This stuff on my windshield is driving me crazy!

[EJD]

Ok, so forever I have been attempting to affix my rearview mirror on my windshield and it simply will not stay on. Honestly tried everything short of replacing the glass.

Every single time I drive my Jeep I notice some haze forms almost right away with all the windows up and makes me turn my defrost on a little, the defrost actually makes the haze temporarily get worse or hazier before it actually slowly works and clears up.

I can clean the inside of my glass thoroughly before the drive, but if at any point I need to use my defrost, this haze is back and there is actually a greasy film or something on my glass. Every. Damn. Day.

Does anyone know what the F is coming out of my defrost vents that could be potentially getting all over the inside of my windshield and forming an invisible glaze? There comes a point on every drive where I can write with my finger on it and you can clearly tell there is something on the glass.

I wipe it off, every time and it just somehow keeps coming back. Is this antifreeze vapor? Just trying to think what is possible to come through when the heat/defrost vents are on? Drives me nuts, what is the fix here?

 

[dmr22]

Sounds to me like it could be some sort of antifreeze leak, potentially from the heater core.

As far as cleaning it goes, on my wifes new car, the dash out gassed which caused the windshield to do the exact same thing. I tried cleaning it numerous times with glass cleaner and never could get it clean. Finally I followed the following steps and it worked perfectly:

1) Clean with dry microfiber towel
2) Fill a small tub with hot water and dish soap. Wash the windshield with a magic eraser and soap/water mixture.
3) Dry with microfiber towel.
4) Clean with glass cleaner and microfiber towel.

Make sure you do not let the towel touch the dash because any contaminants on the dash will then be placed on the windshield.

 

[ac_]

Sounds to me like it could be some sort of antifreeze leak, potentially from the heater core.

As far as cleaning it goes, on my wifes new car, the dash out gassed which caused the windshield to do the exact same thing. I tried cleaning it numerous times with glass cleaner and never could get it clean. Finally I followed the following steps and it worked perfectly:

1) Clean with dry microfiber towel
2) Fill a small tub with hot water and dish soap. Wash the windshield with a magic eraser and soap/water mixture.
3) Dry with microfiber towel.
4) Clean with glass cleaner and microfiber towel.

Make sure you do not let the towel touch the dash because any contaminants on the dash will then be placed on the windshield.

+1 but I have been known to use a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Here in AZ it gets super hot and the plastic dash will actually fume and cause a film on the inside of the windshield. It is not the same thing you are experiencing as mine doesn't haze and the defrost wont make it go away, but if you do have a small antifreeze leak it should clean that up.

 

[Chris]

To me that sounds like antifreeze vapor. I say that because it would have a greasy sort of haze like that, and it would also be the only thing that would come out of your defrost vents short of some sort of decaying matter from a dead animal that is trapped in their or something :risas3:

 

[CodaMan]

Windows fogging in the inside usually means a leak in the HVAC system and that would mean the heater core. To verify you could bypass the heater core for a few weeks by joining the 2 hoses together under the hood and see if it solves the issue.

 

[EJD]

Sounds to me like it could be some sort of antifreeze leak, potentially from the heater core.

As far as cleaning it goes, on my wifes new car, the dash out gassed which caused the windshield to do the exact same thing. I tried cleaning it numerous times with glass cleaner and never could get it clean. Finally I followed the following steps and it worked perfectly:

1) Clean with dry microfiber towel
2) Fill a small tub with hot water and dish soap. Wash the windshield with a magic eraser and soap/water mixture.
3) Dry with microfiber towel.
4) Clean with glass cleaner and microfiber towel.

Make sure you do not let the towel touch the dash because any contaminants on the dash will then be placed on the windshield.

Doesn't more vapor keep coming out and distorting your glass? or do you do this procedure often?

To me that sounds like antifreeze vapor. I say that because it would have a greasy sort of haze like that, and it would also be the only thing that would come out of your defrost vents short of some sort of decaying matter from a dead animal that is trapped in their or something :risas3:

Haha, man I wouldn't be surprised if there was a lizard or two in there somewhere after Florida, those things are everywhere!

Windows fogging in the inside usually means a leak in the HVAC system and that would mean the heater core. To verify you could bypass the heater core for a few weeks by joining the 2 hoses together under the hood and see if it solves the issue.

I know my HC was on its was out as I wasn't getting any hot air this past winter, so I did the reverse back flush and it helped enough to have heat but, it may just be shot. Is the potential leak anywhere I can access and patch up or is it recommended to just tackle the task of replacing it altogether?

 

[jjvw]

Ok, so forever I have been attempting to affix my rearview mirror on my windshield and it simply will not stay on. Honestly tried everything short of replacing the glass.

...

What about this first part?

 

[EJD]

What about this first part?

Lol, well you see when I got my Jeep I had relocated to Florida. Between living in the endless summer, scorching temperatures, full sun every day of the year, and washboard roads, my rearview mirror fell off. I have since been to hell and back to get it back up there and cannot get it to adhere.

Literally tried everything, new button, deep cleaning, super glue, jb-weld, it just won't stay on. I've even had safelite glass repair attempt it. Now i'm convinced that the glass itself is the problem. That or this invisible hazy vapor which is lingers out of my vents leaving the glass a glazed film coating that nothing can stick to.

I dunno, i'm about to drop the windshield down and roll that way from now on.
I actually haven't used my rearview in 2 years and I don't mind it at this point, whats bugging me is this stuff that keeps forming on my glass.

 

[sgtjdgelinas]

I screwed my rear view into the window frame. And I had a t-bird do the fogging window when my heater core went.

 

[dmr22]

Doesn't more vapor keep coming out and distorting your glass? or do you do this procedure often?

Fortunately, I have only had to do it once.