Shut Door Broke Window

[Spooled-up]

I just recently read a post that a guy 12 miles from anywhere shut his doors and they locked on him. He had no spare key and had to break the rear window out to get in. He mentioned that he had to hit the window so hard that he thought he would bend the door frame.



Are these windows designed to be stronger for a blow from the outside, or is there that much force from today's "airtight" cabins??

 

[Dean Upson]

The window strength should be the same from both sides as they are made from tempered glass that "dices" when impacted hard or by having it's tensile strength broken by a sharp object. It is different than heat-treated glass in that it breaks up into small cubes (dicing). The tint of the glass on your side and rear windows are manufactured right into the color of the glass, your windshield is safety glass also, but it is laminated with a layer of colored plastic in the middle of two pieces of thin glass to attain the tinting. The laminated glass is much weaker than the tempered glass. There are hammer like tools with a sharp point to carry in your vehicle to use to break the windows in an emergency, whatever you use, if it has a sharp point it will break fairly easily. I have seen tempered insulated glass blow out when baked in the sun because of a manufacturing defect.



Dean

 

[rbattelle]

I saw one of those "news" shows once and they showed how you can shatter a window using a spring-loaded center punch. Nice for emergencies.

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by rbattelle

I saw one of those "news" shows once and they showed how you can shatter a window using a spring-loaded center punch. Nice for emergencies.

Tempered glass could be a real problem in an emergency exit. I have seen tools that have the pointed hammer to break windows and also a blade for seatbelt cutting. Not a bad idea to have one in your consold. My wife has one in her car and says she gave me one and I can't find it . I will remedy that situation later today with a spring loaded punch. I have always carried a jack knife (politically incorrect, no doubt) so the seat belt would not be a problem.



Dean

 

[barbwire]

Hey Dean, try hanging upside down,while strapped into a seat belt, and get your hand into your pocket, for a jack knife.

I know that there is no perfect answer to all the equations

 

[CNichols]

Originally posted by bighammer

I'm sorry, I got sidetracked on the dog thing, but this thread did catch my attention because of the way my wife slams the passeneger door. I have to admit, she is getting better about it, but still sometimes does it. I think she's at least aware that she's doing it now.



One day instead of saying something (again) I slammed mine (not quite as hard as I could, but close) and she didn't even notice. I'm really glad I didn't break the window(s) out with that one.



To give her credit, I this nice new truck, and she has an old POS Bonneville that really does require more force to get the doors closed.



Anyone else have a similar situation?

My Girlfriend is the same way. And she drives a bonneville too

 

[TCDiesel]

WINDOW

Window was replace under warranty. I was happy, I am sure it is a expensive window,Only DC item. NO aftermarket supplier had one.

 

[RankRam]

Wow thats great! Glad to hear they fixed it for ya.

 

[mgonske]

Originally posted by bighammer

EDIT: OK, I deleted what I had before. Maybee I did go a little too far, but I would break a window again to save a dog. (or a kid) Can't believe that people do that to their kids as well.

Gee, I'm glad it took me a while to get back on--I didn't see what you posted earlier



Actually, your point is well taken, and as for my last comment, granted it was insensitive, but only for the sake of emphasis. In point of fact, it was a cloudy day, and at nearly dusk, so solar gain was not an issue, and he did have water. Yes, I'm very aware of the issues you raised, and did not, and would not, subject a dog to undue hazard in a closed vehicle. My apologies for any implications otherwise.

 

[Dean Upson]

Thanks for the clarification, Mike. We knew you were a good guy .



Dean

 

[bighammer]

I was hoping you were a good guy. Reading it sent me spinning, but I hoped there were other details missing.

 

[wsurf]

Didn't pay much attention to this thread until I washed the truck today. I noticed a near perfect vertical scratch on the passenger rear window, almost centered on the window about 1. 5 inches long. This scratch is deep (can catch my finger nail on it) and is near perfectly straight. I do not know how something could get caught and scratch that deep when rolling/unrolling window. Possible factory defect?? Anyone else have this? This would definitely cause a stress riser and cause fracture under the right circumstances.

 

[mgonske]

The dealer in Boulder who replaced my window said they had replaced several already.

 

[RobertBolinger]

In a recent Car and Driver they tested those escape hammers-went to a salvage yard and tried to bust some windows of of cars headed for the crusher-the guy who worked on the yard tried (tougher than the editor) -they did not have much luck... I busted one out once in a Suburban tailgate-I'll admit I closed it hard... guy who replaced it said that the metal brackets that fasten to the side of the glass had rusted off... insurance covered 100% Advantage of breaking it down in the tailgate was no mess to clean up inside truck-glass guy vacuumed out inside of tailgate with shop vac.

 

[WadePatton]

I'll bet that adrenaline would make breaking the window MUCH easier.



Besides, if your airbags go off, they're not only going to knock you out--they'll pop out some windows too.

 

[RobertBolinger]

a . 38 breaks em out real nice

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by RobertBolinger

a . 38 breaks em out real nice

You would have to include ear plugs in your emergency kit .



Dean

 

[BGiles]

Me too.....

Originally posted by wsurf

Didn't pay much attention to this thread until I washed the truck today. I noticed a near perfect vertical scratch on the passenger rear window, almost centered on the window about 1. 5 inches long. This scratch is deep (can catch my finger nail on it) and is near perfectly straight. I do not know how something could get caught and scratch that deep when rolling/unrolling window. Possible factory defect?? Anyone else have this? This would definitely cause a stress riser and cause fracture under the right circumstances.

I checked my rear passenger window after washing it yesterday, and I also have a deep scratch right in the center of the window about 1. 5" to 2" long.



wsurf, is yours horizontal or vertical? Mine is horizontal.



Ok, does anybody else have this scratch? Please, go and check. If possible, I would rather have the dealer replace the window before it blows out. Need more people with this problem to speak up, so I to justify it to them.



My truck is only 3 months old.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

Just replaced my last window moulding tonight that is felt lined instead of bare vinyl. Dealer made me buy the rear ones and gave me the front ones due to tint scratching. Now that there is a S. B. on this I may see if he will give me a deduct on my 15k service. The mouldings were about 20 dollars apeice ! Anyway, I've not noticed any scratching as the windows in the rear are rarely used, But when doing the change a close look inside shows a peice of steel channel with nylon spacers holding the window. It is visable to the amount of stress that is on the connection. This with a etch in the glass would,in my opinion, equal a nice place to start a break !

 

[wsurf]

BGiles,

Mine is vertical.