I know the windshield cracking issue has been brought up a million times before, but I've been having a weird experience and haven't seen anything about it. I received my car in May '03, and have 5000 miles on it, with no problems so far. But about a month ago, something strange started happening, and happens usually 2-3 times a week. I'll be driving along, and all of a sudden I hear a loud 'crack' or 'pop' sound, that sounds just like a rock hitting the windshield. I know it's not a rock, because a few of the times it's happened there were no cars in front of me. I look, expecting to find a huge crack in my windshield, but nothing. I usually notice it while driving home from work. I have to start taking note of other variables, such as outside temp., but it seems to happen mostly on hot days, and I'm running the AC. Could it be the glass adjusting to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the car? Has anyone else experienced this? I'm just afraid that one day it will result in a crack in the windshield.

 

I had an '88 Jetta that did this ALL the time. I could never find any correlation between the pop and other variables. It was completely random.
Every time it happened, I was sure that the windshield would crack. It never did. (even after I slammed the car into a telephone pole )

 

My '99 Mustang does the same thing. It's always on hot days and once you get the AC running full blast I occaisionally get that loud 'crack' . So far it's been from the window cracking!!! It does seem to usually occur right when I go over a bump or pothole, so I assume that things are shrinking as they cool and the jolt shifts it fully back into place.

Tim

 

>>I know the windshield cracking issue has been brought up a million times before, but I've been having a weird experience and haven't seen anything about it. I received my car in May '03, and have 5000 miles on it, with no problems so far. But about a month ago, something strange started happening, and happens usually 2-3 times a week. I'll be driving along, and all of a sudden I hear a loud 'crack' or 'pop' sound, that sounds just like a rock hitting the windshield. I know it's not a rock, because a few of the times it's happened there were no cars in front of me. I look, expecting to find a huge crack in my windshield, but nothing. I usually notice it while driving home from work. I have to start taking note of other variables, such as outside temp., but it seems to happen mostly on hot days, and I'm running the AC. Could it be the glass adjusting to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the car? Has anyone else experienced this? I'm just afraid that one day it will result in a crack in the windshield.


Umm, that's not your windshield actually if you pay closer attention there is a plastic dashboard piece that runs the length of the windshield at its base. I betcha anything that the popping noises are coming from that piece when it gets hot. Rest assured its not your windshield. Press on that part to see if the clips are not inserted all the way in. If the clips are expanding due to heat, then a bit of grease should take care of your issue.

 

Thanks Cooper4us, I'll check that out tonight after work.

 

I've had this happen on a number of occasions with various cars.
It appears to be, like all of you've commented on, on hot days with
the A/C on. Believe it to be the contraction of the plastic interior trim pieces
as the car cools down. I guess the glass could do this, but wouldn't this
movement cause leaks in the window seals?

 

>>I've had this happen on a number of occasions with various cars.
>>It appears to be, like all of you've commented on, on hot days with
>>the A/C on. Believe it to be the contraction of the plastic interior trim pieces
>>as the car cools down. I guess the glass could do this, but wouldn't this
>>movement cause leaks in the window seals?


If your glass "moves" or it is affected by heat you have a serious problem. People, is not the glass!!!!! Is the interior plastic trim that pops with the high interior heat.

 

man oh man, these cars sure do educate us on basic physics, don't they?