A frozen windshield in winter is a big problem, since driving a car requires good visibility. Removing ice crust from glass takes a lot of time, which is critical in the morning. Expensive cars are equipped with built-in heated windshields, but what should owners of cheaper cars do? There are ways out and there are many of them.
Options for heating the front glass with your own hands:
- Installing heated windshield wipers
- Heating the wiper rest area
- Heating of washer fluid
- Purchasing new glass with built-in heating
- Purchasing a special heater-hairdryer installed on the panel
Installing heating on windshield wipers
Inside these wipers there is an element that is heated by current. Heat from the element is transferred to the rubber band and blade body, which helps melt the ice on the windshield in a short time. There are two types of heated wipers:
- Activated when plugged into the cigarette lighter
- Activated by pressing a button on the remote control that comes with them.
All two options are connected via the car's cigarette lighter. It’s just that in the first option, to turn off the heating, you need to disconnect the connector from the cigarette lighter, and in the second option, you can simply press the button on the remote control. All two options are mounted as follows.
Installation
It's easy to heat the brushes. The essence of the connection diagram: The wire is connected to the cigarette lighter and led out of the passenger compartment into the engine compartment to the brushes.
Advice. After installation, you should not place the wire near the motor or connector, as it will melt.
From the engine compartment, the wire is connected to the brush. It is fixed on the brush with special clamps that come with it.
Advantages: fast heating, relative ease of installation
Disadvantages: the cigarette lighter will be busy
Disadvantages of heated wipers
- Cost of acquisition - standard models are much cheaper.
- During severe frosts, the material of the windshield wipers deteriorates, and when the heating is turned on, the glass cracks.
- The installation process is too difficult, as a result of which you need to seek help from a car service.
How to install heated wipers with your own hands, watch the video:
Did you like the article? Subscribe to updates via RSS, or follow updates on VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Twitter or Google Plus. Receive updates directly to your email: Tell your friends! Share the article with your friends on your favorite social network using the buttons on the panel.
Heated windshield wiper rest area
Heating of the wiper area is carried out by gluing a special film into which heating elements are built. These elements are powered from the vehicle's network. The heating tape is applied to the windshield on the passenger compartment side.
The entire windshield is not heated by this method, but the most important part of it for viewing is heated, so this method is good.
Installation
To apply a heating film with heating elements to the windshield wiper rest zone, you will either have to remove the dashboard or remove the glass. The second option is simpler and cheaper if you contact a specialized service.
Heating elements are glued to the removed glass, as shown in the photo. It is important to leave a distance of 2 cm from the edges of the glass, since the sealant will lie there.
It is best to power this electric heating with a wire with a cross section of 1.5 mm.
The simplest option for connecting the defroster: in parallel with the button for turning on the heated rear window. This means that when the rear window heating is turned on, the front window heating will also work.
Now you need to find the plus of the network. It can be used from any electrical option of the car, for example, from heated mirrors. You need any wire where there is a voltage greater than or equal to 12 volts. This wire is connected through the switch and relay.
It is important when installing the heating not to damage the filament. Because in order to repair the heating threads, you will have to remove the glass or dashboard again.
Advice. You should not turn on the windshield heating in an unheated cabin if the outside temperature is less than -15 degrees. Due to large temperature changes, the glass may crack.
Advantages: high heat transfer, speed
Disadvantages: difficult to install
Heating of washer fluid
This type of heating not only helps to melt the layer on the glass in winter, but also to wash away dirt in summer, since warm water washes better than cold water. There are two ways to heat the washer fluid:
- Heating the washer barrel
- Heated washer nozzles
Keg heating
The washer is heated using special plates with a thermostat. You can purchase them at any radio electronics store.
Just like heating the brushes and windshield, these plates are connected via a 12 Volt wire. For example, you can take the wire from the heated mirrors. Since these elements have a built-in thermostat, they are able to turn off when the temperature reaches above 50 degrees.
It is not difficult to fix the plates on the barrel, since they are self-adhesive.
Advice. When using this method, it is better to insulate the washer barrel itself so that it retains heat better. This is done by covering it with three layers of foil.
Heating of injectors
The heating of the nozzles washing the windshield is carried out due to the built-in resistance inside them. Under the influence of current, this resistance heats up and transfers heat to the washer fluid.
Purchasing a new heated front window
The option is good if your car is equipped with a heated front window. You can simply purchase such glass and install it instead of the old one. This item will be original and of high quality.
If such equipment is not available, you can purchase Chinese non-original heated glass. This option is already a lottery, because it is not a fact that this frontal approach will work well.
Do not forget that this glass will have to be installed either independently or at a service center. It’s best to do it yourself, because purchasing new heated glass is an expensive purchase (the cost of such glass starts from 10,000 rubles).
Advantages: when buying the original, the highest quality option.
Disadvantages: high cost, risk of low-quality products when buying non-original ones.
Heated wipers - varieties
The types of heated windshield wipers are as follows:
- Frame wipers have a simple design. Used mainly on simple car models. The disadvantages include an extremely short service life, as they quickly rust and become loose. More expensive types of frames are made of plastic; they can last much longer than metal ones, but are not able to get rid of icing on the windshield.
- Frameless models - in these models there is no frame at all, which gives them an advantage, since they do not make noise and do not distract the driver. The main advantage of frameless wipers is that they can last much longer than frame models, since they do not corrode. But to purchase such wipers you will have to shell out a larger amount of money.
- Hybrid models - they combine all the advantages and advantages of frame and frameless models. This version of wipers is the most effective, but their cost is significantly higher than other models.
Purchasing special additional airflow
This is the cheapest and worst performing method. Many advertisements for these devices on the Internet and on TV say otherwise, but you shouldn’t believe them. The problem with such a windshield heater is that the heat will not spread evenly, but at a certain point. These heating fans themselves are low-power, so you will have to wait a long time for them to melt the glass. However, such additional airflow is very easy to install: just install it on the dashboard and plug it into the cigarette lighter. Additional electric blowing is good only if you warm up the car engine for a long time (you can also warm up the windshield at the same time).
Advantages: Easy installation, low cost
Disadvantages: Long warm-up time, uneven heating plane
Why is heating the wiper rest zone needed?
This option is designed to heat the area where the windshield wiper stops in rest mode. You don’t have to tear off a frozen wiper; in addition, heating prevents the formation of wet snow in this part of the windshield, as well as icing and freezing of the wiper blade itself.
I am sure that every car owner has encountered the problem of brushes freezing in winter. In order to get the wipers back to work, sometimes you even have to get out of the car and knock off the ice and snow that has frozen on the wiper blade. There are several ways to solve this problem: using heated blades, installing a fully heated windshield, even introducing a special wiper function, which, when you briefly press the wiper control lever, puts them in a position 5-7 centimeters higher than the standard one, in the area where the glass is heated by air. from a standard stove.
Heating the windshield wiper rest zone is another way to solve this problem: simple, quite effective, inexpensive, and easy to install yourself.
We increase the cleaning area of the VAZ 2110 windshield
Have you noticed that the windshield wiper blades of the VAZ 2110 do not clean the windshield well, or better yet, they do not clean the edge of the glass near the driver's pillar? As a result, over time, a thick dirty strip forms on the edge of the windshield near the driver, which significantly reduces the driver’s visibility. We'll tell you how you can increase the cleaning area of your windshield. If, in addition to the left pillar, you add a dirty strip that dozens of wipers cannot clean, then the driver’s visibility is significantly reduced, especially when turning left. On cars produced recently, this sector is cleaned better by wipers. You can increase the windshield cleaning area in various ways, it all depends on what the strip of dirt looks like, which the wiper cannot reach. I’ll start with the simplest method:
Increasing the cleaning area of the windshield (simple method)
One of the reasons why the wiper does not reach the edge of the glass is the old-style windshield (jabot). That is, the leash just rests on the frill. Solution: Cut off a small triangle where the leash rests on the frill. Another simple solution to the problem could be to install the driver's wiper higher than the initial position. Thus, the higher the initial position of the wiper, the more area it will clean near the pillar. However, not many people will like the raised wiper blade. It will also create additional air resistance, because is no longer located under the frill as before. In addition, the raised wiper will only clean the upper part near the pillar. As a result, the uncleaned area will resemble a wedge.
Uniform cleaning near the edge of the windshield
To ensure that the cleaning of the windshield near the pillar is uniform, that is, so that the brush and the pillar are parallel and not like a wedge, you need to bend the leash. That is, slightly (using the selection method) bend the leash next to the hook under the brush (there is a factory bend there, you just need to increase it a little). You will also have to slightly bend the end of the wiper spoiler up, because it can catch on the blade. Now the corner of the windshield near the driver will be clean, but there is one drawback - the driver’s wiper is constantly raised.
How the windshield is heated in the resting zone of the brushes
Standard option
Standard heating is quite simple. On the windshield, in the resting area of the brushes, there are conductive tracks that heat this particular area of the glass. To turn on the heating of the rest zone of the windshield wiper blades, the same button is usually used as for heating the mirrors, rear window, or, much less often, a separate button.
Heating kit for self-installation
A kit for self-installation most often consists of a flexible transparent self-adhesive film with a conductive track and lead-out pads applied to it. They are available in different powers and lengths, which must be selected based on the size of the brushes of your car.
You will also need a relay of at least 40A, a fuse, contacts and a power button.
Self-installation of heating the rest zone of windshield wiper blades
The heating installation sequence generally does not differ depending on the make of the car. True, sometimes complete disassembly and dismantling of the front panel is required.
General installation procedure:
- Prepare the heating installation site. Clean from dust, dirt and grease.
- Carefully apply the tape to the inside of the car window where the windshield wiper blade stops. The place where the wiper stops should be in the middle of the heating element.
- Connect one wire to vehicle ground.
- Connect the other wire to the wire on which “+ 12 Volts” appears when the ignition is turned on through the switch, relay and fuse
Installing heating yourself is not the easiest task, requiring certain skills. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to contact a service center that has the necessary licenses and certificates for this type of work.
Is it possible to install NShchS in the windshield wiper rest zone with your own hands?
Installation of the heated rest zone of the windshield wipers should be carried out in service centers, since its installation is not an easy task. The main advantage of installing wipers in a car service center is the provision of a guarantee for the work performed, this means that if any problems arise, the car owner can receive repairs or replacement of the blades for free. But, if you still decide to install heated wipers yourself, then follow the following procedure to achieve the best result:
- Before starting work, clean the wiper area from various dirt and dust.
- After this, separate the protective film from the purchased brushes.
- Now you need to determine the place on the glass where the brush stops. To this place you need to glue the NShchS from the inside of the glass. Make sure that the brush stop is located in the center of the heating material.
- Now you need to connect two wires, one cable is connected to the ground of the vehicle. The second wire is connected through the switch to the wire that displays “+ 12 volts” when the car is turned on.
- The installation process is complete, you can now start the heated wipers.
Types of windshield heating systems - which one to choose
A little theory
The manufacturing technology for heated windshields differs from that for rear windows. There are several heating methods. Some of them provide complete heating of the windshield, while others only provide part of it. All methods are described in detail below.
Integrated systems for heating the entire glass surface
There are two ways here:
- During manufacturing, a thin thread, barely visible to the eye, is soldered into triplex. This method requires considerable costs, since the increase in the cost of triplex with electric heating is a serious drawback, due to which many manufacturers have abandoned the production of such glass. Another significant disadvantage appears here. The heater grid can create glare in the sun or in bright artificial lighting. Discomfort for the driver when such glare appears is ensured. Despite the thinness of the threads, they can disorient the driver when an oncoming vehicle appears with high or even low beam headlights on. However, over time, manufacturers found a way out of the situation: a special depolarizing coating was developed. There is no way to make such a coating yourself.
- A car windshield consists of three layers: an inner layer of glass, an outer layer of glass and a polymer film between them. To ensure heating, it is the outer layer that needs to be warmed. The second method involves applying a metallized layer between the surface of the outer layer of glass that faces inward and a layer of polymer film. This metallized layer is a heating element, the heat from which is transferred along the entire perimeter of the glass. The connectors for connecting this system are located at the top and bottom of the car's windshield.
Partial heating of the windshield wiper rest zone
There are also two methods here.
- The first way to heat a windshield is to equip the lower part of the glass with heating elements. But this method does not provide heating of the glass along its entire perimeter. It only warms up the wiper area. But since this area is considered the most important for viewing, many drivers prefer this method.
- Another non-trivial method is to equip the wipers themselves with heating elements. If you follow the operating conditions, this method will be the safest. With this method, it is necessary to preheat the glass, and then turn on the heating system. But this is not suitable for particularly severe frosts, as the glass may crack.
Additionally, we recommend reading our specialist’s article, which talks about how to choose and install warm wipers.
We also recommend reading our expert’s article on how to choose winter windshield wiper blades.
Heated windshield washer nozzles
Such injectors are, as a rule, universal and can be installed on a wide variety of cars. You can make them yourself, but it is still recommended to purchase them in stores. You can purchase the most reliable injectors from partner companies of car manufacturers. They are designed to prevent washer fluid from freezing at low temperatures and prevent failure of windshield washer systems.
Another advantage of using such nozzles is the heating of the windshield washer fluid. And a warm solution, as you know, is better for cleaning objects. Warm water removes ice that has formed faster, and the elasticity of the rubber brushes of the cleaner increases significantly.
But heating the injectors does not provide a 100% guarantee of efficiency due to certain factors. The most significant of them is the quality of the windshield washer fluid. If the quality is low, such a liquid will crystallize at a temperature much higher than that set by the manufacturer. The temperature of the injectors when driving in frosty weather decreases greatly due to the oncoming flow of cold air.
Heated wipers
Heating the wipers is necessary to prevent the blades from sticking to the glass during frosts. Among the obvious advantages, one can also note an increase in the service life of the wipers and the elimination of instant freezing of the liquid when driving at high speed in cold weather. You can either buy a heating device in a specialized store or assemble it yourself. But it is still recommended to purchase ready-made devices. Among the disadvantages of heating wipers, it is worth noting the relatively high cost.
Windshield washer does not work well
“Bad” means that the pump hums, but the liquid almost does not reach the glass or splashes in different directions. Causes:
- clogged injectors, tubes, filter, check valve
- the tubes may have come off the injectors or connectors
- breakdown of pump fittings, connectors, nozzles
Start troubleshooting by disconnecting the tube leading from the pump to the injectors. If the jet pressure is good, then inspect the nozzles and pipe connections. Otherwise, “go down,” i.e. to the tank, and check the condition of the pump outlet fitting and tube, and also turn on the washer and evaluate its performance by eye. If the fitting is broken, compare your skills and the cost of the part. At times, repairing a fitting is useful and provides good savings in money and time - although sometimes you have to wait quite a long time for the ordered spare part.
Windshield washer nozzle
Briefly about how to remove windshield washer nozzles to clean them. If the object (mote) is larger than the diameter of the nozzle, then the obstacle from the outside can be pushed deeper into it, and it will “come back”. The injectors are usually fixed with elastic latches that need to be squeezed. It is convenient when the injectors are installed on the hood - the latches can be squeezed from the inside.
Alternately prying the nozzle on both sides, pull it out along with the tube. If you are not sure what will happen, remove the overlay (“frill”). It is not at all necessary to remove the wiper arms - just bend the trim.
After removing the nozzle, use a pin or something similar to remove the blockage and blow (rinse) the nozzle in the opposite direction. You can also clean and wash the windshield washer fan nozzles, just try to remove dirt from all the jets. You can soak them in a soap solution, or better yet, soda ash. If the injector body is detachable, disassemble it, but be careful - there may be a check valve with a ball and a spring. The valve holds water in the tubes, so that when the washer is turned on, the liquid is immediately supplied to the glass and the wipers do not scrape dry dirt. When you put the nozzles in place, use a pin to adjust the direction of the jet, just do not damage the hole.
Price issue
The cost of a heated windshield varies around 5,000 rubles for finished glass. It should be taken into account that heating by soldering the filament will cost the most and cause discomfort associated with glare. The most budget option would be to install heating elements in the lower part of the glass.
If it doesn’t matter to you whether the entire glass or only part of it will be heated, then you should choose this option. As for warming up the wipers and injectors, it is worth noting that price does not matter when it comes to traffic safety. Therefore, it is best to purchase them in stores rather than skimp on installing them yourself. Moreover, recently some good Russian budget models have appeared.
Heated windshield as a standard feature from the car manufacturer
You can either buy a car that already has a heated windshield. A striking example will be the new Skoda “Octavia” model, which has this option on most trim levels. But it is possible to order glass installation from the manufacturer. For example, in the town of Elektrostal near Moscow, it provides such a service to owners of cars, buses and even boats. The installation cost, on average, is one and a half thousand rubles, and the cost of glass may vary depending on the car model. For example, for a Volkswagen Golf 4, glass can cost from five to seven thousand rubles.
Installing a heated windshield
Installation at a service center
Installing a heated windshield in a car service center, as mentioned above, consists of dismantling the old glass and electrical installation for the purpose of routing power wires and heating control. You can receive this service by contacting the dealership where you purchased the car, or a dealership that services cars of your brand.
The service is provided not only by car dealerships, but also by various auto repair shops, but it is still recommended to use the help of a car dealership to avoid mismatch between the glass model and the car. Dismantling and installation take some time, during which you can drink tea or coffee, or watch the installation process.
Self-installation
This method is the most risky, since it is unlikely that each of us is a professional auto mechanic. To make heating yourself, you need basic knowledge about the electrical equipment of a car. Soldering iron skills are also required.
You can equip the glass with heating by installing the tape in the plane of the windshield wipers and gluing it around the perimeter of the window. To do this, purchase self-adhesive tape (without filaments) from the store and carefully wipe the inside of the glass with a rag or corduroy cloth to remove stains and dust. Then carefully apply the strips of tape.
After installation, it is necessary to power the heating into the vehicle's power supply system. To do this, one terminal must be connected to the positive wire, and the other to the control unit. In the case of installing heated wipers and windshield wipers, the same thing is repeated, except for dismantling the old glass.
Subtleties of self-installation of Burner brushes on the windshield
The process of installing Burner heated wipers on any type of car is done in two ways:
- The first method is to connect to the heated button for the rear window of the car. It is better to entrust this method to specialists in a car service, since it is quite difficult to correctly install such equipment, especially if you do not understand electronic devices.
- The second method is to connect the brushes via a radio key fob.
This method is the simplest and most optimal, since it does not require special effort and knowledge, and, therefore, you do not have to seek help from specialists.
- In the second method, you just need to connect the device to a power source and take the radio key fob into the car. After this, when you press the button, the brushes will automatically turn on, and turn off when you press it again.
- You can learn more about the second installation method in the instructions that come with the heated wiper kit from Burner.
