It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since I picked up my Dec 2011 Superb. 4 very happy weeks of ownership. Impressed by its quietness, impressed by its economy, impressed by so much, until this morning............

-3 degrees! Frozen windscreen, both inside and out. How I wish I had my Mondeo back! Quick clear windscreens, a standard fitting on just about every Ford sold in the last 10 years. So useful, yet so easily taken for granted.

How many philosophers have said "You don't miss what you've got until it's gone!" Usually said of relationships, not so much of cars.

All I know is there was a certain envy as my wife swept smoothly off to work with the screen of her Ford Focus clear of ice, without so much as a touch from a scraper, or a spray from a de-icer.

Yes, I know it can be specified as an option, but how many Superbs have you seen with a heated front screen? Easier to find hen's teeth, I would imagine !

Driving an 09 Fiesta Zetec S and no heated front screen either :(

Driving an 09 Fiesta Zetec S and no heated front screen either :(

Surprised, Mate! I would have thought an '09' Zetec S would have it as standard!

I feel your pain.

Maybe look at retrofitting a heated screen, i know it'll involve a new screen but surely it cant be that hard?

Maybe look at retrofitting a heated screen, i know it'll involve a new screen but surely it cant be that hard?

Not a route I think I would go down. 2 reasons -

I'd have to pay for it, and an outright purchase of such a screen would not be cheap. there would then be the cost of switch gear too.

Also, I have seen too many examples of replaced screens not being sealed properly, leading to leaks. And that is something I don't want.

Think I'll just have to have a mumble like Victor Meldrew, and get on with life as it now is.........

black bin liner - on windscreen at night, clear in the morning. Simples

Get one of the dehumidifier pouches and leave it in the car overnight.

Another option if you're parked up by a garage or a mains plug, is to put a fan heater on a non flammable surface (eg ceramic tile etc on the rear parcel shelf), turn it on for 5 minutes and then go inside and pack your bag etc. Make sure you use an RCD and it's not next to anything that could burn from the heat.

When you are ready to go, clear the windows with the wipers or a squeegy and then turn it off, take it all in and drive off without a frozen screen.

Faff, yes, but not the end of the world.

As a suggestion, you might want to find out how much the extra switch gear would cost and have it put in place. I'm sure you'll need a new windscreen at some point and when you do you can just pay a small amount extra for the heated glass.

My car is parked outside, best thing I've found is A/C off as you get near home the night before, set temp at 22 and direct the air flow to feet or infact anywhere other than screen. Still not perfect but a lot better.

One of the reasons the Yeti goes on the drive facing the house and being shielded by the porch - very rare to find it covered in anything more than a light frost. The Fiesta on the otherhand is fantastic - 20 secs after hitting the front windscreen heating button and its ready to be driven off.

black bin liner - on windscreen at night, clear in the morning. Simples

Yep works for me also - we have some thick grade black bags at work which we use in 200 litre barrels, these are great and easily cover the windscreen of the Superb. Flip the wipers to park and drop the bag under them. Sorted.

My car is parked outside, best thing I've found is A/C off as you get near home the night before, set temp at 22 and direct the air flow to feet or infact anywhere other than screen. Still not perfect but a lot better.

Hmm presumably so the screen isn't too warm when you park up and thereby trying to avoid a build up of condensation which then leads to freezing. Worth a shot if i forget the bag!

One of the reasons the Yeti goes on the drive facing the house and being shielded by the porch - very rare to find it covered in anything more than a light frost. The Fiesta on the otherhand is fantastic - 20 secs after hitting the front windscreen heating button and its ready to be driven off.

Don't have a sheltered position. We live in a quiet cul-de-sac, but road in front of the house is not sheltered. Our driveway, at rear of house, exits onto a busy road some 20 yards from a set of traffic lights. If I could drive i, there would be some shelter from a fence and an overhanging tree, but the need to then revers out onto the road would probably mean the loss of my no-claims bonus within a matter of days!

Oh, and for the outside I have a full screen cover that I got from a pound shop for ........................

Oh, and for the outside I have a full screen cover that I got from a pound shop for ........................

Think I may well go back down that route, alkip

Remember my Grandad had one of those. Rolled up, with a sucker at each end. Maybe still in the loft somewhere... .

Still remember the family story of Gran and Grandad falling out over a new Ford they were buying in the late 50's or early 60's. A heater was an optional extra, and my Granny made him fork out the extra money for one. He had never had a car with a heater before, and he thought it was extravagant nonsense. And here I'm moaning about missing my Quickclear windscreen! Changed days!

All new fiesta zs from 2006 have heated windscreens.

Dad's old Octy would freeze inside but that was condensation from water ingress. For the outside a bottle of warm water and a flick of wipers to stop it refreezing works every time

When parking up at home, a 2kw Greenhouse fan heater from B&Q or similar £20,

& a safe outside use waterproof extension lead. (best when Wind Deflectors are fitted.)

set to just above 0 degrees celsius. 'Much Cheapness'.

Halfords Night Before De-Icer bought when it is 3 for the price of 2.

Not needed when the 'Greenhouse' heater is being used,

but great on door rubber surrounds and seals for very low temperatures.

*In very low temperatures,

Warm water freezes harder than cold water when it flows into the Air Intake grills,

& this is when you should not put on the A/C or even the External Air Intake, until its thawed/defrosted again.*

george

Frozen on the inside too?

I haven't seen that since I had a 1960's Land Rover!

My Fabia used to freeze on the inside. :( One of it's many issues.

I've found setting the fans to foot well overnight prevents a fair amount of condensation forming.

Not sure if the digital systems close the vents overnight or not (I know my BMW does), but I think they at least blow onto the floor for a while when starting to shift any moisture away from the screen, or at least my Polo does. I assume a Skoda would do too? Although I guess that's not much use if it's frozen over already!

Edited 28 November, 201213 yr by TriggerFish

Frozen on the inside too?

I haven't seen that since I had a 1960's Land Rover!

X2

used more de icer on inside while driving than on outside

You've got me worried now, BossFox. Mind you, there is no smell of damp in the car, and the carpets all seem dry...... Would hate to think there was water getting in somewhere; I just assumed it was residual condensation.

I'm just not sure where the condensation would come from.

Residual condensation should be very little.

If you are getting in with wet clothes and doing short trips maybe, because the air-con doesn't have time to remove the excess moisture?

I was at Turnberry, Ayrshire, early this morning, and it was minus 3 degrees

& home now 145 miles east and its was not below freezing last night.

( total reversal of the usual for Sunny South Ayrshire.)

The condensation just builds up with a little moisture on the floor mat, metal objects in the boot, & cabin, a damp window pads etc left in the car & a frozen vehicle sitting in the sunor warmth, or for a while after a very cold night.

(It was not cold late on last night where i was, no sign of frost before Midnight.)

Keeping well polished the interior windows, and not carrying metal tool boxes etc helps.

& then removing wet mats from the car at nights are a great help.

Even with all my preparations i am still often defrosting in the morning when the lad next door fires up his 55 plate Fiesta and drives off.

george

This was Nov/Dec 2010, 5 weeks on never above freezing ambient,

but the sun still melted the frozen roof, guttering and roan pipes some days.

It was 13 days after these pics were taken before the thaw set in.

Yeah, George

As you are probably aware, I'm just 15 miles up the coast from Turnberry.

It was a particularly cold night for us; anything the sun hasn't reached is still covered in frost.

Comments about the small amount of moisture required for condensation on windows is re-assuring - I cannot abide damp cars!

I'm just not sure where the condensation would come from.

Residual condensation should be very little.

If you are getting in with wet clothes and doing short trips maybe, because the air-con doesn't have time to remove the excess moisture?

Agree with this - I've never had water freezing on the inside of the screen/windows on any car and I'd be looking for leaks if it's a regular problem.

Chris

Get one of the dehumidifier pouches and leave it in the car overnight.

What the hell are they??? Sounds exactly what i need though. The boot floor is constantly wet due to dog ownership so i cant remember the last time my rear window wasnt covered in condensation.