De-icing my screen without heat?

[MrPickle]

Morning all

Right..
My van has no heating (bypassed heater matrix) and I cant afford to get it fixed.
Anyone got any super tricky tricks to help clear my screen in the morning??
I bin thinking of a cup of bioling water on the dash, hand warmers etc etc

[Balmoral Green]

A scraper. Simples.

[Slinky]

Fan heater + Extension lead..

[GarryA]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2IN1-12V-150W-CAR-HEATER-COO...

[Rawwr]

Isn't the ability to de-mist the screen an MOT requirement? Apologies if this isn't the case, I might be confusing it with a type approval requirement

[Thorburn]

Isn't that an MOT fail? The car has to be able to de-mist the front screen I thought?

[MrPickle]

indeed, however when its clear of ice it mist up instantly and is hard to clear.. if ya follow me

Edit to add..

Im seeing a friend of mine who's an MOT tester today. I'll find out if it is a fail. Handy to know either way. Thx for the heads up chaps.

Edited by MrPickle on Tuesday 16th November 08:59

[Rawwr]

MrPickle said:

indeed, however when its clear of ice it mist up instantly and is hard to clear.. if ya follow me

I'd rather not be following you if you can't see.

[Slinky]

Side step the MOT requirements... Remove the screen...

[MrPickle]

Rawwr said:

MrPickle said:

indeed, however when its clear of ice it mist up instantly and is hard to clear.. if ya follow me

I'd rather not be following you if you can't see.

I never set off until it is clear. 20min+ of wiping etc just a pain in the bum!

[Rawwr]

MrPickle said:

just a pain in the bum!

BBAH?

[Thorburn]

MrPickle said:

I never set off until it is clear. 20min+ of wiping etc just a pain in the bum!

The screen can mist up when you're on the move as well...

[MrPickle]

Rawwr said:

MrPickle said:

just a pain in the bum!

BBAH?

In the whispered words of the virgin mary,
come again??

[mnkiboy]

There's a product you can buy which claims to stop your windows from steaming up. From the same people that make Rain-X.
I've never used it so no idea if it actually works.

[6BMW]

Use COLD water - been doing it for years and no problems

[ShadownINja]

If you use lukewarm water, it should clear without cracking. Pour it on the windscreen. By lukewarm, I mean it feels cold to you but is warmer than 0C. I was thinking, though, that if you don't have a heater, it must fog up quite regularly and make it difficult to drive without constantly wiping the screen.

MrPickle said:

20min+ of wiping etc just a pain in the bum!

Might cause haemorrhoids.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 16th November 09:17

[Snoop Bagg]

MrPickle said:

indeed, however when its clear of ice it mist up instantly and is hard to clear.. if ya follow me

Edit to add..

Im seeing a friend of mine who's an MOT tester today. I'll find out if it is a fail. Handy to know either way. Thx for the heads up chaps.

Edited by MrPickle on Tuesday 16th November 08:59

Silica Gel will help absord the condensation, the stuff they put in your shoe box to stop the damp affecting them. Some in the ash tray will help!

[danrc]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48775

Maplin do this, a good price too!

[plg]

http://www.coopersofstortford.co.uk/src/GBASE/coop...

Or if you can get up an hour earlier.. you can get ceramic heat pads that go in the microwave for about 6 mins. Pop a couple on your dashboard and there should be enough gentle heat to warm the screen without risk of cracking.

Rainex on the outside + a blanket or newspaper overnight may help.

Otherwise, if you can safely run power to your van, a low powered storage heater as used in greenhouses would keep the chill off?

[MrPickle]

danrc said:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48775

Maplin do this, a good price too!

Great stuff, Im working near a Maplins today, shall pop in and have a look. Thx