heated windscreen

[gregers]

hi guys my heated windscreen has stopped working,ive checked the fuses under the bonnet all are fine,the light on the dashboard comes on and goes off after approx 5mins.
since buying it it has always done a barcode which i understand a lot of them do after a time.
is there anything else i can check or do i just hope the stone chip on the screen gets bigger?
in advance

[insanitybeard]

If you feel like it you could try to locate the ribbon type connector that connects the windscreen to the power supply on the body (usually a multiplug close to the screen itself) and make sure 12V is getting to the screen when it's switched on, you may need to remove a few trims to find it though, usually it comes off of the screen somewhere along the bottom. If you've got power there then it's likely the fault is internal to the screen and you'll need a new one- see if you can make that stonechip turn into a crack..... 

[Chrispb]

My experience with windscreen people is they will change it regardless whether it's cracked chipped scratched whatever, as long as you pay your excess.

[gregers]

guys.

[gregers]

right had another look today,inspected the earth around the interior mirror,checked the ribbons on both sides of the screen under the wiper area.

1 thing i have noticed is,when you press the button for the rear screen you can hear which i assume is a relay doing its job.
when you press the button for the front screen you hear ZILCH
so could it be a relay problem?

if so any pointers where i should be looking.

[roymacky]

hi ive just joined here as i think ive made the worst purchase of my life in a ford galaxy im trying to get help with the windscreen,
sorry if im hi jacking this thread i dont know where to start a thread..i cant see where im going at night because of the windscreen blur caused by the heater elements in it and the on coming headlights..its like a laser show think im gonna have to try and sell it if vthere is nothing to cure this,
can anyone help ?

[insanitybeard]

I don't think the effect you describe is unique to the Galaxy, it would affect any vehicle with a heated front screen. I know when the heated windscreen is switched on it can cause distortions and 'shimmering' in your line of sight as you describe but I've not found it to be an issue when the screen isn't switched on, after all, the primary role of the heated screen is to melt frost etc when the vehicle is cold and stationary rather than being used when in motion.

If you're finding it to be a problem regardless of whether the screen is off or on then I can't be of any further help, I've owned or driven a few Fords with heated front screens and like I say I've not noticed any night driving issues above and beyond the aforementioned distortions that are sometimes visible with the screen switched on, which isn't a fault as such, just a limitation of this method of screen heating.

[roymacky]

thanks for the reply on this, im not sure if i have had it switched on or not but i think it shuts off after ten minutes anyway.
its horrendous i can't drive at all at night, i have seen many people have posted the same problem which is not to be misunderstood by confusing with seeing the wires . its like  a laser show on my windscreen i cant beleive its not a discontinued invention.   

[insanitybeard]

I know the effect you mean, the heat radiating out from the heating elements in the screen when energised causes a 'shimmer' and distortion when looking through the screen, and no it's not just the wires being in the line of sight. However, as I said previously I've only ever noticed it when the screen is switched on, when I've seen the effect switching the screen off caused the phenomenon to cease immediately.

You are correct, the heated front screen should only stay on for a set length of time before automatically switching off. Next time you get the laser show why don't you consciously turn the screen off (if it's on) and see if it makes a difference?

Personally I'm very glad my car has a heated windscreen this time of year when there are cold nights and hard frosts, it makes mornings so much easier!

[gregers]

wish mine worked,

have checked for voltage at the fuses all working ok,identified the correct relay and thats clicking a gooden,so me thinks its the screen thats is fubared.

[roymacky]

thanks people...you might well be correct on this..now i have been driving for more than ten min so it should shut off BUT !
the stupid vehicle keeps cutting into limp mode and the only solution so far ive found is to flick the ignition on and off..so if the screenheater  has been turned on it will be on for a further ten mins everythime i flick the ignition..im hoping anyway.

[roymacky]

wish mine worked,

have checked for voltage at the fuses all working ok,identified the correct relay and thats clicking a gooden,so me thinks its the screen thats is fubared.

so yours doesnt work? and do you get an unbearable laser light show caused by any lights on the road at night? what an insult to injury that would be if yours didnt work and gave you you visual problems too

[Chrispb]

I have a MK2 & 3 both with heated front and rear screens and not noticed any of what your saying except to say the elements can show up in a particular bright sunlight.

Roymacky

Have you had a car with heated screen before? does it affect everybody in the car or just yourself? is there any scratch/wear marks that the wipers have made which may be contributing to the problem.

Do you have windscreen cover with your insurance (only pay excess) have the screen changed either with a new heated or new unheated screen.

[roymacky]

thanks again for the reply, ive never had a car with a heated screen no, whe i mentioned to my mrs about it she didnt even say anything so ill have to check if its me, although ive read many times now other peopl suffer this problem

it is almost as you suggest that the screen is finely scratched all over..
would an insurance company cover it even though its not actually broken?

thanks for all your help, night driving is total hell at the moment

[blue metal]

Roy
it is something I miss
having changed to a sharan
cold mornings up here in Scotland


I had a new replacement fitted to the
Galaxy and you could still see the fine
rainbow effect in certain conditions
but no worse than say wiper scratches over
a period
Do you happen to wear glasses that
might affect your reaction?

Tony

[roymacky]

Hi tony, I do wear glasses but even without them it's there..I dare not ring my insurance to see if they'll replace it on account of it hindering my vision as if they won't they may well say my insurance is void without me fixing it myself
This has been the most depressing purchase I have ever made buying a galaxy one thing after another and I've only had it two weeks:-(

[Chrispb]

thanks again for the reply, ive never had a car with a heated screen no, whe i mentioned to my mrs about it she didnt even say anything so ill have to check if its me, although ive read many times now other peopl suffer this problem

it is almost as you suggest that the screen is finely scratched all over..
would an insurance company cover it even though its not actually broken?

thanks for all your help, night driving is total hell at the moment

If the glass is scratched that much that it causes you a problem then that's reason enough to have it changed, I've never ever had a windscreen company query any request to change a screen it's business to them they get paid, if your that worried hit it with a heavy object, that thing with a wooden handle and a metal lump on the end is good.

Night driving can be a problem for some people it may be you need to see an optician just in case you have a problem, I do wear glasses all the time but you may need some just for driving.

[Chrispb]

You don't normally ring the insurance company, have a look at your policy to see which windscreen company they use then ring them direct.

[Mirez]

That's a real shame as the Galaxy is one of the best car's I've had - unfortunately there are a few out there that people just haven't looked after, I guess because they are generally used by young busy families. Still don't be too disheartened, I'm sure a little TLC will bring it back in line and you'll soon discover the many benefits they have over other models.

Now, regarding your problem - the heating elements are designed so that they don't interfere with sight, to the point where the wires are actually shaped to reduce reflections so the problem you are describing shouldn't be happening. Two questions that occur are firstly, is the screen an original or has it been replaced before? The cheaper replacement screens seem to suffer this phenomenon more then the originals. Secondly, as has already been said, if the screen has fine scratches on the outside then the light that's being reflected by the heating elements won't be as controlled, bouncing back and causing the issue.

If your insurance company covers glass then ring Auto Glass (or similar) and tell them the screen is scratched. It's a fairly automated process these days where the glass company just invoice your insurance without direct contact - as was discussed recently in another thread, the glass co. will replace a screen for any reason you say as they'll get paid either way.

[roymacky]

thanks to all for the help, i think it is that the screen is scratched very finely all overi inspected it closely today in daylight.

[gregers]

just a thought on my dilema,
just wondered if this is linked.
i also havnt noticed that my heated mirrors are infact working.
do you guys think this could be the problem,or is this a separate issue?

[Chrispb]

The heated mirrors work from the rear screen switch is that not working either.

[gregers]

ah balls,yep working as it should.just hasnt been that cold of late to see if the mirrors are working.
thats blown that idea then,