Ice scraper scratching windshield??

[2008 Ford Focus]

I love Penticton!

[Some Guy From NY]

Last year in the northeast we had a mild winter. I do not think I had to use the ice scraper at all, besides the brush part because I have remote start. Turn defrost on before you shut the car off...then start it with remote start and the defrost goes on. By the time you go out to your car in 5~ minutes you can easily brush the ice off the windshield and the car is nice and toasty on the inside!

[StockTalon]

Originally Posted by tmnCA

I think the dealers are putting a coat of sealer or something on the car exteriors, the water beaded and ran off my windshield in a rain storm before I ever washed or waxed it myself. It could be just marks in the wax/sealer that they put on. I highly doubt your plastic scraper could mar glass.

New materials always shed water better than weathered materials. I have worked at a few dealers and, not once was something put on with out, it being bought at the time of sale.

Glass does scratch easily, just look at the marks wipers put into it.

[lddavis]

Originally Posted by StockTalon

I have worked at a few dealers and, not once was something put on with out, it being bought at the time of sale.

I've only shopped at a few dealers, but it's hard to imagine them adding something aftermarket without slapping a $295 "Glass Protection Package" fee on the sticker!

[mac.mogul]

Remember it is acoustic glass.

Acoustic glass is laminated with a coating that is like plastic/vinyl. If you use too much force to scrape the windshield, you will scratch it.

[jsr72]

Originally Posted by mac.mogul

Remember it is acoustic glass.

Acoustic glass is laminated with a coating that is like plastic/vinyl. If you use too much force to scrape the windshield, you will scratch it.

No mention of any special care required in the owner's manual...

[mac.mogul]

Originally Posted by jsr72

No mention of any special care required in the owner's manual...

Are you trying to pass blame off on Ford or what?

[jsr72]

Originally Posted by mac.mogul

Are you trying to pass blame off on Ford or what?

No, but if any special caution was necessary it would be spelled out in the owners manual.

[Seriously Focused]

Originally Posted by ABFORDGUY

Has anyone here experienced this? I had to use an icescraper to get heavy frost off my window yesterday morning, today being a sunny day I noticed scratches all over my windshield. I've been scraping windows every winter for the past 20 years on all types of vehicles, and have never seen this. What is Ford putting on / or not putting on their windshields now? I don't want to have to buy a new windshield every spring, and I know insurance won't cover it. Maybe we need to have winter windshields and summer windshields, and just swap them out seasonally with our tires? I don't think it is acceptable to have to wait for the window to defrost on its own!

In the summer, kick out that scratched windshield and wear a nice pair of motorcross goggles. You will really enjoy the air (think old Jeep).

[System48]

Originally Posted by mac.mogul

Remember it is acoustic glass.

Acoustic glass is laminated with a coating that is like plastic/vinyl. If you use too much force to scrape the windshield, you will scratch it.

This is the windshield Ford is using, http://www.carlite.com/soundscreen.html.

It's just a different material, "sound-absorbent vinyl", between the two sheets of glass.