscreen every time! (especially since the NRMA now have a no excess option for glass).

Cheers

Truckster (Vic) replied:

I have to repairs in my screen, they stand out like whale balls on a mozzie...
good for a quick fix, but bit of a waste of $

GUPatrol replied:

I was doing well on my current windscreen, no chips so far!!

Went to the snow a couple of weekends ago and a crack appeared from the bottom centre, no chips anywhere... It just cracked!

Since then the crack has grown by about four inches...

Rigor replied:

In my experience if a crack extends to the edge of the screen it will only be a matter time before starts to travel , due to body flex and temperature changes . I to have wasted money getting these repaired , now I wait till it annoys me or becomes illegal then replace.

Cheers Dave L.

garrycol replied:

Had a star on my windscreen repair 10 years ago - repaired the day after damage - you cannot see it and it is still OK - temp changes haven'y worried it.

The trick is to put a sticker on straight away to stop dirt and moisture getting in it. Get it repaired straight away - if there is a crack coming from the star it is too late don't bother. Cracks don't repair no matter what novus says.

motherhen replied:

That DIY stuff from MangaMail any good? Anyone tried it?

We only get one "free" windscreen per year per vehicle, and some insurers are bringing in an excess on windscreens. We usually wait until the crack is in the vision area then change on insurance and hope we don't get more damage before renewal time. Even if the mail order stuff slowed the cracking down a bit it might be worth it - we're not always going to be near Novus when the stone hits.

Spade Newsom replied:

If you have a small chip that isn't in your vision, try a dolop of slow setting araldite. Cover when still wet with a small snippett of clear contact so that it dries smooth and doesn't wreck your wiper.

Cheaper than windscreen repair and IMHO just as effective. (probably not asthetically)

Have seen this done also on a major windsceen "bullet" (smashed inner and outer layer of glass) until the driver could get the vehicle to the windsceen shop. Two years later he still hasn't managed to get to the windscreen shop.

Works well on rear windscreens also.

Others have an opinion here?? Good, bad or otherwise.

Patrolman Pat replied:

I had a small chip repaired in Echuca about 4 months ago for about $40. I can still see it if I look real close but it hasn't grown. Had a 1" crack repaired on a Hiace work van that held for 2 years before it was sold, AFAIK it is still intact.