9 replies to this topic

[scrumpymini]

Hello my family car is due it's MOT next month, the trouble is a crack has appeared in my windscreen, it is on the pasanger side near the bottom corner, it comes out about two inches from the side,goes up the screen for about six inches and the goes back out to the same side of the screen again.
Now it is a ford heated screen and will probably cost more to replace then the car is worth and I want to replace the car at the end of the year so do not want to spend money on it unless I have to.
Before I put it in for it's MOT does anyone know if this is a MOT failure.

Many thanks

Steve.

[nomininolife]

Someone more knowledgeable may tell you different, but, I am sure it is a fail.

On modern cars the windscreen is part of the structure, plus all it needs is a pot hole and the whole thing could go, leaving you blind.

Like I say I may be wrong


Regards

David

[scrumpymini]

Someone more knowledgeable may tell you different, but, I am sure it is a fail.

On modern cars the windscreen is part of the structure, plus all it needs is a pot hole and the whole thing could go, leaving you blind.

Like I say I may be wrong


Regards

David

DOH I hope you are wrong or car loan here I come !

[Jordie]

get a new one under insurance?

cost you excess of usually around £50-70

[tommy13]

If the crack does not enter into the area swept by the wiper blades then it would be pass and advise. Any damage on the nearside of the screen and in the swept area must be able to be contained in a 40mm diameter circle. If the crack just enters this area you might just get away with fitting a slightly smaller wiper blade and hope the tester doesn't notice.

[The Matt]

Though the above is true, I'd personally still advise that if you've got a cracked windscreen, get it replaced. It's far better paying for a new screen than for your passenger's hospital fees and cosmetic surgery bills if it lets go!

[scrumpymini]

If the crack does not enter into the area swept by the wiper blades then it would be pass and advise. Any damage on the nearside of the screen and in the swept area must be able to be contained in a 40mm diameter circle. If the crack just enters this area you might just get away with fitting a slightly smaller wiper blade and hope the tester doesn't notice.

Well just checked and the nearside wiper goes over the crack by about 10mm where the crack sort of loops out and back in again, so I guess that would be a fail or I will just have to ride my luck and see what they say.

Edited by scrumpymini, 02 June 2009 - 06:50 PM.

[tommy13]

Wiper blades come in size steps or 1" and all generally have the same fitting. If you change the blade to one 1" smaller you should miss the crack by 3mm. There is no MOT regulation on the size of the wiper blades other than they should clear an area lage enough to give the driver an adequate view of the road. It is very common for owners to accidentally replace wiper blades with ones of an incorrect size.
With regards to safety, most cracks will propogate due to flexing of the screen, but as yours has entered and exited the screen it is unlikley to spread further or shatter. This is mainly a matter for your own conscience.

[shorty]

get it back on insurance of get that company to come fill it in with that resin they use.

[scrumpymini]

Wiper blades come in size steps or 1" and all generally have the same fitting. If you change the blade to one 1" smaller you should miss the crack by 3mm. There is no MOT regulation on the size of the wiper blades other than they should clear an area lage enough to give the driver an adequate view of the road. It is very common for owners to accidentally replace wiper blades with ones of an incorrect size.
With regards to safety, most cracks will propogate due to flexing of the screen, but as yours has entered and exited the screen it is unlikley to spread further or shatter. This is mainly a matter for your own conscience.

Thanks for that will buy a short arm and blade, the car is hardly ever used and I just want to hang onto it until the end of the year with the MOT so I can get the 2k trade in.