A DRIVER has warned others about a terrifying auto incident caused by the warm weather.
After an innocent trip to the car wash, the woman faced a confusing auto issue — the extreme heat caused her windshield to crack.
A driver claimed that extreme heat caused her windshield to crack[/caption]
She detailed her unfortunate auto experience in a viral TikTok video[/caption]
The driver believed the window cracked because of a weather phenomenon called thermal shock[/caption]
In a viral TikTok video, the woman (@monsinooo) detailed her experience on June 17.
Her TikTok page currently has over 20,000 likes, and the video has garnered more than 112,000 views.
“So who was gonna tell me that if you take your car through the car wash when it’s really, really hot outside, it cracks the windshield?” she asked her followers.
“Because I was just not made aware of that.”
She flipped the camera around so that her followers could see the damage to her vehicle.
“All the way up to the top,” she noted.
Social media users couldn’t agree on what caused the huge crack in the car’s windshield.
“Thermal shock,” one person commented. “You probably had a micro-crack on your windshield to begin with, which exacerbated the situation.”
Thermal shock is a weather phenomenon that occurs when a material, like glass, cracks or fractures due to sudden and extreme temperature changes.
This occurs because different parts of the material expand or contract unevenly, creating “stresses” that can exceed the material’s strength.
Drivers who think their vehicle might have a crack or chip should get it filled as soon as possible.
If they don’t get it fixed, the stress of a warm vehicle exposed to cold weather (or vice versa) can turn a small crack into a much larger crack.
For a temporary fix, drivers can use clear tape, such as packing tape or even Scotch tape, to cover the crack as soon as it appears.
In the meantime, if you need to use your car, you should park in the shade as much as possible and keep temperatures balanced using the AC system.
Expert advice on prepping your car for summer
Dustin Piggot, the Service Manager at a Subaru Dealership with years of technincal experience, told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview which items drivers should have checked before temperatures rise:
- Have a multi-point inspection performed. A paid inspection will prompt a technician to check vital systems like braking, power steering, and front and rear suspension for any leaks or malfunctions. They will also test the condition of the battery and check vital fluid levels and conditions.
- Cooling system. Before things heat up, drivers must have their cooling system inspected for proper coolant levels and condition, have radiator hoses evaluated, and have the radiator checked.
- Have your A/C system checked. If freon is low and needs charging or parts need to be replaced, it’s essential to address the issue before temperatures rise.
- Make sure your tires are appropriate for warmer weather. If you live in a climate that necessitates a dedicated winter tire, swap them with all-season or summer tires if possible to extend the life of the winter tire. Winter tires are softer and will wear out much quicker in warmer weather.
- Look at tread depth. Tires with low tread depth will make it more difficult to stop your car if you need to avoid an accident.
- Give your car some TLC. Before it gets too hot, Piggott says it’s important to give your car a good cleaning to wash away winter grime and dirt and treat your paint to a nice coat of wax to protect it from harsh UV rays and high heat. Many dealerships like his offer detailing and washing services.
Read more here.
Other drivers, who live in extreme heat, said it’s unlikely that the weather caused the crack.
“Yeah I’m pretty sure that’s not true,” said one driver.
“I live in Texas in triple-digit heat and go through car washes all the time. Never happened to my car.”
Another driver claimed it could have been the fault of the car wash.
“I never heard that before,” they commented under the video.
“I never trusted those car washes anyway. I usually wash my car at home or go to a self wash.”
