Car defrosting on driveway, lesson learned

Skeeter · 19 Dec 2011 at 08:37

Walked past 2 unatteneded running cars this morning. Neither were worth stealing though, so i left them.

Hades · 19 Dec 2011 at 08:50

There seems to be a craze around my area where people delivering papers in the morning use their car. I can't understand it myself as surely the cost of fuel outweighs the salary they get for it?

Anyway they all seem to hop out with the door open and engine running. It would be so simple for someone to jump in and drive off. Idiots.

MikeHunt79 · 19 Dec 2011 at 08:58

[TW]Fox;20823899 said:
I've only needed to deforst my car once so far this winter. Just chucked some luke warm water over the windscreen and then drove off

I did this last night, takes 2 minutes at the most.

I've had people tell me that this will crack your windscreen, but it hasn't happened to me yet and I think it's pretty unlikely unless you use really hot water.

Alibaba99 · 19 Dec 2011 at 09:19

PinkFloyd said:
I'm on my second MK2 mondeo here. Can guarantee there is no way to put the fans on the screen without the aircon light coming on. Whether that means the aircon compresser and the like is actually working I have no idea, smells like it does at the moment (musty air from barely using it at the minute)

Wish my heated front windscreen still worked properly, I've got 2 lines right in my line of sight blocking the view and the left side doesn't thaw out at all. Still, better than nothing at all! Still find it baffling that only Fords have this :/

The air always passes over the evaporator regardless of whether the aircon is running or not. The musty smell is due to damp and bacteria in the trunking not the operation of the aircon.

Ford paid to develop the front screen heating system. Other manufacturers can use it but have to pay licensing costs. Interestingly, Volvo, when part of Ford, didn't want to implement the system as they were worried it would lead to people driving off with a clear screen only and not bothering to clear the side windows.

Skeeter · 19 Dec 2011 at 09:31

MikeHunt79 said:
I did this last night, takes 2 minutes at the most.

I've had people tell me that this will crack your windscreen, but it hasn't happened to me yet and I think it's pretty unlikely unless you use really hot water.

This is my tactic too. I too get told that its the worse thing you could ever do and all your windows will smash, yet I have never heard of anyone ever having a window smash.

Warm water from the tap in a jug, poured over windows, drive off.

Alibaba99 said:
Volvo, when part of Ford, didn't want to implement the system as they were worried it would lead to people driving off with a clear screen only and not bothering to clear the side windows.

As opposed to all the other people without a heated screen, who clear a face sized hole in the ice and then drive off? Lol.

koolpc · 19 Dec 2011 at 09:36

Got to be honest, i wouldnt say i left the keys in the car!

Freefaller · 19 Dec 2011 at 12:20

It is a little bit of a daft thing to do really...

agnes · 19 Dec 2011 at 12:37

Surely modern cars warm up within min's of driving anyway??? Can't be that bad?

Locky · 19 Dec 2011 at 12:56

Cupra said:
fixed

its 4 or 5 depending on make and model of the car.

"fixed"

JustBen · 19 Dec 2011 at 13:00

I am paranoid about this so never do it, although i feel sorry for the person nicking my car!. I just have loads of de-icer or will sit in the car with the blowers on.

PinkFloyd · 19 Dec 2011 at 14:31

Alibaba99 said:
The air always passes over the evaporator regardless of whether the aircon is running or not. The musty smell is due to damp and bacteria in the trunking not the operation of the aircon.

Ford paid to develop the front screen heating system. Other manufacturers can use it but have to pay licensing costs. Interestingly, Volvo, when part of Ford, didn't want to implement the system as they were worried it would lead to people driving off with a clear screen only and not bothering to clear the side windows.

Fair enough

It's a nice feature, would love to have it in the side windows too mind! Can't knock Volvo's logic there.

MikeHunt79 said:
I did this last night, takes 2 minutes at the most.

I've had people tell me that this will crack your windscreen, but it hasn't happened to me yet and I think it's pretty unlikely unless you use really hot water.

I usually use lukewarm water, if you put your finger in the water and it doesn't feel either hot or cold to you it will be absolutely fine.
Wouldn't chuck boiling water from the kettle over my car though.

So far this year i've not had to do it at all, Just blasting the heaters on full with the engine running has been enough to defrost the car in 2 mins so far.

Scrutinize · 19 Dec 2011 at 14:59

I have used lukewarm to hot water out of the tap (not kettle) for the last 5-6 years and it has never caused a problem. I keep a 4 pint milk carton for this purpose.

For the totally paranoid, you can just use cold water from the tap although it may take a couple of extra litres for the same result.

Django x2 · 19 Dec 2011 at 15:22

Same, never ever had a problem with luke warm water from a tap. This is 2011, windscreens in anything newer than a 2000 plate should be well and truly fine*

*may not be fine

PiKe · 19 Dec 2011 at 15:43

If mine cracks I'll pay the £50 excess and get another? It's chipped to buggery anyway.

Duke · 19 Dec 2011 at 16:37

Skeeter said:
As opposed to all the other people without a heated screen, who clear a face sized hole in the ice and then drive off? Lol.

My neighbour does this, as well as not clearing the snow from the roof as well

ChrisD. · 19 Dec 2011 at 16:39

Boiling water will break the window, someone did it in Germany, it provided many lol's.

PiKe · 19 Dec 2011 at 16:40

Duke said:
My neighbour does this, as well as not clearing the snow from the roof as well

Saw someone clearing their roof with a spade once, I can't imagine the state of their paintwork after!

ubersonic · 19 Dec 2011 at 16:51

Last year I went out one morning and the door lock was frozen solid (this car didn't have RCL) so I pee'd on it to de-ice it, simple fix.

ChrisD. · 19 Dec 2011 at 17:17

ubersonic said:
Last year I went out one morning and the door lock was frozen solid (this car didn't have RCL) so I pee'd on it to de-ice it, simple fix.

I can't think of any situation where I'd actually pee on my own car, unless of course it was a life or death matter, which would be plain weird.

MatteH Oxford · 19 Dec 2011 at 17:17

Jonnycoupe said:
In light of this question....I've never seen a HVAC unit that has the airflow going through the heater matrix core first...... it kinda cancels the point of heating the air when the evaporator conditioning will drop the air temp below customer demand.

Hence the evaporator will always be first port of call after the pollen filter to dry the air then the matrix and main distribution system blend heat to match what the climate control system calibration is set to do.

Well, warm air should be able to flow through the evaporator in at least the air recirculation mode, manufacturers recommend that you run the a/c with the heat set to maximum occasionally to kill any bacteria in the system.
If there is going to be any bugs/mould in the system, it will be around the evaporator!. I can't guarantee this is accurate 100% as I've not seen every type of a/c or climate control set-up in every vehicle.

When i get my Mondeo back i will post some video evidence of:

1. the a/c being able to be switched on & off independently whilst using the windscreen/demist setting on the airflow control

2. the compressor & hence the system operating at freezing temperatures

MatteH Oxford said:
The increased volume of air is due to the recirculation not working in the windscreen position, the flap switches to draw air from the outside. This is controlled by vacuum & has nothing to do with the green light or the a/c being on/off. The volume of air does not & cannot change in this position due to any other settings via the heater controls or the a/c being on or off. Apart from changing the fan speed obviously, by heater controls i meant the hot/cold dial....edit!!

Bit sleepy, made an error & added text for more clarity in red