Winshield problem

H

Hitman

New member
Okay, so I've tried a search, but couldn't find anything on this problem.



On a 2002 Ford Truck, the windshield seems to have what appears to be a water spot problem. This spots are completely and totally invisible in daylight, but are a huge problem driving in the rain at night.



Let me explain- Driving in the rain last night, each pass of the windshield wipers seems to just sort of smear the glass, even though it is clean.



I've tried all sorts of cleaning products to fix this problem. I've tried new wiper blades twice. I even got a glass polishing kit from a JC Whitney catalog, which included a powder and a buffing tool that I used with a variable speed drill.



Nothing has helped so far. Driving during the day is no problem... the window looks completely clear. But driving in the rain at night is horrible.



If I can't find a way to fix this, I'm probably going to have a new windshield installed.



Anyone have any ideas?
 
0000 steel wool is usually perfectly safe on windshields. Some have said it works very well when used with vinegar to remove water spots (you're getting a combination of physical and chemical removal). In my experience, vinegar won't work if they've been there for any length of time.

I had the same problem as you, but it was all of my windows and exterior mirrors (watch using steel wool on mirrors, as some are just coated plastic). I used Duragloss "Nu-Glass", and it removed every water spot on my glass, mirrors included. I was only able to find it at a glass specialty shop locally, but it can be found online. It is the most effective product I've used for water spots, and the only one that removed mine.



Dave
 
Hitman, can you tell us what's been done to the windows before now? Any polishes/waxes you've applied? Have you gone thru any auto-car-washes? and, if so, what treatments have you selected?



Personally, I wouldn't jump straight to 0000 steel wool. We generally recommend starting with the most gentle approach, then working up. In that vein, I'd start with a good wash, then clay bar (I use Autopia's), then a glass polish (I use Zaino), then maybe BonAmi ... before progressing to something like 0000.
 
Okay, here's what I've done so far-



I've tried all kinds of glass cleaners, from regular old Windex to some industrial strength stuff made by Condex.



I also replaced the wiper blades, thinking that maybe they were the problem.



I have never been thru a carwash (only wash by hand) and I have never applied Rain-X to the glass.



The truck is garaged overnight and not subjected to any type of lawn sprinkler or anything.



Finally, I order a glass polishing kit that uses a cerium oxide polishing powder. The kit is here:



http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml;$sessionid$3BBZIXIAAAN2QQSNDV1CFFCCJUOXKIV0?CATID=4526&BQ=jcw2



I'm not so sure that my problem is actually water spots. It's just hard to me to explain, but I'll give it another shot--- You know when you're driving in the rain and your windshield wipers make a pass, and for a second, there's a haze that clears up (maybe evaportates?) quickly? Well, the haze on my windshield does not clear up. It pretty much stays that way. But when I look at it from inside, I can definitely see the outline of what appears to be water spots. It's almost like I have a slightly oily film on the outside of the glass or something, although there's really no smearing.



I've never had to deal with this problem with any car I've ever owned. Funny thing is that I've read other people with the same vehicle complain about the same problem, so maybe it's a defect in the glass or something. I dunno. But on a dry, sunny day, the glass is completely and totally clear.
 
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