Windshield replacment denied

[dipolley]

Background. Walked outside and found a 3-4" crack on the lower passenger side of my sky's windshield. Vehicle was just sitting. Called the dealer and told them. Then over the course of the next 2 weeks it grew bigger. it started on the passenger side edge, went 4 inches and headed down 4" where it found a weak point and split 6 " to the drivers side and continuing down.

Also I contacted Saturn Corporate to report the problem after reading several threads on this site and the solstice site.

Took the car into the dealer where they performed the incredibly technical "Pen test". I told them the progression of the crack and when and where and what conditions. The pen test revealed that it was an impact crack from the weak point where everything split in 3 directions. I informed them that was not the case and they informed me that they will NOT replace it under warranty.

I'm trying to be nice about this and chances are I will just bend over and take it. But basically they are calling me a liar if you read between the lines. I'm not the type to try to get free work, but if it was a rock I would be ok with it and just pay it. But damn it, that is not the way of it. So any suggestions how I handle this? Can anyone else speak up with some solid facts about this problem, that I can argue with the service manager?

Thanks
Dave P

[Gerry]

How do you reason they are calling you a liar? Did they say you were full of shlitz or something like that? They had a different interpretation of the crack's cause. That doesn't make you a liar. Parked cars have been known to get cracks in glass and dents in steel from just sitting. I've seen those big mowers lawn companies use throw up quite a few rocks. Vandals are also known to have an affinity for messing up someone's car. There have been instances of windshields cracking for no attributable cause (other then defects), but that doesn't mean that all cracked windshields have no other explanation.

[JPM]

I had something similar happen once. a rock hit my windshield and nothing happened at first. Now I had about 100 other rocks hit my windshield and all of them were bigger. Per chance, I just happened to notice when this one hit and where b/c it wasn't big but I guess it must have hit in a magical spot because a few days later it cracked. Usually, temperature changes cause the final crack with the windshield expanding and contracting. I wouldn't be at all suprised if that's what happened in your case.

BTW, get use to replacing the windshield. The sol/sky sits pretty low. I'm on windsheild #5 on my car with 110k miles and it sits about the same level as a sky.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by Gerry

How do you reason they are calling you a liar? Did they say you were full of shlitz or something like that? They had a different interpretation of the crack's cause. That doesn't make you a liar.

"Lie" has undergone a significant transformation in our venacular over the past five or so years, to the point it is pretty much useless in terms of its traditional use in expressing the telling of an untruth, particulary knowingly telling an untruth. It is now commonly used to identify an opposition's differing interpretation of facts, or vice versa regardless of the truth, knowing or unknowing.

I have reached the point that when lying comes up in conversation, I have to ask the other party "what do you mean", and then use their explanation to determine if they are using the term traditionally or in terms of the current venacular.

[SSRL]

And that why I paid 1k for a film treatment called diamond fusion.

If my windshield cracks or chips it gets replaced for the life of the car. 1k for a lifetime warranty on my windshield


BTW I have used it twice in the last 6 months. Huge rock cracked my windshield twice already!!!!!!!!!!

[parrothall]

[quote=SSRL;301966]And that why I paid 1k for a film treatment called diamond fusion.

Where can I find some more info about this treatment and the vendors that provide it?

[Helios]

In SC, windshield replacement is covered free of charge under full coverage insurance. Thats how i got mine replaced free after i took a rock strike coming out of Folly Beach last summer. They (the glass shop) came out to my work office during the week and replaced it in about an hour.

[SSRL]

I recommend every one look into this. If i did not have it I would have paid about 3 grand out of pocket. Diamon-Fusion® Home

[xmicro_Redline]

In NY it is a $20 a year option on your collision, covers full cost No deductable. And that is why I do not drive behind anyone and always garage the car.

[Sky_Pilot]

Hey, that's mine too. I have a crack that begins right at the edge of the glass about 2/3's down from the top of the windshield on the passenger side. The crack goes towards the drivers side for about 3" and then goes down about 2 inches. At the point where it starts going down, it heads toward the drivers side and goes kinda straight for about 10 inches. I'm positive that NOTHING hit the glass and it even feels that the top half of the glass is slightly higher than the lower part of the glass. My Saturn dealer arbitrarily said it was not a stress crack and that it was obviously hit by a rock. it's all BS, nothing hit that windshield.

I have glass coverage on my auto policy, but that's not the point or issue, it's the fact that it's not breaking due to something hitting it, and if I do have it replaced, is it going to do it again?

[JohnD]

Let me try to state something here without really p_ssing you off. Try to listen to these statements coolly and logically and not emotionally... Look at them one by one, and evaluate them as true or false. Can you refute any one of them at its most base level?

• You have not had your windshield in sight every minute of every day since taking ownership of the car.
• If you have not, then you cannot definitively state that 'nothing hit that windshield.'
• Some kid with a bad attitude and an ice pick in a parking lot could have decided to give you a bad day.
• Things can happen without you being aware of them.
• The fact that you are unaware of something does not mean that it does not exist or did not happen.
• You can definitively state 'I am absolutely not aware of anything hitting that windshield!'
• But being unaware does not give you a guarantee that nothing hit the windshield when you were not aware of it.

Does that help, or did that just make you angry?



In any case, all I can say is, "Call the insurance company!" And "I feel yer pain."

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by dipolley

The pen test revealed that it was an impact crack from the weak point where everything split in 3 directions. I informed them that was not the case and they informed me that they will NOT replace it under warranty.

Find a glass expert who can support your claim or refute the dealer's claim, and is willing to put it in writing. Get it in writing. Write a "memo for record" to yourself and date it identifying when/where/what, dates, and your discussions with dealer and Saturn customer service.

Have your window replaced. Pay for it. Keep receipts.

File a small claims action against Saturn for recovery of your costs.


Edit: Don't let a $300 repair ruin your $30K driving fun. Take your time. Enjoy life. Enjoy the car. The claim might be stressful...don't let it get there. Treat this as a learning experience on how to file a small claim....the experience itself....not so much the recovery of costs.

[Sky_Pilot]

Originally Posted by JohnD

Let me try to state something here without really p_ssing you off. Try to listen to these statements coolly and logically and not emotionally... Look at them one by one, and evaluate them as true or false. Can you refute any one of them at its most base level?

• You have not had your windshield in sight every minute of every day since taking ownership of the car.
• If you have not, then you cannot definitively state that 'nothing hit that windshield.'
• Some kid with a bad attitude and an ice pick in a parking lot could have decided to give you a bad day.
• Things can happen without you being aware of them.
• The fact that you are unaware of something does not mean that it does not exist or did not happen.
• You can definitively state 'I am absolutely not aware of anything hitting that windshield!'
• But being unaware does not give you a guarantee that nothing hit the windshield when you were not aware of it.

Does that help, or did that just make you angry?



In any case, all I can say is, "Call the insurance company!" And "I feel yer pain."

Not even worthy of a response......

[MidniteBlues]

Bottom line folks, FIX IT!!, no matter how it happened. Most states laws require car insurance companies to replaced cracked windshields with NO DEDUCTIBLES!! in other words for FREE.. Don't fret the small stuff, fix the thing and move on with life, or for the next inevitable rock on the road.. Blame the dump trucks that carry the rocks to begin with..

[SKYtime]

First, that sucks that your windshield is cracked. As for the dealer/Saturn, I'm not sure I would have done anything different if I was them. If you have contrary proof, I'm sure they would consider it at least.

I have State Farm insurance and it covers glass repairs/replacements and I was assured that it does NOT count against you. In fact, State Farm will attempt a repair without any charge. If a glass issues cannot be repaired, or if the repair fails, the glass will be replaced without any deductible.

[dipolley]

Well with all the threads on this site and the solstice site there are umpteen owners (like Sky Pilot) who have reported the exact same issue in the exact same location under the exact same circumstances. Some who have even said the windshield cracked while the vehicle was in storage for months. One solstice owner has even been tracking the statistics and has noticed a pattern with the windshields that came from one of the 3 manufacturing facilities.

My point in posting this thread was to see if others who have had the same issue would speak up. If they fixed it them selves, if it was fixed under warranty, and just to get statistical data that I can argue. If I was the only one who ever posted this problem I would not have posted anything.

John D. No worries you are just looking at the accountable version which I understand and have considered myself.

Sky Pilot thanks for the input. Any chance of a picture of yours?

[Im Fastr]

Just contact your insurance company, have them fix it (usually with no deductible in most states as long as you have full coverage). If the insurance company and the glass repair shop can prove that it was a defect in the windshield they will have the option of subrogating against the dealership. End of story, problem solved.

[JohnD]

Yeah, actually that's pretty good advice...

Get it fixed now. That's the most important thing. Who wants to drive around with a cracked windshield?

If there is a systemic problem, and the insurance industry determines that there is an underlying fault (they are very good at stuff like that) then they will take up the fight with GM to get their money back. And then it could turn into a recall, or some other action. But that could take months, or years.

So why wait? Get it fixed now, and let them take up the fight. Meanwhile, you get to do what you do best - enjoy your SKY!

[Sky_Pilot]

Originally Posted by dipolley

Sky Pilot thanks for the input. Any chance of a picture of yours?

I've uploaded one (it's tough focusing on glass), once the "Mods" approves it, I'll post it (should also apear in Sky Pilot's picture folder).

[Sky_Pilot]

Originally Posted by JohnD

Meanwhile, you get to do what you do best - enjoy your SKY!

HA! We DO agree on something, JohnD!!

[ChgoBlues]

Originally Posted by SSRL

And that why I paid 1k for a film treatment called diamond fusion.

If my windshield cracks or chips it gets replaced for the life of the car. 1k for a lifetime warranty on my windshield


BTW I have used it twice in the last 6 months. Huge rock cracked my windshield twice already!!!!!!!!!!

And what is the "treatment"? Sounds like it's not working too well if you have had 2 windshields already.

Doesn't your car insurance comprehensive cover that? I know with mine, State Farm, its a $250 deduct for glass replacement and only when I need to do it and not upfront like the Diamond Fusion. I had to replace the glass on my 96 SC2 and SF paid the balance past the deduct and I got a better glass than the factory.