Did my windshield tint lead to this crack?

[Noflash]

Walked from my office to my car in the hot parking lot to this. There appears to be a very small impact chip near the bottom. I do not recall hearing any impact. This crack was not there this morning. After baking in the sun for hours did the tint cause the glass to heat up and crack? I would've liked the opportunity to repair the chip, but I'm not sure I would have caught it. Questioning whether to replace the tint now.

Also, Satellite or Tesla service for repair?

P.S. Sorry for the photo quality. It was challenging getting a shot without reflection.

P.P.S All three of my cars are in disrepair now. My other two cars are waiting for body shop availability for hail damage that half the city had. First world problems, I know...

 

[DayTrippin]

Hard to tell but looks like impact or a stress crack. Just get satellite to repair if they can. For replacement, I'd also check with Tesla and compare.

 

[Noflash]

Hard to tell but looks like impact or a stress crack. Just get satellite to repair if they can. For replacement, I'd also check with Tesla and compare.

Seems like there is an impact point, but it's super tiny. The whole crack grew to over a foot long, so there is no repair. Might be hard to see, but the first photo shows the whole swoopy crack.

 

[Big Earl]

I see a pretty clear impact at the center point of those cracks. Probably nothing to do with the tint.

 

[CuriousWren]

Satellite?! I think you mean Safelite?

 

[Noflash]

Satellite?! I think you mean Safelite?

Yes. Thanks.

 

[Wisegraywolf]

If you want your window repaired quickly, you may want to do safelite; however, I would make sure that the camera is properly calibrated when the installer is done with the job. If you are unsure, just schedule a calibration of the front cameras with tesla and they can make sure that the camera is calibrated properly. I do believe this was an impact crack from the pictures.

 

[kpanda17]

STAY AWAY FROM SAFELITE, TERRIBLE
Hate saying that but nothing but problems for my family and many friends when we used Safelite
Use Tesla

 

[Silicon Desert]

I see a pretty clear impact at the center point of those cracks. Probably nothing to do with the tint.

Precisely what I was thinking as well.

 

[EdJack]

If I had an old car from the 1980's with no tech on it, then sure have a cheaper third party company replace the windshield.

But with any kind of tech like cameras, anti-collision systems, windshield wiper sensors, heads-up displays, etc. I'd only go with OE provider.

 

[Darmie]

You may find that Tesla is cheaper too.

 

[Noflash]

I see a pretty clear impact at the center point of those cracks. Probably nothing to do with the tint.

Precisely what I was thinking as well.

I agree there was an impact point. My question was really - did the tint cause the glass to be hotter increasing the odds that the impact point would cause that long crack. An small impact crack fix is usually free and easy. If the tint increases the likelihood that a small crack will spread, I may not get the windshield tint in the future.

 

[Noflash]

STAY AWAY FROM SAFELITE, TERRIBLE
Hate saying that but nothing but problems for my family and many friends when we used Safelite
Use Tesla

We just used them for hail damage on our Pilot, with no issues (apart from being later than promised). They gave us $100 back for that. Work seems to be fine for that car. The Tesla work could be more complicated.

You may find that Tesla is cheaper too.

Maybe, but I'm just paying my $250 deductible.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. This is helpful.

 

[EdJack]

I'm just paying my $250 deductible.

If it is $250 for Tesla to fix, or $250 for Safelite to fix. Then I'd say go with Tesla.

 

[Big Earl]

I agree there was an impact point. My question was really - did the tint cause the glass to be hotter increasing the odds that the impact point would cause that long crack. An small impact crack fix is usually free and easy. If the tint increases the likelihood that a small crack will spread, I may not get the windshield tint in the future.

Tint will typically increase the temperature of the glass, which can cause cracks to spread. Whether or not its statistically significant, I don't know.

 

[Big Earl]

If it is $250 for Tesla to fix, or $250 for Safelite to fix. Then I'd say go with Tesla.

A new windshield is more like $900.

 

[Altes]

Get 0 deductible glass replacement from your insurance. pays for itself x 100 as windshields in general are thinner and crack with slight impact. tesla policy is to not bill insurance but have you pay, so the trick is to get quotes from safelight ($$$$$) nd present to your insurance, they will cut you a check which is generally more than what it cost at tesla

 

[Wisegraywolf]

If you want your window repaired quickly, you may want to do safelite; however, I would make sure that the camera is properly calibrated when the installer is done with the job. If you are unsure, just schedule a calibration of the front cameras with tesla and they can make sure that the camera is calibrated properly. I do believe this was an impact crack from the pictures.

If you want your window repaired quickly, you may want to do safelite as tesla may have a longer turn around time and many safelite employees have transitioned to doing tesla glass for tesla. This is a matter of preference and quality which can vary from place to place, however, I would make sure that the camera is properly calibrated when the installer is done with the job. If you are unsure, just schedule a calibration of the front cameras with tesla and they can make sure that the camera is calibrated properly. I do believe this was an impact crack from the pictures.

 

[GData]

It has nothing to do with tint. I don't have windshield tint on one of my cars, and it has a 15-inch crack from being parked outside in hot weather. And that's despite having the original chip repaired by a mobile glass repairer. I was able to stop the crack from expanding further by drilling a relief crevice with a Dremel

 

[pontelaspilas]

in my old ice cars i had a 6" crack that i lived with for over 5 years. it never grew further one summer so i replaced the windshield after that. on a different ice car i got another rock chip that expanded in an afternoon so i think heat makes cracks expand. hope i never have to replace a tesla windshield.