Whindshiled glass damage......common?

I am waiting to hear back from the company that installed my replaced windshield, 8 years ago...to the day. I have been having a problem with the drivers side not getting clean, no matter the wiper blade I put in. I have tried from $3.99 to $35.99 ones! the drivers side is all streaks and in the center is is a small 'dead spot'. It looks like the wiper isn't touching it. It isn't the wiper being bent or to loose. I NEVER thought it could be the glass. Well today i go out to clean and then polish the glass, with cerium oxide, to make sure the glass is super clean. BUT as I wiped it down with Windex and paper towels, the drivers side I find that area the wiper wont clean. and it feels VERY slightly rough. Then as i run it dry, it gets BIGGER! Now it is the size of a salad plate. I can see through it, but the wiper is smearing worse, and that 'dead spot' is now huge.

I have called the company that put this windshield in,and I am waiting to hear back from them, to see if there is a warranty on it? To get it replaced...before I put in for an insurance replacement,...FREE in Fla. But I have to find out if the glass is defective, to get it replaced for free from the installer.

If this is something that happens to windshields over time? Has anyone ever had something like this happen? Is there some kind of film on the OUTSIDE of windshields? That can be damaged? I know the inside must have some-kind of film on it, for solar reflection?? But on the outside?? Is there something on the glass? I mean almost on the microscopic level?? Just trying to find out if anyone has had something like this happen to their windshield on ANY car,...let alone the Aveo. It is not like a big 'splat' , like some chemical hit the glass, there are not splatter spots. It is all together. Incase I get into some big dispute with my insurance company, or this glass replacement company. I would like to know if this happens over time....it is only 8yrs old. And I have NEVER heard of an exterior glass film....is there one? Thanks.

Very odd. I've never had a problem like that either.

Has this been an issue from day one, or is this a new development?

I would think the cerium oxide would have improved the situation by buffing the area and smoothing it out.

This is my 3rd windshield, original and 2 replacements. I was using the cerium oxide by hand as I discovered this rough/dull area. I thought it needed to BE polished, that made it 4 times bigger. Then cleaning it of, with Windex, it got even bigger! This is only 8 yrs old, I got the invoice from my insurance company, and it was replaced on 8/26/10...the day before my birthday ! It was done be 'Glass America'...NOT Safelite, as I thought, so after hours on the phone and 7 calls, I was told it is such an old invoice/job report,i will get an early call tomorrow, and they will send someone out to look at it, and if it is defective 'workmanship',they will replace it. BUT still dont know what their warranty is, i cant find it on their website, and no one would tell me. BUT they said they would call in the very early morning, send out someone, and replace it by Weds. if it is 'defective' material. The cerium oxide I was using, made it much bigger, then washing that of, with Windex, it got VERY big!! So...someone HAS to replace it. 'Glass America', or State Farm. In Fla. it is covered by my insurance for free replacement. Especially if it is in the drivers field of view, it MUST be replaced. At no cost to me!
BUT it isn't a crack. It makes me unable to see in rain, so it is dangerous!! So i dont know what is going on with it, ...when they send someone out, tomorrow morning, I am hoping they tell me what is going on. It isn't like a chemical hit it, there is no splatter spots, it is like a BIG amoeba. Not a splatter spot. So it must be defective glass. But this 'film' is on the outside. I have never heard of that in my life!!! Thus I am asking if anyone else has had something like this on their windshield glass.

Could you have a look on the bottom corner for the DOT number and post it please?

I have issues with astigmatism and ripples in the top layer of the laminate, however my topic may be worth a read, but not help your situation.
https://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f83/...n-glass-21694/

it is in the lower RIGHT corner it say PGW
Solex
904 M413

DW1361

Does that mean something?

Lower right, the passenger side?
Try placing a sheet of white paper from the inside, behind the data and taking a photo.
This info should give you the maker and location.
The DOT number does this: http://www.carwindshields.info/dot_db

i just put it in the above reply that is it.

i typed it in ...in the reply above, it is much clearer there...than a picture. Besides, I don't have a 'smartphone' to put a picture on here. My digital camera is not powered up now. It takes all day to charge the batteries. But the numbers above are how they are on the LOWER RIGHT windshield. this 'Glass America' company is suppose to arrive between 1-3pm today...it was suppose to be 8-12 today. as usual...wait all freaking morning...no call. no nothing, till I bitched in 5 calls, So..now I sit and wait till 1-4pm! Wasted a full morning. NOW I am waiting to see what happens.

I still don't see "DOT###" in any of your posts above.
Somethng is not updating, the Forum may not be saving the changes!

I have tried all the numbers in your post. This one seems to makes sense: Please confirm this is the DOT Number.

Edit: I have sent a report to the Mod, the Forum won't display the Dot number!
Confirm this link: https://www.buypgwautoglass.com/splautoglass.asp

gclark8 - from your e-mail:

Quote:

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I think it may be DOT904:

DOT904 - PGW (Pittsburgh Glass Works) UNITED STATES

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I think you're right.

PS: I think the issue with the info you were trying to paste is that it was inside a table. The forum didn't know what to do with that.

PPS: if you do a search based on the other number that FlaAveo5 posted, there's even an image of a windshield DOT number (possibly not the exact same window):

Attachment 11571

That one's for a Nissan Versa, but has the same manufacterer info.

Excellent reply! You have nailed it! A picture tells a thousand words!

I tried searching DOT numbers at the top of the page, no results!

My suggestion is, when the installer arrives to change the windshield, write down the DOT Number and check the database. Then Google the manufacturer to see if there are any issues.

When doing my research, I phoned the main local windshield warehouse who supplied me with all the DOT Numbers so I was able do the research and find some vision issues with all the windshields! (see my topic above for outcome)

ok it says 'DOT in front of the '904',on the glass
I JUST had the glass comp. here. The tech. SAID there was VERY MINOR pitting,in 1 spot. Right in my line of sight. NOT covered by warranty. BUT he would word it in his report, in a way that MY insurance would replace it. I got a call in 2 mins. from the glass company, saying the tech would come back in 30 mins, to replace it NOW. They would send the report/claim electronically to State Farm NOW, and it would go right through. It was much worse yesterday,and the weeks before. BUT with all my cleaning of the glass, i could only get the wiper to 'smear' the glass. That 'damaged area' wouldnt show up. BUT the tech. saw scarthes in the area i am having trouble with.
BUT he says I caused it!! By using Ceramic Oxide powder!!!! I am not the only person to use that to polish glass,....am I? It is sold to clean/polish auto glass,...I dont even use it with a power polisher, I do it by hand, so it takes much longer, and isnt as powerful
It gets rid of the oil/muck the road throws up on the glass. it gets it VERY smooth. Right??? I cant be the only guy on here that uses it to polish the glass, then put on Rain-X to make it slippery....right??? So...the tech is coming back, and going to replace the windshield. All the complaining I did, because the lady I was dealing with screwed up the time of arrival, me taking the entire day off, to have the tech. come by from 8-12...not 230pm!

THIS is the person I am dealing with on the phone, with this glass company, is the one that is sending in the report, and getting it replaced. I think to get a glowing review from me...when I get the report to answer their questions, about the service I received.

This tech SAYS that Cerium Oxide powder...that is softer than talcum powered,scratched my glass....ONLY in that one area! All the rest of my glass is in perfect cond. I use it all over the car, on the glass. it is made for THAT purpose....right? Yet it ONLY damaged my glass in that 1 area???
He said I should NEVER use it on glass,....it scratches glass easily! I have been using it for over 35 years on all my cars/trucks...NEVER a problem....and it is sold for auto glass. It is the stuff they sell you to polish smooth cooktops on the stove/oven. It is SO soft, it doesnt scratch the paint! And it is softer than rubbing compound. I have been told to use 0000 Steel Wool on the glass, to get it clean. STEEL WOOL!, it is so soft it wont scratch glass, but will remove the oils and any pitting. Well...if THAT is not to rough...what about cerium oxide?.... it is made for auto glass, to clean it. So....thats it for now. Now i wait for the tech to come back and install my windshield.

But....does anyone else use Cerium Oxide Powder to polish your auto glass??? I cant be the only one. and it only damaged the glass in 1 circle area....out of all the glass on my car??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MetroMPG

gclark8 - from your e-mail:


PS: I think the issue with the info you were trying to paste is that it was inside a table. The forum didn't know what to do with that.

PPS: if you do a search based on the other number that FlaAveo5 posted, there's even an image of a windshield DOT number (possibly not the exact same window):

https://www.aveoforum.com/forum/atta...eplacement-jpg

That one's for a Nissan Versa, but has the same manufacterer info.

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Thank yuo for posting that picture it looks exactly like that!

Well my new windshield is on the car. So...the reason for the rough area/scratches/smearing...is still a mystery. I didn't cause it. BUT i have a new windshield. It is now wiping nice and streak free again. BUT...now....does anyone else use Cerium Oxide powder...to polish their glass? I looked it up online, to be 100% sure. It is meant for auto glass polishing. Better with a power buffer, I do it by hand and it makes the glass squeaky clean and smooth. Then I put on Rain-X and it is perfect in summer storms, don't even have to use the wipers!! This stuff gets off all the microscopic oils and crap from the road, and makes it spotless,if you get hard water spots on the glass. So it is MADE for polishing glass. this tech. that put in my windshield is nuts. He doesn't know what he is talking about.....it is softer than baby powder...and wet, it is even softer, but it polishes glass. HE even said at the end of everything...'keep using that on all the glass on your car...just not the windshield'...it is all the same.I have used it for over 30years, on 30 vehicles....I intend to keep using it on my windshield.

So...does anyone else on here use it? I cant be the only guy using it. Has ANYONE had issues with Cerium Oxide powder on their windshield?? Hell it is on EBay and Amazon, a little goes a long way,...and it is the best to get all the junk off the windshield....and water spots. Now I have the interior 'fogging' of course, and will till I get to clean it myself. But it is new glass, it isn't 'out-gasing', I just need to clean it myself, after the adhesive is set. So....any other users of the powder??? That CANT be the reason the glass was screwed up. Thanks for the input.

And the new DOT number is:....

in the post on the other page....someon else took the picture you wanted to see, it is the SAME as on my car

What happened with this? Did they replace the glass?

please read the long post above i put up about the replacement

Lol, sorry. Not sure how I missed that.

no problem....if you have ANY input about my question about the Cerium Oxide powder....using it on the Windshield, I would appreciate it. Want to polish the glass tomorrow, and rain-X it...dont NEED to polish it, but would like to know if other car guys use it or not.

I've heard of using it before as a polish. I wouldn't hesitate in using it.

thank you...i knew i wasnt totally crazy.

WOW!!! I thought that maybe I was crazy thinking that something was wrong with my new windshield. The old one had a bunch of cracks that my son was willing to deal with, but I wont even consider it, as far as I am concerned a cracked windshield is a dangerous one. I had the new one put in just recently as I was going to use the Aveo to take a road trip from Corpus Christi to almost all the way to Nebraska to see my first Grandson born. Seemed a lot smarter than taking the v-8 Dodge Dakota when it comes to money for fuel.

So my neighbor and friend who has worked in the glass business forever for other people has opened up his own company and I think that it is great. Well, over the years no matter who he worked for he has taken care of all the auto glass we have ever needed and for some reason my family goes through a lot of auto glass LOL He has always got us really great deals on the prices as well, I guess the good neighbor discount. So he puts a new one in the Aveo at a ridiculous low price and I am happy as a clam.

Shortly after that we had a little rain and there was this plate sized section that when the wiper returned to the passenger side of the car it was there, on the way to the drivers side it was clean as a bell. I just thought I had a bad wiper even though my son had just put on the most expensive ones that Rain-X makes. (he is an over the road truck driver and takes wipers seriously, not the cracks all over the windshield, but the wipers have to be top notch LOL) So on the day I head for North East Kansas it starts raining, more of a drizzle to start with though. I looked in wally-world for some wipers that I used to see that had these like louvers on them meant to hold the wipers down on the glass better. I even went to O'Reilly auto parts and they had never heard of what I am talking about. You have to remember that I am 54 and have been driving since I was 15. Ana started driving a tow truck at 16. I put on at least a million miles or more most likely trans-versing this country of ours many many times. So I have seen lots and lots of wiper styles come and go, so this louvered style may have been a long time ago.

So I figured that I would just go with what I had, besides how bad could it really be, they clean everything when they go to the left. Well no sooner than I get a little ways out of town it really starts coming down, and I can't see worth beans unless I am sitting out of my normal spot and that is not going to last long at all. I pull under an overpass and get out to see what I can do. Well I pulled it off and put it back on, then bent the arm down a little. Back in the car and when I get up to around 75, I turn on the wipers and the drivers side launches like a rocket going backwards. I am watching it in slow motion flying towards a car, luckily it did not hit the car. So wiper gone and it is like 20 miles or so to the next town, so with my head out the window like a dog I proceed. Sorry if this is a little long winded, but it is how I normally roll, as I want to get all the little details in so that I have explained myself completely. Plus there are always some funny little things that happen to me all the time and I like to share them.

Auto store and a brand new most expensive wiper they have (another Rain-X) and this time I let the clerk in the store go and install it. I have never done that in my life and I have changed a lot of wiper blades on work vehicles, my vehicles, family and friends and I have worked as a State Vehicle Inspector on a several occasion and in that position you change lots, and lots of wiper blades. What I am trying to get at, is that I really know how to install wiper blades and cannot for the life of me understand why that one took off like it was fired from a scud launcher. So wiper installed and back out to the interstate. Well backing out of the parking lot everything looked fine so it must be good to go. (although that was just a light mist) Out on the interstate and at about 75 (by the way the speed limit on that stretch of road, not 85 like most) (hey what can I say, it's Texas) Rain starts up and increases to where I have to turn the wipers on, (wait for it).... The damn plate size puddle on the wipers return trip across the glass is there. absolutely no change what so ever.

I was in basically heavy rain all day from Mathis Texas to Bowie Texas which is right up within spitting distance from Oklahoma. Well, I shut down for the day and get a hotel room and have some delivered food, a shower and called an early night. Next morning bright an early around 6am I hit the road and it is still raining hard. It rained almost all the way across Oklahoma too. And I put up with the see me, see me not wiper game all the way just like the day before. Thank God it finally stopped raining and did not rain again till after I reached my destination. YEAH!!!

Now the Aveo did a great job on the trip by the way. I still have not calculated the mileage and total fuel costs but I do not think that I spent over a hundred dollars on fuel for almost right at a thousand mile trip. At the most maybe around one twenty five I am sure not more than that. Was using Mr. Capital One (Yeah it was in my pocket) So I really was not paying attention, I was writing down the trip gauge mileage, the total cost of fuel and the gallons that I put in the tank. But I was not thinking about any totals as I was not pulling the cash out of my pocket. So I have all the all the data, I have just not got around to tallying it. Heck it is vacation and I am spending a lot of time with my grandson Kyle. And I brought my PS2, PSP, PS Vita and lots of games. My son's roommate is loaning me his PS3 while I am here. And I now have a PS4 that my Son and Daughter-in-Law gave me YEAH!!! I have my own room down in the basement a 55inch 4K right at the foot of my bed to use as my gaming TV. It's pretty sweet LOL It reminds me of sitting in the front row of the theater.

Oh back to the Aveo (I also have ADHD if you had not already noticed. ooh butterfly) I have never owned a little car let alone taken a trip in one. Did not even like having to ride in them on the weird occasion that I was riding with someone. I do not know if that has to do with 15 years of driving a tow truck and working with the police department and other law enforcement agency to assist them with impounds and all of the wrecks that occur. I have seen first hand way too many times what happens to little cars in accidents. The Aveo scores pretty good on the crash test stuff, so I did not feel quite as bad, but I was still leery of driving it, especially on a trip this long. I have always owned full size trucks and vans till taking possession of my Dad's Dakota and it took a while to get used to that and it is considered a mid-size.

The ride was no where as bad as I thought it would be. I did not feel beat up at all after driving it all day. And it handled quite well except for the fact that my Son had just put on the cheapest tires that Wally-wold (Wal-mart) sells UGH! I am sure once I get some decent rubber on her that she will handle a whole lot better on the curves. Right now she pushes a bit and I can not get into the curves as much as I like to. I am one of those weirdos that speeds up going into corners LOL One weird thing about the ride up here, when I laid down at the hotel in Bowie I felt as if I was still moving down the road somehow. That feeling stayed with me most of the night. I have never ever experienced anything even remotely like it. The same happened when I laid down here in Kansas. Have you guys ever heard of anything like this? Is it just part of traveling a long distance in a small car.

All in all a great trip, and I am not worried about the return trip once I fix some kind of problem shes developed up here after a couple 70 mile round trip runs to Wally world. (Yeah, it is that far to the nearest Wal-mart, my super center back home is under 5 minuets. I have a hard time imagining having to drive 30 miles one way every time you want something from Wally world) She popped up the check engine light. It may have come on when I started out on this trip (the second one) but I did not see the check engine light because my hat was in the way. She was running kind of rough when I started her up and during the trip to the store, but I really did not know what was wrong, but I figured I would check it out once I got back to my Son's place. Well next to the Wal-mart was a O'Reily auto parts store, and they will read your check engine for the codes that tripped the light free. Well it was about the coolant not running hot enough. I had noticed that the gauge did not go as high as normal, but thought it may be something to do with being up here at a different elevation and the outside temperature being so different from home. Well, I guess there were three codes, and she said that they were all about the same thing, coolant not hot enough. Like a dummy I did not write down the codes, or have her go in and do the print out thing that they normally do. I just wanted to get back to the house and sleep. I have looked through the forum here about the topic, and I am going to swap out the thermostat since it an easy and cheap fix. If it fixes the problem great, if not it is under the car to find, and most likely have to replace the sensor.

I am happy that the news letter thingy showed up in my email today, and this windshield topic was one of them on the list. When I get back home to South Texas I am going to get with my neighbor and have him replace the windshield with a new one, and hopefully it will not have the same defect. I do not want to spend the rest of this little cars life looking through a plate sized puddle every time it rains. So thanks to all of y'all that have been a part of this thread, as now I know that I am not crazy (well that may not be true) and that there is an issue with my windshield, and mine is not one of a kind it has happened to others as well.

Well I guess for a first post, or I think it is a first post either way it is a doozy I hope you enjoyed my little novel. ;)

Hi.
Sorry, but are you in a state that replaces windshields for free with insurance? And your going to get a new one that way? OR are you going to buy some Cerium Oxide to try and polish that area on your windshield?? I read your entire letter...and i dont know what is going on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FlaAveo5

Hi.
Sorry, but are you in a state that replaces windshields for free with insurance? And your going to get a new one that way? OR are you going to buy some Cerium Oxide to try and polish that area on your windshield?? I read your entire letter...and i dont know what is going on.

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Sorry thought I explained that in the last paragraph. When I return to Texas I am going to contact my neighbor the auto glass installer, and explain to him the problem. I thought it would not be to hard anyway since it is my neighbor, and he has taken care of me for years. It will just be easier when I am able to reference this thread about the same issue having occurred with other Aveo windshields in the past, not just mine. The whole polishing thing did not sound like it worked, only made things worse, so I would not try that.

I was just really relived when I found this thread because I was not really sure what the problem with mine was, or if I was just nuts to think that a windshield would have a plate sized, well basically a dip in it.

I have never heard of this Cerium Oxide or polishing your windshield. If it helps as much as you say, I might try it on the new windshield when I get it and it has no defects. I know that I am always cleaning my windshield and one of the first things I repaired when I go the car was to put a new fluid jug and two new pumps for the window squirter. I use that thing every time I use the car. I always have a couple of windshield cleaner jugs on standby in case I run out.

Thanks again fro sharing about your problem with your windshield.

Hi xcntrk, I also have have windscreen issues, see my topic in "Similar Threads" below:
https://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f83/...n-glass-21694/
Would you be able to post the DOT Number or a photo of the data on the current and the new windshield?
Thanks, George

Good day mate,

Sorry George I could not resist. Over the last few years I have made a few friends in Australia and spend some time talking with them on Skype and go tin the habit of using their verbage to communicate with them, a little out of practice now though. SOrt of been adopted by a couple of them, even a Kiwi or two, Oh I know some don't care for that word but my buddy Alex thinks its neat and that other islanders should adopt it and use it always even for each other. I have even been offered sponsorship. Oh how I love to take em up on it. I have always wanted to live there, but living on disability does not allow for travel.

In answer toy our question yes I can get a pic and post it here so you can check it out. I will try to get it tomorrow if I can get all the snow off of the poor thing LOL Should not be a problem at all. Take care and have a great evening :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XcntrK

G'day Mate,

Sorry George, I could not resist. Over the last few years I have made a few friends in Australia and spend some time talking with them on Skype and got in the habit of using their verbage to communicate with them, a little out of practice now though. Sort of been adopted by a couple of them, even a Kiwi or two. Oh I know some don't care for that word, but my buddy Alex thinks its neat and that other islanders should adopt it and use it always, even for each other. I have even been offered sponsorship. Oh how I love to take them up on it. I have always wanted to live there, but living on disability does not allow for travel.

In answer to your question, yes I can get a pic and post it here so you can check it out. I will try to get it tomorrow if I can get all the snow off of the poor thing, LOL. Should not be a problem at all. Take care and have a great evening :).

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Hi XcntrK,

Thanks for the nice cultrual comments, maybe a lottery win can finance a trip Down Under.
How did you go with a photo of the new windscreen and DOT Number?
cheers George

Edit: This post may give you another Aussie word to add to your new vocabulary:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...0&id=734067299

Howdy gclark8

Sorry I am so blasted slow in responding to you and to this thread. I just got back to Corpus a few days ago. I fell up in Kansas and cracked a bunch of ribs. I was supposed to be back here the day after our Thanksgiving, which was last month. Now the ribs are better but not healed up yet. Healing faster as I am not having to get up and out of bed on the same side that the cracked and broken ribs are like I did up in Kansas.

I had to go up and get a state safety inspection and that reminded me of taking the picture. We used to have a little window sticker for passing the inspection which was good for a year. Now we don't it is all computerized but it reminded me as I was a state inspector a couple times in my life. Well, here is the picture, I hope it has some information that you can use as it is all Greek to me. I will get a hold of my neighbor after the beginning of the New Year as I do not want to bother him around the holidays. After I find out what he wants to do I will let y'all know. Hopefully this is not something he has never heard of and we can just get the glass changed right away without any hassles. I would hate to have to argue with my friend, but I really do not think that is going to happened he is a really good guy.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/sxihctm.jpg?1[/IMG]

Thank you for the reply, Health is much more important than car trivia.

I am trying to keep track of what is available in the windscreen department without any on-going vision issues .

Your Windshield, with DOT Number DOT459, comes from China: DOT number search: DOT Number Database
DOT459, FUJIAN YANHUA GLASS INDUSTRY, CO., LTD. HONGLU TOWN, CHINA.

This is the first one I have recorded from China, lets see how it goes.

I believe, after the VIN number, the DOT number is the second most important piece of data if buying a car, particularly if you have vision issues like I do.

Thanks again,
cheers George