Is Windshield Pitting Making It Harder to Drive in Phoenix?

A windshield does not need a long crack or a large stone chip to become difficult to see through. After years of driving around Phoenix, the glass may develop hundreds of tiny marks. They are especially noticeable when sunlight shines directly toward the vehicle or headlights approach at night.

This condition is commonly called windshield pitting. It develops gradually, so many drivers do not recognize how much visibility they have lost until they drive another vehicle with newer glass.

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What Causes Windshield Pitting?

Small particles of sand, gravel, and road debris continually strike the windshield while a vehicle is moving. Most impacts are not forceful enough to create an obvious chip. Instead, they leave microscopic marks in the outer surface.

Arizona vehicles can experience a great deal of this wear. Dust is regularly blown across roads, construction traffic carries loose material, and freeway driving brings the windshield into contact with debris at higher speeds.

Over time, the surface may begin to look hazy even after it has been thoroughly cleaned.

Why Pitting Creates So Much Glare

A smooth windshield allows light to pass through in a relatively consistent direction. A badly pitted surface scatters that light.

The effect may be minor during an ordinary daytime drive. It becomes much more apparent around sunrise, sunset, or at night. Sunlight and headlights can illuminate hundreds of tiny marks at once, producing a distracting glow across the driver’s field of view.

Dust, oily residue, and worn wiper blades can make the glare worse. Cleaning both sides of the glass and installing suitable wiper blades is therefore a sensible first step.

If the marks remain visible after cleaning, the problem is likely within the surface of the glass.

Can Windshield Pitting Be Repaired?

A professional chip repair treats a particular area where an impact has damaged the laminated windshield. Generalized pitting is different because the wear may cover much of the glass.

Polishing products are sometimes promoted as a solution. However, removing enough glass to correct widespread pitting can create distortion or an uneven surface. A driver may trade one visibility problem for another.

When pitting is extensive, replacement is normally the practical way to restore a clear view.

Check the Glass From the Driver’s Seat

Look through the windshield in several lighting conditions. Pay particular attention to the area directly in front of the driver.

Are there clusters of marks that sparkle in sunlight? Do oncoming headlights create a cloudy patch? Does the windshield still look hazy after careful cleaning? These are useful reasons to arrange a professional inspection.

The technician can also look for separate chips, edge damage, scratches, and signs that the windshield has previously been installed or repaired.

Windshield Replacement in Chandler and the Phoenix Valley

T&S Auto Glass repairs and replaces windshields for drivers throughout Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and nearby communities. Mobile auto glass service is also available across the Phoenix Valley.

If an older windshield has become pitted, scratched, or difficult to see through, call T&S Auto Glass at 480 345 8990 for an estimate.

References

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205
https://www.nhtsa.gov/interpretations/nht78-38

Arizona Revised Statutes, Windshields Required
https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00957-01.htm

T&S Auto Glass, Windshield Repair or Replacement
https://tsautoglass.com/windshield-repair-or-replacement/

T&S Auto Glass Offers Windshield Replacement