Snow clogging headlamps/headlights

[Wilbur]

I have been running a utility wagon Grenadier, for the past 2 years as a work vehicle for my landscaping and tree surgery business. I also use the vehicle in winter when responding to Cardiac Arrest calls as a volunteer for the Scottish Ambulance Service and to attend the base for callouts with our local Mountain Rescue Team, who also operate a Grenadier.

Whenever I drive the Grenadier in falling snow, the lights are quick to be obscured, meaning I have to stop to clear them manually, often several times in a short journey.

Having written to Ineos my most recent response contained the following:

"I will ensure that Engineering remains aware of your concerns and will reach out to you directly should there be any changes or developments. However, I want to be fully transparent: as the lamps are functioning as designed and meet all relevant homologation requirements, it is unlikely that this particular concern will result in a design change."

Ineos deny that it is a problem, yet every Grenadier owner I know in the UK has experienced this issue.

I am trying to build a database of evidence to forward to INEOS in addition to the UK DVSA to highlight this issue before it leads to an accident. If anyone experiences this problem could they post a photo on this thread of their vehicle showing the headlights when they have stopped to clear them?

Thank you

 

[Eric]

Whenever I drive the Grenadier in falling snow, the lights are quick to be obscured, meaning I have to stop to clear them manually, often several times in a short journey.

Having written to Ineos my most recent response contained the following:

"I will ensure that Engineering remains aware of your concerns and will reach out to you directly should there be any changes or developments. However, I want to be fully transparent: as the lamps are functioning as designed and meet all relevant homologation requirements, it is unlikely that this particular concern will result in a design change."

Ineos deny that it is a problem, yet every Grenadier owner I know in the UK has experienced this issue.

I am trying to build a database of evidence to forward to INEOS in addition to the UK DVSA to highlight this issue before it leads to an accident. If anyone experiences this problem could they post a photo on this thread of their vehicle showing the headlights when they have stopped to clear them?

Thank you

My big issue in snow, slush and ice is the same problem but with road salt build up on the lights reducing their effectiveness. The Regional Council around here go OTT with road salt. ( used to keep the logging routes open, timber extraction is the main industry here and the local power station is a wood burner) The solution to both is probably the same, headlight washers, providing decent strength antifreeze screenwash is used. Otherwise frozen washers is just going to compound the problem.

 

[Gasguzzler]

Yes, that is a concern. What's even more annoying is the side windows getting covered in salt and road grime to the point that you cannot see out of them when there's any snow or salt on the road.

 

[Tom109]

My long term plan is to rewire and replace the grill lights with halogen fog lamps. They will then be my poor weather fallback.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

It may well meet standards etc but it is still a frustration and would be a lovely thing to fix in the spirit of what the vehicle is supposed to be.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Whenever I drive the Grenadier in falling snow, the lights are quick to be obscured, meaning I have to stop to clear them manually, often several times in a short journey.

Having written to Ineos my most recent response contained the following:

"I will ensure that Engineering remains aware of your concerns and will reach out to you directly should there be any changes or developments. However, I want to be fully transparent: as the lamps are functioning as designed and meet all relevant homologation requirements, it is unlikely that this particular concern will result in a design change."

Ineos deny that it is a problem, yet every Grenadier owner I know in the UK has experienced this issue.

I am trying to build a database of evidence to forward to INEOS in addition to the UK DVSA to highlight this issue before it leads to an accident. If anyone experiences this problem could they post a photo on this thread of their vehicle showing the headlights when they have stopped to clear them?

Thank you

I discussed it with them in the early-buyer interviews they completed several months ago. I provided them with examples of aftermarket heated headlights that are compatible with Jeep Wranglers. I have also checked with the top 2 manufacturers for those - neither have any plans to do something for the Grenadier. Numbers are too small to be worth it.

 

[Happyoldgit]

An old problem. Welcome to the world encountered by those who ditched Ye Olde World halogen headlamps from their pre 2015 Defenders and replaced them with expensive LED units such as those from Nolden.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

An old problem. Welcome to the world encountered by those who ditched Ye Olde World halogen headlamps from their pre 2015 Defenders and replaced them with expensive LED units such as those from Nolden.

They (Ineos) still could just have gone with an option with heating elements on the perimeter- like JW Speaker or Oracle Lighting - and just wire it into the rear/washer defrost button. Not sure why they didn’t think of it - other than expense.

 

[landmannnn]

Or they could have fitted headlight washers. Every car I have owned since the 90's had them.