heated windshields?
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Colorado
heated windshields?
Why doesn't FMC offer a heated windshield? 
Up here in the north east they would sell (at least I'd order one on my new truck). There's nothing more aggrivating than having to scrape ice off the window's after one of our snow/ice storms here in Maine. That, along with heated seats, would be at the top of my option list today when I put my money down on the new truck. As it is I'll have to carry some kind of 12VDC heat gun in the winter to handle that. 
Up here in the north east they would sell (at least I'd order one on my new truck). There's nothing more aggrivating than having to scrape ice off the window's after one of our snow/ice storms here in Maine. That, along with heated seats, would be at the top of my option list today when I put my money down on the new truck. As it is I'll have to carry some kind of 12VDC heat gun in the winter to handle that.
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They did offer them as an option years ago on the Taurus/Sable vehicles. They had a sort of orange look to them. Problem was they were very expensive to replace if they got damaged- I remember hearing something in the ballpark of $1000-$1200 for a replacement. I just don't think that the idea caught on, and those who did buy the option ended up getting regular glass when they needed to have the windshield replaced.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Lenexa, KS
One relatively easy solution is to install a "block heater". It warms the coolant that circulates through your engine block while it's plugged in. This means you have heat very quickly to defrost windows and warm the cab. My diesel came with one from the factory, I had one installed on my last gas truck.
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From: Colorado
For those of us who have had window heaters on other car's saying simply "defrost" is pretty ..., well, simple. Defrost is only a marginal solution when you have 3/4" of ice coating your windshield in the morning. I'll have the block heater in the 350 but wasn't aware how effective it would be keeping the window clean.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
When it is 10 degrees out after a rain/ice storm, with a bad wind chill, and you have at least an inch of ice on your windshield, there is no way to defrost it within 20 minutes. With the defrost on full blast what you get is a one inch slab on your windshield that just floats there without melting. Plus, you can not get fresh in into the car because the cowl is covered! So you have low air volume.
I think the solution is to put a powerful electric fan at the top of each windshield corner with them blowing down from the top. Except for the Aerostar with the dual AC/heat, every other Ford I had stunk or was marginal when it came to winter heating and defrosting the windshield. Electric assist sure would be nice.
I think the solution is to put a powerful electric fan at the top of each windshield corner with them blowing down from the top. Except for the Aerostar with the dual AC/heat, every other Ford I had stunk or was marginal when it came to winter heating and defrosting the windshield. Electric assist sure would be nice.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Conway Arkansas
I have a block heater on my 4x4...
Works nice, but doesn't help w/ getting ice off very much.
This sounds stupid but it does work...
Ive put pieces of tarp over my windshield. held down w/ bricks or something on the roof. That way when you go out the next morning, lift the bricks, pick up the tarp and the ice goes with it.
I know its kinda heavy but it works.
Works nice, but doesn't help w/ getting ice off very much.
This sounds stupid but it does work...
Ive put pieces of tarp over my windshield. held down w/ bricks or something on the roof. That way when you go out the next morning, lift the bricks, pick up the tarp and the ice goes with it.
I know its kinda heavy but it works.
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From: Colorado
yeah - covering the windshield with anything helps - bee at that for quite a while - still the electric windshield is about as nice an optional accessory as heated seats and air conditioning.
I recently ran across a small diesel and/or propane fired heater that is installed in your engine area. It keeps the hot water circulating in the system almost at operating temprature. The flow through the heater ducts conducts warm air into the cab so it's toasty when you go out in the morning. These are real popular in Scandanavian countries and places like AK and Canada.
Still..........an electric windshield is only about a $300 option.
I recently ran across a small diesel and/or propane fired heater that is installed in your engine area. It keeps the hot water circulating in the system almost at operating temprature. The flow through the heater ducts conducts warm air into the cab so it's toasty when you go out in the morning. These are real popular in Scandanavian countries and places like AK and Canada.
Still..........an electric windshield is only about a $300 option.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
i use that tarp method all the time in the winter, becuase with my job i am often call in the middle of the night and have to get there like now, and it's easy to peel off the tarp and run.
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From: Fairbanks Alaska
When its snowing and I get home the warm windshield melts the snow and ices. I figured out that if you have a 100% mix of wiper fluid in your tank and you spray it on the windshield and kill the ignition before the wipers have a chance to wipe it away the ice comes off fairly easy in the morning.
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