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Old 01-28-2013, 08:02 PM   #1
Lakesrider
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Default Defroster not very good?

I was just wondering if anyone else is having issues with the windshield defroster (2012 Imprezza) during a snow storm. even on full hot, full fan and set on full defrost the windshield never really gets completely cleaned off of ice. Especially the far right side. The windshield wiper tips keep getting loaded with ice and I have to stop,and get out to clear them. Kind of a pain, and not safe at all. It is almost as if the defroster just isn't directing air correctly. If anyone has had that problem and fixed it let me know...I can handle it but I don't like my wife getting out on the side of the road to do this and she may get hit.
Other than that 11,000 miles and no problems what so ever with the car. Love it in the snow....
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Old 01-28-2013, 09:59 PM   #2
Irongrave
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turn your blower speed down to 2 or 3. You'll get warmer air at lower speeds. your moving too many CFMs threw the heater core and it cant recover quickly enough. Lower speeds means less CFMs but higher BTUs aka warmer air. same is true in the summer for colder air.
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Old 01-28-2013, 10:02 PM   #3
aeoporta
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with the front set to defog and the a/c button illuminated and rear set to defrost, I have never had this issue, I did however switch to bracket less wipers from bosch so that may explain why I have not encountered this issue. I am certain others in the snow belt can chime in.
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Old 01-28-2013, 11:27 PM   #4
BajaGuy68
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I have Bosch Icon wipers on mine and Prestone De-Icer in the washer. The only time I had a patch of ice in the center of my windshield that didn't clear off was last week on the way home....but it was between 5 above and -10 and I didn't scrape it off to good.....too damn cold to do so!
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Old 01-28-2013, 11:35 PM   #5
Commander Keen
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Irongrave is correct. What makes it worse is that since recirculation is disabled in defrost mode, all the air being blown through that heater core is outside air. This can actually cool off an already warmed-up engine.

Either stick with the lower fan speeds on defrost mode, or use another mode with recirculation.

If you have the cold weather package, you can force the windshield de-icer on by holding the defrost button until the LED turns off and back on.
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Old 01-29-2013, 12:47 AM   #6
Xafen
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I drove through a rain-sleet-ice-snow storm last month and experienced just about the max the car could handle.

I was taking a friend down to the Ozarks to pick up a Mazda Speed6 (awesome car btw) and on the way back is started raining, the next hour it was sleet, then ice, then snow, and by Kansas City clear =0

On the way the defroster had little trouble in keeping the window free of ice, but the wiper blades froze slightly making them stiff and not in full contact with the window. I stopped twice in what became a 7 hour drive to knock off ice and get them back in full contact with the window.

In severe conditions like that, the only thing that would have prevented the wipers from icing up would have been heating elements integrated on the wipers.

The car did very well though overall =) I was quite happy.
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Old 01-29-2013, 02:54 PM   #7
finklejag
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My car always has two fog spots on the lower center windshield. I don't know why they are always there?
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Old 01-29-2013, 07:22 PM   #8
M45
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no problems here yet but i haven't really required too much.
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Old 02-02-2013, 08:13 AM   #9
Lakesrider
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Thanks. I guess I'll have to try a few of the suggestions to see if it makes a difference. It is odd as the air coming out of the defroster vents seems hot enough, yet it does not seem to get all the way to the top of the windshield to get the ice off the middle/top of the glass. Only other thing I noticed the other day is the tip of the passenger side blade ices up pretty badly. I do have the Bosch blades on it as well.
Thanks.
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Old 02-03-2013, 12:58 AM   #10
SleepNMnky
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aeoporta View Post
with the front set to defog and the a/c button illuminated and rear set to defrost, I have never had this issue, I did however switch to bracket less wipers from bosch so that may explain why I have not encountered this issue. I am certain others in the snow belt can chime in.
When full defrost or split defrost is on the A/C compressor automatically kicks on to dehumidify. The A/C button doesn't need to be pressed.
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Old 02-03-2013, 07:21 AM   #11
Zeeper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SleepNMnky View Post
When full defrost or split defrost is on the A/C compressor automatically kicks on to dehumidify. The A/C button doesn't need to be pressed.
And apparently on some cars the AC light illuminates when the defrost setting is set, others it does not, but either way the AC cycles on and off.
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Old 02-03-2013, 10:04 AM   #12
gravitylover
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I've had the windshield freeze up on me twice now. Both times it was in the low 20's and sleeting mixed with freezing rain and I was doing highway speeds. When this happens the headlights usually freeze up too. What really makes it bad is that the windshield wiper heater is on if the defroster is on so the wipers are warm and spread a micro thin layer of warm water on the glass and that's what freezes up on me because the top of the glass is so cold. I wish the defroster could be run independently of the wiper heater. So far the only solution I've found is using a really good low temp washer fluid and blasting every minute or so depending on need.
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Old 02-03-2013, 11:12 AM   #13
ans2k
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover View Post
I've had the windshield freeze up on me twice now. Both times it was in the low 20's and sleeting mixed with freezing rain and I was doing highway speeds. When this happens the headlights usually freeze up too. What really makes it bad is that the windshield wiper heater is on if the defroster is on so the wipers are warm and spread a micro thin layer of warm water on the glass and that's what freezes up on me because the top of the glass is so cold. I wish the defroster could be run independently of the wiper heater. So far the only solution I've found is using a really good low temp washer fluid and blasting every minute or so depending on need.
wait, what am i missing here? so the windshield wiper de-icer will not work while the windshield defogger is on?
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Old 02-03-2013, 11:20 AM   #14
SleepNMnky
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ans2k View Post

wait, what am i missing here? so the windshield wiper de-icer will not work while the windshield defogger is on?
The windshield wiper de-icer is connected to the rear defrost button as that activates the entire all weather package. So you can have the defrost on independent of the wiper de-over but then the rear defrost won't be on.

Last edited by SleepNMnky; 02-03-2013 at 06:57 PM.
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Old 02-03-2013, 11:42 AM   #15
abxex
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Originally Posted by Commander Keen View Post
If you have the cold weather package, you can force the windshield de-icer on by holding the defrost button until the LED turns off and back on.
Holding the [rear] defrost button until the LED turns off? I thought you just had to press it until the LED turned on.

On another note related to the defrost setting, does anyone else feel this car fogs up easily? I feel like no matter the season or weather, the front windows get partially fogged unless the front defrost setting is constantly on. I think I radiate an average amount of heat for a human being lol. I don't remember my previous cars being like this.
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Old 02-03-2013, 11:49 AM   #16
SleepNMnky
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abxex View Post
On another note related to the defrost setting, does anyone else feel this car fogs up easily? I feel like no matter the season or weather, the front windows get partially fogged unless the front defrost setting is constantly on. I think I radiate an average amount of heat for a human being lol. I don't remember my previous cars being like this.
I agree. I usually end up cracking the back window a tiny bit to alleviate it. Shouldn't be necessary but it works. I thought maybe its because I have the hatchback. When I had an SUV there were defrost elements in the side hatch windows & that helped. Do you have be hatch or 4 door?
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Old 02-03-2013, 12:13 PM   #17
abxex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SleepNMnky View Post

I agree. I usually end up cracking the back window a tiny bit to alleviate it. Shouldn't be necessary but it works. I thought maybe its because I have the hatchback. When I had an SUV there were defrost elements in the side hatch windows & that helped. Do you have be hatch or 4 door?
Hey sleep. I have a hatch. Ya, those extra side/rear defroster vents that the '12+ is missing would probably make a big difference.
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Old 02-03-2013, 05:39 PM   #18
gravitylover
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ans2k View Post
wait, what am i missing here? so the windshield wiper de-icer will not work while the windshield defogger is on?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SleepNMnky View Post
The windshield wiper de-over is connected to the rear defrost button as that activates the entire all weather package. So you can have the defrost on independent of the wiper de-over but then the rear defrost won't be on.
What I want is to be able to have the rear window defroster and mirror heaters on but not the wiper heater.

I'd also like to figure out a way to have the headlights either burn hotter or add some sort of heater element there so they don't freeze over. My Volvo had heated headlight washer nozzles and they were critical to winter condition driving safety.
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Old 02-03-2013, 06:58 PM   #19
SleepNMnky
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover View Post

What I want is to be able to have the rear window defroster and mirror heaters on but not the wiper heater.
Without disabling them altogether, I don't think it's possible.
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Old 02-03-2013, 07:22 PM   #20
Commander Keen
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Quote:
Holding the [rear] defrost button until the LED turns off? I thought you just had to press it until the LED turned on.
If it's below 41F, the windshield de-icer will come on with the rear defroster. Otherwise, you can force it on by holding the button.
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