Best way to de-ice

[matt uk]

Just programme the 'aux heating' system for 15 mins before you are due to set off. Job done.



Actually I've never done this. But did read in the handbook that it can be done. My normal method is look for the scraper and end up using a credit card.

Tip: Use loyalty cards instead. Your credit card company will only send you repacement cards so often before they comment on 'seasonal breakage trends'.

[Moley RUFC]

Pour boiling hot water over the windscreen

[skinner05]

Piersman2 said:

skinner05 said:

What damage can warm water do to a windscreen?

Supposedly it can crack the glass. But I think you'd have to use very hot water and only pour it in one place to make the screen expand unevenly.

For years, in Aberdeen, a watering can of quite warm water applied evenly over the screen worked a treat, never a problem.

I wouldnt advise throwing a freshly boiled kettle of water onto your screen though!

Well i might invest in one of these protective covers to be on the safe side then, plus it saves a lot of hassle in the morning.

[richyb]

Moley RUFC said:

Pour boiling hot water over the windscreen

Clears the windscreen in seconds, literally.

[RobM77]

What you should do if you can be bothered is get a windscreen cover. I confess though I've always used warm water from the tap. I do this anyway in the mornings to clear mist and water droplets off my wing mirrors, otherwise they never truly clear.

[Wacky Racer]

tomTVR said:

andy-xr said:

Well, I press the heated front screen button, then the heated rear screen button, fiddle with the Ipod, wait for the mirrors to heat up and think about setting off

Well lardy-dar

[Balmoral Green]

Lois, out of interest, does your Ibiza take forever to warm up? My Fabia does, as have all the other VAG diesel cars of that type that I've had too. They are all the same thing under the skin, and it does appear to be a common feature with them.

[anonymous-user]

Wacky Racer said:

tomTVR said:

andy-xr said:

Well, I press the heated front screen button, then the heated rear screen button, fiddle with the Ipod, wait for the mirrors to heat up and think about setting off

Well lardy-dar

My front & rear screen come on automatically if it is below a certain temperature

[sniff diesel]

Balmoral Green said:

Lois, out of interest, does your Ibiza take forever to warm up? My Fabia does, as have all the other VAG diesel cars of that type that I've had too. They are all the same thing under the skin, and it does appear to be a common feature with them.

A common feature of many cast iron engined block cars. When I was removing the heater matrix from my E36 track car I found there's a small heated coil to electricaly warm the air being blown into the screen, clever feature for an old car I thought.

[mp3manager]

Intellistart

[Apache]

How tiresome, can't one get a member of the staff to sort this kind of thing out?

[littlemidgetgem]

Rhino Cover

Failing that a good scraper for the ice and a good cloth for the inside and back screen! Blissfully thinking about these heated screens...

[Balmoral Green]

sniff diesel said:

Balmoral Green said:

Lois, out of interest, does your Ibiza take forever to warm up? My Fabia does, as have all the other VAG diesel cars of that type that I've had too. They are all the same thing under the skin, and it does appear to be a common feature with them.

A common feature of many cast iron engined block cars. When I was removing the heater matrix from my E36 track car I found there's a small heated coil to electricaly warm the air being blown into the screen, clever feature for an old car I thought.

Hmmm, but Mrs BG's Panda is belting out the heat and fully defrosted no sooner than it's off the driveway and down the road. I think that's an iron block too.

[sniff diesel]

Balmoral Green said:

sniff diesel said:

Balmoral Green said:

Lois, out of interest, does your Ibiza take forever to warm up? My Fabia does, as have all the other VAG diesel cars of that type that I've had too. They are all the same thing under the skin, and it does appear to be a common feature with them.

A common feature of many cast iron engined block cars. When I was removing the heater matrix from my E36 track car I found there's a small heated coil to electricaly warm the air being blown into the screen, clever feature for an old car I thought.

Hmmm, but Mrs BG's Panda is belting out the heat and fully defrosted no sooner than it's off the driveway and down the road. I think that's an iron block too.

Might have something to do with the capacity of the cooling system?

[Wacky Racer]

[Howard-]

I have a two-litre coke bottle in the kitchen ready for icy mornings. Fill it up with lukewarm water from the tap and there's enough to douse the car's windows and get rid of the ice. I start the car immediately afterward and fire up the heaters and wipers and it never re-freezes Best method in my experience

[King Herald]

andy-xr said:

Well, I press the heated front screen button, then the heated rear screen button, fiddle with the Ipod, wait for the mirrors to heat up and think about setting off

The few times I've done it I walk round with the de-icer spray, give it a good spray, then back round again with the scraper, and all the time the engine is idling away, and Bob's your uncle: de-iced and warm.

[Adz The Rat]

I recently coated my front and rear screens with some rain repellent stuff and now they dont seem to freeze as bad, guess it because the moisture doesnt want to stick to the screen.
Ive got a really good ice scraper too so its pretty easy

[sniff diesel]

Howard- said:

I have a two-litre coke bottle in the kitchen ready for icy mornings. Fill it up with lukewarm water from the tap and there's enough to douse the car's windows and get rid of the ice. I start the car immediately afterward and fire up the heaters and wipers and it never re-freezes Best method in my experience

Doesn't really work in a heavy frost though does it.

[jamiebae]

andy-xr said:

Well, I press the heated front screen button, then the heated rear screen button, fiddle with the Ipod, wait for the mirrors to heat up and think about setting off

That's my method of choice too

Except in the Lotus, which after a little 'incident' in the snow on the A3 last winter tends to stay under its cover on the drive if it's too cold!