Heated Front Screen

[Aidy P]

When I bought my T6 I opted for the heated front screen. There had been discussions on this site about whether or not the option was necessary with the remote heater.

It was -2.C this morning after going down to -6'C last night. The van has been stood for a week so there was no residual heat.

It took 1 min 20 seconds to defrost the glass enough to clear the screen completely with wipers.

I hope this helps anyone considering the option.

 

[Ambler]

I had one on a Ford in the early 90's . They are great.
If I ever buy a T6 (or any other vehicle where they are an option) I will specify one.

 

[Hotel California]

Had it on my LR Defender and it's a great option ....

 

[Smiffy4bikes]

I had one on a Ford in the early 90's . They are great.
If I ever buy a T6 (or any other vehicle where they are an option) I will specify one.

Wow, thats quick!

Back in the day Ford had the patent, all their ‘Ghia’ models had it, brilliant. My then Escort estate had it, it was great. Then the patent expired and all the other car manufacturers started fitting them too.

I specified one on my Cali as apart from leaving for work at silly o-clock in the morning and not wanting to wake the neighbours up with all the scraping, I’m too bloody short to reach all the screen !!

 

[Lewis]

Initially thought it would be a waste when I realised how good the parking heater is but have used it loads when it's just me in the car for a commute and the heater seems a little extravagant

 

[Gary&Heather]

Couldn't agree with you more a great option and I would definitely have one on the T6.

 

[El Greco]

For me it's a no brainer being too lazy to stand outside and scrape the ice off so for me it's front an back heated glass. This clears not only ice but also condensation when you have the vehicle fully populated - they breathe too much!! If it was an option, I would have the door glass heated

 

[Stuartvw]

I have a heated front screen on my T6 and it is superb and very very quick at de icing

 

[briwy]

Wow, thats quick!

Back in the day Ford had the patent, all their ‘Ghia’ models had it, brilliant. My then Escort estate had it, it was great. Then the patent expired and all the other car manufacturers started fitting them too.

I specified one on my Cali as apart from leaving for work at silly o-clock in the morning and not wanting to wake the neighbours up with all the scraping, I’m too bloody short to reach all the screen !!

Dunno about Ford having the patent.
I had one in a 1968 Cooper S. These were fitted to the works cars and are switchable between driver and passenger side for some reason.
Got one now on the Yeti, brilliant

 

[Borris]

Auxillary heater, heated seats and heated winscreen, bl**dy marvelous. Meanwhile during this cold spell, our other car lies abandoned.

 

[Aidy P]

Auxillary heater, heated seats and heated winscreen, bl**dy marvelous. Meanwhile during this cold spell, our other car lies abandoned.

You forgot to mention 4Motion Borris! With the winter tyres too my van has been awesome in the snow!!

 

[sidepod]

Does it affect mobile phone reception at all?

 

[briwy]

Does it affect mobile phone reception at all?

Doesn't seem to. Never had a problem.

 

[Aidy P]

Does it affect mobile phone reception at all?

No affect in my opinion and the French motorway automatic barrier device works through it too

 

[zerofour]

We specced a heated screen on our Golf as my wife leaves for work at 5:45am and it obviously makes life easier in the winter. Didn't bother on the Cali though.

 

[zerofour]

Wow, thats quick!

Back in the day Ford had the patent, all their ‘Ghia’ models had it, brilliant. My then Escort estate had it, it was great. Then the patent expired and all the other car manufacturers started fitting them too.

I specified one on my Cali as apart from leaving for work at silly o-clock in the morning and not wanting to wake the neighbours up with all the scraping, I’m too bloody short to reach all the screen !!

I'd heard the Ford had the patent but the VW system is totally different – no visible wires in the screen.

 

[cundf]

You can See the wires in a T6 Frontscreen if you look very sharply to spot them. Never caused a problem while driving since 7.000 km.

 

[briwy]

Wish it had been an option when we got ours. Had them in company cars and got one in our Yeti. Brilliant.
BTW. BMC were using heated screens in the works MInis way before Ford did them.

 

[clive taylor]

yes I had one in my model t

 

[B J G]

Had it on cars in the past but didn't bother with it on the Cali. Not saying they aren't good.

A jug of hot water clears the screen & side windows in seconds followed with wiper or rubber squeegy action before it refreezes.
No it doesn't crack the glass, learned from a neighbour and took a bit of courage to copy as I thought the glass would shatter.

 

[zerofour]

Had it on cars in the past but didn't bother with it on the Cali. Not saying they aren't good.

A jug of hot water clears the screen & side windows in seconds followed with wiper or rubber squeegy action before it refreezes.
No it doesn't crack the glass, learned from a neighbour and took a bit of courage to copy as I thought the glass would shatter.

Would there be any long term damage, ie weakness to the glass?

 

[B J G]

Would there be any long term damage, ie weakness to the glass?

Never had any problems. Longest I've had one car is 5 years with no problems.
Automotive glass must have a huge temperature tolerance. Can be used in anything from Arctic to Sahara conditions.

 

[WelshGas]

Had it on cars in the past but didn't bother with it on the Cali. Not saying they aren't good.

A jug of hot water clears the screen & side windows in seconds followed with wiper or rubber squeegy action before it refreezes.
No it doesn't crack the glass, learned from a neighbour and took a bit of courage to copy as I thought the glass would shatter.

Just put the Parking Heater on for about 15-20 minutes.

 

[B J G]

Just put the Parking Heater on for about 15-20 minutes.

My method I'd have been at work by then.
Talking about heated windscreen cost.

Must admit that on my HGV's I used to set the night heater (basically same as Cali) to come on 20 mins before I got there.