with the current frosty weather we are having i have noticed that my heated screen clears all but the right hand 6-8 inches.
it was the same with my last car, is it typical of fords? (current transit, previous mondeo)
OR
is it something to do with most cars being destined to be LHD. the left side clears first and quickest.
any ideas or thoughts on the matter would be appreciated
cheers, alf
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Luckily mine is working OK but I notice that when it is on and being used to clear interior misting there is a very narrow vertical line of uncleared screen up the middle. This leads me to suppose that the heating element may be divided into 2 halves although I think there is only one fuse. Does your handbook sugest there are two, in which case one might be blown? I do notice you say slower, not failed. There was a thread last week with a query about a 'slow' rear screen heater.
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It's common to all Fords, if you look at the screen carefully you'll see where the wires run, they start at the top right hand side of the screen but for one reason or another they don't travel parallel to the edge of the screen, they finish about 4 inches from the edge of the screen.
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It should clear the same amount either side leaving a gap that is wider at the bottom than the top either side.
My FocuST one only clears the driver's side, I have yet to explore whether one of two fuses have gone, a connector has come loose or the screen is at fault.
My Mondeo one works perfectly though.
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My Mondeo leaves a 1" strip and a 4" strip in the middle of the screen so I assume some duff elements. It's no problem as a few sweeps of the wipers takes off this remaining frost.
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Both of my Mk 1 Focus left an uncleared triangle at both sides, increasing from nothing at the top to about 2 inches at the bottom. My latest screen is a non-genuine replacement and the uncleared area is about 4 inches at the bottom. Your 6-8 inches on the right hand side is probably normal for a Transit, although I would have expected an uncleared area on the left as well.
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My Mondy leaves a 2" strip next to both A-pillars and a 1/4" stripe down the middle.
It's very useful, especially for clearing interior condensation
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My '08 Ka always leaves the middle line to last, and about 2 inches either end never gets seen to since the lines end before that.
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As blue p, I have a Focus with a heated screen and the elements do not go all the way to the edge, they finish a few inches before. This is my first experience of using the heated screen since I bought the car and I must say I am impressed. On Sat. morning the car temp display was showing -4 and the car was covered in a thick layer of ice. Pushed the button and just watched the ice melt away. Fantastic!
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This leads me to suppose that the heating element may be divided into 2 halves although I think there is only one fuse
AS, yes the element is divided into 2 halves. I posted about this in Technical the other week but I don't seem to be able to find it now :-(
Mine was only clearing the driver's half of the screen, but careful investigation revealed a strained connection where a wire had been trapped under the battery. After I remade the connection the passenger half now de-ices as well :-)
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Mine was only clearing the driver's half of the screen but careful investigation revealed a strained connection where a wire had been trapped under the battery. After I remade the connection the passenger half now de-ices as well :-)
Is that on a Focus Dave? I will look for that on my ST.
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"After I remade the connection"
Can you join two pieces of a broken connection in any way?
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Not on a Focus, on an Escort. It's taken me a year to find this wire, of course the only time I've ever thought to look has been when it's dark and freezing so I haven't looked all that hard.
I joined them by cutting out the plastic connector plug and using a terminal block to join the two ends of the wire. On a '97 car like mine it doesn't matter so much, in another year or so the Escort will contain more Scotchloks and black tape than original Ford loom I reckon.
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thanks for the replies. i can live with the slight fault of not clearing the right hand 4 inches. i'll be getting a new screen in the summer after the grit has gone from the roads.
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i'll be getting a new screen in the summer ............
I recommend that you get a genuine replacement. My non-genuine replacement has larger unheated areas at the side than the original and appears to be very soft ~ the outer surface started to get scuffed/worn by the wipers after only a very short time. The inner surface has handprints seemingly etched into the surface ~ I've tried loads of things without success. I assume the fitter had very corrosive perspiration. You may be able to get either a totally genuine replacement or one made by the same manufacturer to the same design. The only difference with the latter will be the absence of the vehicle manufacturer's identification marks. Ask your proposed screen replacement company what the source of the screen would be and go elsewhere if you're not satisfied. I believe Autoglass are very good ~ other Backroomers may be able to advise on this aspect.
www.autoglass.co.uk/Replacing-a-windscreen.191.0.h...l
Edited by L'escargot on 24/12/2009 at 07:12
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If you get a non Ford windscreen fitted during the warranty, any problems with the screen, Ford wont want to know. So always get a Ford replacement.
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