Be Careful With The Simply Clever Ice Scraper...

[Cubbington]

Managed to put two long deep scratches in my windscreen this morning, even using light pressure on relatively thin ice...

 

I reckon there must have been a couple of bits of grit or dirt on the screen that got caught on the ice scraper, and it being plastic and having no give like a rubber scraper, dragged the grit across the screen.

 

I was farting sparks after seeing this, as I'm always really careful when scraping ice, and have never done this in 20+ years of driving...

 

Do Skoda use softer, cheaper quality glass than other manufacturers? I doubt it, so obviously just very unlucky.

 

I called National Windscreens via my insurance company and they're going to replace the screen, as they don't bother trying to polish scratches like this out...I suppose the good thing is that the car has lane assist and it needs to be done in their workshop, so hopefully won't be rushed by some poor fitter on my drive freezing his nuts off and wanting to get the job done as quickly as possible...

First thing on my shopping list for the weekend is a rubber ice scraper!

 

Cheers,

 

Nick

 

 

[threadbear]

Mines got very faint scratches on the windscreen too. I guessed too that this was done by my free company ice scraper. Annoying but liveable with. I did try polishing out but with no success. 

[hatchy]

Heated windscreen or just pour a bottle of tepid/warm water on the screen. Why the hell fart around with a poxy ice scraper. 

[Cubbington]

Unfortunately these are deep scratches...I'm still a bit shocked really.

 

@hatchy, no heated windscreen, and never had this happen before...not always viable to get tepid water to the car, and the ice scraper's there for a reason...

 

Cheers,

 

Nick

[Gabbo]

I saw a really interesting video on 9gag yesterday for de-icing your car.

They put hot water into a thick plastic bag & just let this slide down the windscreen to remove the ice. (like an old screenwasher container)

No force, scraping or excess water to turn back to ice.

 

Might be interesting to try…. Luckily I have heated front, rear screen & mirrors.

[ahenners]

1 hour ago, Gabbo said:

I saw a really interesting video on 9gag yesterday for de-icing your car.

They put hot water into a thick plastic bag & just let this slide down the windscreen to remove the ice. (like an old screenwasher container)

No force, scraping or excess water to turn back to ice.

 

Might be interesting to try…. Luckily I have heated front, rear screen & mirrors.

 

Same, I like the idea but that sounds like faff just for the side windows 

[TheWanderer]

Just get an old bed sheet or car cap and you won't have to scrape it again and just pop it in the tumble dryer and job done. 

[gregoir]

Tried and rejected this decades ago. Large wet bit of plastic does not help condensation in the car and if it is blizzarding then out of house asap. Snow/ice front back and sides of car all need to be cleared. And if you believe the news you have to clear all the snow off the car in case it drops on the road or offends other motorists by creating a mini blizzard as you drive along.

Water to deice and a soft broom /brush to sweep the non frozen snow off. Generally.

[Octy0GG]

10 hours ago, Gabbo said:

I saw a really interesting video on 9gag yesterday for de-icing your car.

They put hot water into a thick plastic bag & just let this slide down the windscreen to remove the ice. (like an old screenwasher container)

No force, scraping or excess water to turn back to ice.

 

Might be interesting to try…. Luckily I have heated front, rear screen & mirrors.

Used to do something like this years ago using a hot-water bottle.

Had a Ford Escort, no garage, door locks were very prone to freezing, used hot-water bottle pressed against lock to defrost locks then used bottle as above to help defrost windows.

[J.R.]

11 hours ago, Gabbo said:

I saw a really interesting video on 9gag yesterday for de-icing your car.

They put hot water into a thick plastic bag & just let this slide down the windscreen to remove the ice. (like an old screenwasher container)

"Like an old screenwash container"???????????????

 

You mean a thick plastic bag is like a screenwash container or it slides down the windscreen like a screenwash container does?

 

Neither makes sense to me am I missing something?

[ScoutCJB]

I'm always a bit tense when using an ice scraper and normally on use the rubber side.  I did have to resort to the built in one last week when in Scotland but only on side window as I have the Winter Pack.

 

Will remember this for next time.

[TheWanderer]

10 hours ago, gregoir said:

Tried and rejected this decades ago. Large wet bit of plastic does not help condensation in the car and if it is blizzarding then out of house asap. Snow/ice front back and sides of car all need to be cleared. And if you believe the news you have to clear all the snow off the car in case it drops on the road or offends other motorists by creating a mini blizzard as you drive along.

Water to deice and a soft broom /brush to sweep the non frozen snow off. Generally.

 

It's a requirement for the driver to clear snow that's on a vehicle before they drive off, because if a large lump of snow slides off and hits the windscreen of a following vehicle or causes the following vehicle to swerve and subsequently has or causes a accident then the driver of the vehicle from which it came can be held culpable for it. 

[BoxerBoy]

Have never used them and never will.

 

Simply Not Clever.

[MrAdamwood]

Your not alone OP I scratched the crap out of my screen with the Skoda scraper. Was running late had to scrape....bugger :-(

[Petunet]

9 hours ago, TheWanderer said:

 

It's a requirement for the driver to clear snow that's on a vehicle before they drive off, because if a large lump of snow slides off and hits the windscreen of a following vehicle or causes the following vehicle to swerve and subsequently has or causes a accident then the driver of the vehicle from which it came can be held culpable for it. 

 

Yes it is.

 

But when I was serving at the armored forces, this was considered as a "plenty of view":

[MorrisOx]

I do use the ice scraper but have learned the lesson about not leaving it in the fuel filler flap when it’s very cold. The flap jams shut!

 

Usually cover the car these days, or rely on the aircon when it’s only a mild covering of ice.

 

[TheWanderer]

I just press a button.... 

[Cubbington]

21 minutes ago, TheWanderer said:

I just press a button.... 

That comment has just pushed my button...even Mrs C's 10 year old Fiesta has a heated screen, which she likes to point out to me in this weather 

Edited 30 January, 2019 by Cubbington

[gRoberts]

Never had any issues with the "simply clever" scraper. Even realised what the fins on the sides were for the other day, after 3 years of owning an Octavia with the scraper as standard.

 

Just take your time and it'll all come off. 

[Greenie58]

I haven't got the patience to use a scraper, warm water in a jug does it for me.

[wyx087]

You need a pre-heater.   (pic taken beginning of winter)

 

 

 

Worked brilliantly this morning. Nice and warm inside the car, the heat stays in the car long enough for engine to produce cabin heating. Only needed to spend 20s feeding the cable into the car through the window.

 

Even better if you drive an EV (the red car pictured), it has purpose designed exterior socket on the car used for charging. Just set a timer to pre-heat or use the smartphone app, then only take 5s to unplug the car like lifting the petrol nozzle.

 

 

I used to have a windscreen cover. But on days like last night, where it was still raining+snowing at 11pm, and everything freezes once rain stopped. The windscreen cover would freeze to the windscreen (I had it happen)

I also tried lukewarm water method, but it leaves a puddle of ice on the driveway, sometimes doesn't unfreeze for days.

[TheWanderer]

I did see the plastic bag and hot water trick this morning on GMB, where lovely Lucy Verasamy showed it working.

[Ootohere]

@Petunet   This driver can expect £100 fine and 3 points at least. http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-47040584

 

[Gabbo]

1 hour ago, TheWanderer said:

I did see the plastic bag and hot water trick this morning on GMB, where lovely Lucy Verasamy showed it working.

 

do you have a link….

[Ootohere]

Google Images is your friend. or Youtube.   'Lucy Verasamy', 

Needs bed socks or a hot water bottle i would think.  I think that every time i watch her do the weather.