Heated front screen?

[UKSilverArrow]

I have a few of what I thought were heated elements in the front windscreen but can't find any reference to a heated windscreen in the handbook.
No separate switch so I assumed it worked in conjunction with the rear screen but not so sure.
So is it a heated screen or something else?
David

 

[television]

No sir,, you do not have heated screen,, thats all part of the aerial net working for TV and radio.


As I understand it Ford hold the rights to have heated front srceens

 

[UKSilverArrow]

No sir,, you do not have heated screen,, thats all part of the aerial net working for TV and radio.


As I understand it Ford hold the rights to have heated front srceens

Ah I see, thanks. Well I'll just have to while away the minutes watching TV while the screen clears then. Only thing is I just get the one channel 'TV Service Not Available' whilst it's a little boring I find it far superior to East Enders.

Is it just Fords then with heated screens? I ask because I had a heated front screen in a TVR Cerbera, didn't work obviouly but that's bedside the point.
Thanks
David

 

[mr. shr]

I remember discussing this a few months ago. It seems Ford have some kind of rights / licence on front heated screens. But apparently this only lasts for seven years (or something) after which time other car manufactures can employ it.

 

[robert.saunders]

Quickclear is a European trademark used by the Ford Motor Company for its electrically heated windshield technology. Instaclear was the name used in the United States.

First seen on the 1985 Ford Scorpio/Granada Mk.III in Europe and the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable in the U.S., the system uses a mesh of very thin heating wires, or a silver/zinc oxide coated film [1], embedded between the two layers of glass. Owing to the high current draw, the system is engineered to operate only when the engine is running, and normally switches off after 10 minutes of operation. The metallic content of the glass has been shown to degrade the performance of certain windshield-mounted accessories, such as telephone antennas and radar detectors.

"Instaclear" was the introductory name on American models. In early promotional Ford sales literature for Europe, the feature was referred to simply as "Rapid Windscreen De-ice", but the "Quickclear" name began to appear from around 1989 onwards. The system can now be found as either standard equipment or an optional extra on most vehicles produced by Ford or its subsidiaries around the world, but in the U.S. market it was never popular. Besides the original Taurus/Sable, it appeared briefly in the Lincoln line in the early 1990s, and in some Land Rovers as well. GM has produced a somewhat similar system called Electriclear.

One problem with the system is that the heating elements can sometimes burn out, leaving one side of the screen uncleared. As the wires are actually embedded in the glass, total replacement of the screen is the only remedy (as opposed to a rear defogger, which can usually be repaired with conductive paint). Some owners have been known to smash the screen and submit a fraudulent insurance claim for stone damage, as Quickclear screens are expensive replacement parts and many insurance policies offer a low excess (deductible) for windscreen damage.

Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quickclear

 

[BTB 500]

My 2002 VW Sharan had an electrically heated windscreen, and very good it was too!

 

[robert.saunders]

One problem with the system is that the heating elements can sometimes burn out, leaving one side of the screen uncleared. As the wires are actually embedded in the glass, total replacement of the screen is the only remedy

Agree entirely with a <knowing nod>

 

[Will]

Heated screens were good, I had a few Fords years ago with this feature.

Also fitted to early 90s Range Rovers.

Start the engine on a frosty/snowy day, put heated seats and heated front/rear screens/mirrors on. Drink cup of tea, 5 minutes later and you're ready to go :bannana:

Think that the newest Range Rovers also had/have heated steering wheels, and a pre-heater that could be set by remote control, warms the car up before you even go outside! Can't be certain on the second point but I do remember the heated steering wheel.

Will

 

[SilverSaloon]

My 2002 VW Sharan had an electrically heated windscreen, and very good it was too!

Probably technology borrowed from Ford Galaxy

 

[SilverSaloon]

Heated screens were good, I had a few Fords years ago with this feature.

Also fitted to early 90s Range Rovers.

Start the engine on a frosty/snowy day, put heated seats and heated front/rear screens/mirrors on. Drink cup of tea, 5 minutes later and you're ready to go :bannana:

Think that the newest Range Rovers also had/have heated steering wheels, and a pre-heater that could be set by remote control, warms the car up before you even go outside! Can't be certain on the second point but I do remember the heated steering wheel.

Will

My 7 series had a heated steering wheel - very nice in cold mornings.

My T reg ford mondeo had a heated screen - also very useful and something I miss but as previously said, only a feature on ford and ford-owned models.

 

[BTB 500]

Probably technology borrowed from Ford Galaxy

I guess, although you couldn't have a Galaxy with VW's 4Motion!

 

[Will]

only a feature on ford and ford-owned models.

Not 100% sure it was just Ford owner models - they didn't have anything to do with LR in the 80s or very early 90s AFAIK, this was on a '91 Range Rover?

There might be one or two others with the same sort of feature? Maybe it differs just enough to be able to get around the patent/trademark or whatever?

Will

 

[richard]

Somewhere in EPCnet I have recently seen reference to a heated windscreen - so perhaps Mercedes will get them after all !

Richard

 

[Apial]

I always thought that my MINI had been built by BMW, and it has a heated front screen. Is it really made by Ford?

 

[robert.saunders]

I always thought that my MINI had been built by BMW, and it has a heated front screen. Is it really made by Ford?

Does it have a heated screen??

 

[Apial]

MINI heated screens

Yes. You can just see the electric elements running vertically. Defrosts the screen in seconds. They are not the same as the Ford ones, a bit thicker perhaps. MINI have had them for quite a few years, since 2003 perhaps? Obviously not as long as Ford have been doing them. I remember seeing a Sierra XR4 in 1984 with it fitted.

I consider it to be a must have option, and it came as part of a visibility package, inc rain sensing wipers, auto dim rear view mirror, and heated screen.

If MINI can fit them, are they a different design?

 

[ckember]

I have a few of what I thought were heated elements in the front windscreen but can't find any reference to a heated windscreen in the handbook.
No separate switch so I assumed it worked in conjunction with the rear screen but not so sure.
So is it a heated screen or something else?
David

Isn't this something to do with the UV protection in the windscreen. I saw something in my E class manual about only having two small areas at the top of the screen where the telephone aerial could be placed

 

[MSG2004]

I still miss the front heated screen that I had in my brand new ford mondeo v6 ghia we bought in 98. Jag does heated screens as well as Audi but as always in higher specs.

The heated front screen, in the rain switch it on for a few moments and mist clears and front clearing was very good as i have always found front screen hard to clear of front but sides easier

my new mb gle the other week, miss the heated screen and me too for a moment thought the aerial was heating for the front sides of the window

 

[Deleted member 113659]

I've had heated screens on all my previous Fords. Even my work van (Transit) has one. Amazingly quick on frosty days.

I know Ford hold the pataint but I'm not sure why the others can't copy with a different feature name.

For example The manufacturer that started off with self parking. (MB?) the others soon followed and now most manufacturers do a model with self parking. Same with many other features like self drying brakes, (where the car dabs the brakes when raining) even DRL's were copied.

Ant.

 

[StuartK]

Seen heated front screens in loads of cars...

Ford
Land Rover
Mini