Technical Is my heated screen damaged/faulty?

[Herts Hillhopper]

The heated screen of my 2018 4x4 seems a bit patchy. There's a big area on the passenger side that seems not to get warm, and a similar area on the driver's side that takes much longer than the rest. Is this 'normal'? The car is under warranty still so I hope to get the screen replaced - has anyone had success with a claim for this yet? The local garage want to see the car themselves on a frosty morning - tricky as 10 miles away... To help, I've taken a set of photos (one below, others from further back show the number plate ands view from inside too), and made a little time-lapse that shows how long it takes (or doesn't, where it clearly fails to warm up) which I hope will help convince them.

Thanks in advance
Pete

 

[Al D]

Don't have that problem on mine. Obviously some elements not working. Happens on Fords too.

 

[scotsstag]

Just one very narrow strip right in centre of windscreen on ours seems not to work.
Other than that, it works great.

 

[murphyv310]

Mine is super quick. A kettle of hot water over the screen

 

[trevorwat]

Yes I had the heated screen on my Cross replaced under warranty using photos I had taken like yours. Unfortunately a year later the replacement has now got some sections not working....

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Yes I had the heated screen on my Cross replaced under warranty using photos I had taken like yours. Unfortunately a year later the replacement has now got some sections not working....

Oh - good and bad news in the same reply. I'll give it a try and see what happens

Cheers

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

I love a good laugh when I read these major faults
It's like heated wing mirrors, seats and bloody steering wheels��

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

I just start my Fiorino up have a cuppa, clear screen and toasty warm...... Done!

 

[R1NGA]

My original windscreen gave up the ghost on one side completely but as it also had a massive crack in it (maybe the two are connected) I had it replaced by AutoGlass instead of fighting for a warranty claim. After about 3 years the replacement now has a couple of inch-wide stripes that clearly have lost contact with mothership and no longer work. Overall still 98% effective and 1000% better than not having it at all

 

[murphyv310]

As my car is on a gated drive that locks I start the car with the spare key and put the demister on low, lock the doors then heat a kettle to about 60c and pour it over all the windows. It's all very well having a clear screen but there is seven other windows to clear! After this I unlock my gates and drive off.

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

hi
That's interesting
Luigi my fiorino will not allow you to lock it with the engine running....even with the key

 

[murphyv310]

You can lock the Panda with the key not the remote.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Mine is super quick. A kettle of hot water over the screen

Not too hot I hope. It has been known to crack a screen. I stopped after this on a company car some years back!

I just start the engine and put the heater on max. It takes a lot less time these days than on cars years ago. I recon about 3 minutes and it also gets teh side windows clear too. I love the heated screen but the Fiat Panda ones seem of very variable quality! (Not that I have one....)

 

[The Panda Nut]

As my car is on a gated drive that locks I start the car with the spare key and put the demister on low, lock the doors then heat a kettle to about 60c and pour it over all the windows. It's all very well having a clear screen but there is seven other windows to clear! After this I unlock my gates and drive off.

Me too.... but beware insurance does not pay out if the car is knicked. I had to write a testimonial for a colleague pleading for his job when his was lifted, albeit from outside a paper shop. The firm did make him pay for the car too. It came back a year later in a hell of a state having been used in a gangland killing. Complete with blood stained boot mat!

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

As my car is on a gated drive that locks I start the car with the spare key and put the demister on low, lock the doors then heat a kettle to about 60c and pour it over all the windows. It's all very well having a clear screen but there is seven other windows to clear! After this I unlock my gates and drive off.

Water only needs to be 'above freezing' to melt ice - 'just warm' from the tap is more than enough... 60C risks a cracked screen.

Straying a bit from my question though - I will show photos to the dealer and see what they say (took a few more this morning too). Because mines a diesel, it takes for ever to warn up and give heat from the heater. so the heated screen is very useful. Yes, other windows need a scrape, but they never ice up as much as the screen.

 

[murphyv310]

Hi.
The temperature shock and unequal expansion effects different types of glass in different ways. Pour boiling water into a milk bottle and it'll shatter, do that with Pyrex and it won't. Car glass won't crack even with boiling water as car glass can have uneven heating, on occasions when the sun is at certain positions its rays can pass through side windows at an angle that'll pinpoint light at another window giving spot heating. From what I've been told in the past glass used in motor vehicles is thermal shock resistant and has been from the 60s. The thin wires in a heated screen get very hot and if this was the case the screen would suffer with thermal shock far worse than hot water as the water is not spot heating the glass and is cooled on contact, plus its over a much larger area.
I've cleaned all my windows on all my cars since 1971 this way with no issues.
Again each to their own on how to clear iced or snow covered windows.
Take mind many just seem to clear a small part in front of them and not clearing all windows is a road traffic offence.

 

[gar074]

But if there's an existing weakness in the screen (eg from a stone chip), putting hot water on a frozen screen may well propagate a crack. It's happened to me twice, and my other half (who is a materials scientist and an expert on fracture mechanics) gave me a right ticking off, especially the second time it happened.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Hi.
...
I've cleaned all my windows on all my cars since 1971 this way with no issues.
...

I too have routinely used warm water without issues. Except the issue of it freezing on the ground around the car, or the door seals
Back to the subject, it appears the yes, my screen is faulty and so I will pursue a warranty claim. Shame I chose to leave work, as I could have borrowed their thermal image cameras to add weight to my evidence.
Last from me on this - as the question has been answered. Thank you to those with heated screens for your input. If I am successful with a claim and replacement I'll post back here for future reference by others.
Pete

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

Yes that's a good point my Fiorino has to travel at least a couple of miles before the temp gauge gets moving

 

[trevorwat]

I had no problem with the warranty claim for my heated windscreen once I showed them some photos similar to yours - good luck with your dealership!