Snow clogging headlamps/headlights

[Wilbur]

How about heated ‘rests’ for the windshield wipers so that they don’t ice over?

I cracked my windshield by turning the front defrost onto high fan and high heat- my go to move for keeping the wipers and the windshield ice free. SNAP- The air gets too hot frankly. My son noticed that, but I didn’t think that it would be hot enough to light off the windshield.

Lucky you! My HVAC doesn't generate anywhere near enough heat to crack a windshield. Though they do manage to crack for no reason. Had two replaced in 2 years.

 

[Happyoldgit]

I seem to recall back in the day some aftermarket company selling flat bits of transparent plastic headlamp 'protectors' that fit over the headlamp surrounds of Land Rover Series 3 and Defenders using the existing surround fixing screws to hold them in place.

 

[CRH]

I seem to recall back in the day some aftermarket company selling flat bits of transparent plastic headlamp 'protectors' that fit over the headlamp surrounds of Land Rover Series 3 and Defenders using the existing surround fixing screws to hold them in place.

I was thinking that with the possibility of 3d printing and to easily purchase anything from the internet most of us (probably not me) could easily mock up this kind of thing at home at very little cost. I'm sure there would be a market for the less competent if necessary, they may even be able to make the light transmit somewhere near to how it should

 

[Glen]

How about heated ‘rests’ for the windshield wipers so that they don’t ice over?

I cracked my windshield by turning the front defrost onto high fan and high heat- my go to move for keeping the wipers and the windshield ice free. SNAP- The air gets too hot frankly. My son noticed that, but I didn’t think that it would be hot enough to light off the windshield.

Did you turn on the front defrost as soon as you started the car from cold? If yes, that’s definitely a problem. What was the outside air temp?

If I recall, automotive windshield glass is usually designed to handle about 140° F in temperature differences. For instance, I’ve started my car at -50° F, immediately turned on the defroster and eventually get to about 60° F in the cabin (with the radiator airflow blocked off) about 30 minutes later. That’s a 110° F difference from the inside to the outside of the windshield glass - and no cracking. I do know some people who turned the defroster on full hot onto a -40° windshield when the engine was fully warmed up and cracked a windshield, but even then they usually started with an existing chip or crack.

I also remember windshields getting cracked from shock air conditioning in the 1960’s, but not in the last 40 years or so.

 

[Glen]

Can we not add a piece of clear plastic over the lights, as has been done with the various grills/light protectors? Snow won't build up in the light bowl area. If necessary it could be angled to encourage snow to slide off. Not sure on any legality, just a simple solution

Back when many headlights were 7” round (in the US), you could buy a thin clear plastic dome that would mount under the headlight retaining ring. It would stay cold and generally shed water, snow and ice. If ice did build up, they were still flexible at low temps - you could tap them and any build up would fall off. I believe they were made of Lexan (polycarbonate).

 

[CRH]

Back when many headlights were 7” round (in the US), you could buy a thin clear plastic dome that would mount under the headlight retaining ring. It would stay cold and generally shed water, snow and ice. If ice did build up, they were still flexible at low temps - you could tap them and any build up would fall off. I believe they were made of Lexan (polycarbonate).

I think we sometimes complicate what can be done simply, and cheaply. A bit of cheap plastic shield, although probably not legal, but who is checking that in a blizzard

 

[MileHigh]

Did you turn on the front defrost as soon as you started the car from cold? If yes, that’s definitely a problem. What was the outside air temp?

If I recall, automotive windshield glass is usually designed to handle about 140° F in temperature differences. For instance, I’ve started my car at -50° F, immediately turned on the defroster and eventually get to about 60° F in the cabin (with the radiator airflow blocked off) about 30 minutes later. That’s a 110° F difference from the inside to the outside of the windshield glass - and no cracking. I do know some people who turned the defroster on full hot onto a -40° windshield when the engine was fully warmed up and cracked a windshield, but even then they usually started with an existing chip or crack.

I also remember windshields getting cracked from shock air conditioning in the 1960’s, but not in the last 40 years or so.

We had been driving for about an hour, so plenty of heat available, and we had gone from 75mph to dead stand still. It was a spring storm, so maybe a low of 25F (I guess?). I went to defrost mode. Every other car I’ve had I could do the same thing- and I would have to turn it down because the cabin got too warm, not worry about the windshield.

When I got it repaired at the dealer, they guessed that I had an edge chip, and the temp made is expand. A good way for IG not to take responsibility, maybe true, but I doubt it. My guess is that large flat glass was put in with some tension on it, and the heat caused it to bind and bang.

I’ll never do auto defrost, I’ll always select defrost and manage the temp and fan myself.

 

[Glen]

We had been driving for about an hour, so plenty of heat available, and we had gone from 75mph to dead stand still. It was a spring storm, so maybe a low of 25F (I guess?). I went to defrost mode. Every other car I’ve had I could do the same thing- and I would have to turn it down because the cabin got too warm, not worry about the windshield.

When I got it repaired at the dealer, they guessed that I had an edge chip, and the temp made is expand. A good way for IG not to take responsibility, maybe true, but I doubt it. My guess is that large flat glass was put in with some tension on it, and the heat caused it to bind and bang.

I’ll never do auto defrost, I’ll always select defrost and manage the temp and fan myself.

This weekend I’m going to install rubber trim around the edge of the windshield that Owl Vans identified in this video: DIY Fix in 10 Minutes That should help protect against edge damage turning into a total windshield loss. Your tip on managing the heat manually is a good one.

 

[bemax]

If it’s not possible to heat them up it might just work too wash the snow away.

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