I've had my 2016 Civic 5 weeks. For some reason the highways are full of vehicles spitting gravel all of a sudden. I now have a crack/chip about 1/2" long in each direction. Should I:
1. Find some DIY part store fix
2. Have a glass shop attempt a repair
3. Have insurance install a new windshield ($50-100 deductible).
I really like this car and plan to keep it a long time. There's no way to tell if it's going to get bigger at this time. I had a truck suffer the same kind of crack and it never got any bigger in the 11 years I owned it afterward. Probably got lucky.
2016? Chop top challenge? 
I suppose it depends on Johnny Law in your state or if you ever take a road trip and what your DMV looks at upon re-inspection. Otherwise wait till it gets worse or the roads get better. I'll admit $50/100 deductible is tempting. 
Definitely tempted to wait until we're out the gravel trap weather to make the final decision. There were 4 vehicles on a 20 mile stretch shedding rocks -- and none of them were actual gravel trucks! Way to pick rush hour to pull out that POS.
This is Ohio; you can have a cracked windshield forever since there is no safety inspection whatsoever here.
I'd get it repaired professionally. Its not expensive for the "cash price", which is probably about the same as your deductible. I tried super-glue once, that made a mess. The pro's do a good job.
I used a windshield repair kit on a small crack in our Sedona's windshield. It worked great, 6 months later it's still holding. We just got another rock chip last week, going to try it again.
If it's covered by your insurance, get it replaced that way. $50 or $100 deductible is cheap.
Gotta concur. That 1" long crack won't stay that way long. Every pothole and large temperature excursion will make it grow.
I have had two different windshields replaced. They came to my home. All it took was a call to my insurance co.
No deductible on glass.
If you can get it fixed, go for it. Shops may not touch it if it is on the drivers side, though. I’m also in Ohio, and tend to be leery of replacing a windshield unless I have to, as it seems like that’s one way corrosion begins, with paint damaged from removing the old windshield.
We've had the same 3/4" crack/chip in the truck windshield for about 7 years now. It hasn't grown. It's out of your normal line of vision so until it grows it stays.
I usually ignore them until they are in my vision or the cops notice them.
After that, I call the insurance company and let them handle it.
I also drive a lot and crack at least one a year.
Since you have cracks already forming, I think you are looking at a replacement. However, I did successfully use a Permatex kit to repair a chip on my daughter's Focus. Wasn't too hard, and it looks almost as good as those chip repair guys that hang out at Home Depot parking lots. The main thing is to keep it from spreading, of course.
Tom_Spangler said:
Since you have cracks already forming, I think you are looking at a replacement. However, I did successfully use a Permatex kit to repair a chip on my daughter's Focus. Wasn't too hard, and it looks almost as good as those chip repair guys that hang out at Home Depot parking lots. The main thing is to keep it from spreading, of course.
Yep, that's the kit I used. So far, it's been great.
The kits are usually good enough for something the size of a quarter. I've used them before and they kept the crack from spreading, it seemed. If I did it again, I'd have it professionally fixed or replaced (depending on the price of the windshield, of course).
Right now my Crown Vic's windshield is covered in chips. It seems as soon as I fix it, it gets nailed with another rock. Been driving it with a bunch of little chips for about 5 years now with no problems. I'll replace it when I need to. Two weeks after I bought my F250, it's stock windshield took a pebble to the lower portion and chipped. I'll get that one fixed professionally.
iceracer said:
I have had two different windshields replaced. They came to my home. All it took was a call to my insurance co.
No deductible on glass.
Good point. Check your insurance policy, in some states (like Minnesota) glass replacement is a zero deductible repair.
Does your current glass have any speckles when driving into the sun?
A new one will get rid of that.
^I checked for that on the way home tonight and there weren't many if any.
