Looks like a great solution to the windshield freeze up problem.
Alien

 

im sorry im a newb, do the FJ's have issues with the windsheild freezing?

 

Love this mod.... I need to get this soon.



If you live in a snowy area... you'll find out soon enough.

 

lookin' good!

 

Because the windshield is so upright, the wiper blades pack the snow down between the wiper and the cowl. In heavy snow, you have to get out often to clear this. With the heating wires that Tahoe Dave had installed it should melt this snow away and keep the buildup from happening. Even on full hot defrost the air just blows up past the windshield and doesn't really keep it hot enough under blizzard conditions.

DEWFPO

 

To help use the snow/ice melt windshield washer fluid. Every little bit helps.

 

Hello, can you tell me which specific kit you got? I just moved to Montana and already (still in November) there's been enough snow and ice that this is becoming a problem. I've been saying that I wished there was a way to heat the front windshield and this is the first time I've heard of this product. Thanks for sharing!

 

How easy is it to remove if you have to replace your windshield?

 

From what I read... you have to unplug the terminals and throw away elements and start over with the new windshield.

This thought has crossed my mind as well... it could get expensive. Unless you could get it covered with insurance.

 

Looks like a good thing to do because of all the trouble I have had driving in heavy snow...but I would like to hear some more once Tahoe Dave gets to try them out in a heavy snow. I'm still not sure there will be enough BTU's to melt the snow.

It will take more power to raise a windsheild to 75 deg F while driving on a cold day with snow than it will to do the same thing sitting still in a garage. First you have the energy zapping change of state from a solid to a liquid to account for, then the water on the windsheild will be wicking away heat as well. Sure hope they work!

 

You have hit the nail on the head! Once the heat strips were installed, we tested their performance in the repair facility. The ambient temp was probably around 55 degrees. The treated area, after 5 minutes, climbed to 77 degrees, while the untreated was in the 60's.

I have turned on the defroster unit, over the past few days, in dry conditions while driving in 18 degree weather. I reached out and tried to feel a difference and I did not.

I subsequently called John at the Frost Fighter home office and asked about this. He (extremely nice guy) said that in that cold environment you can't necessarily feel the differential. He went on to say, they will improve after the first 5 times because they adhere better to the window.

I asked how long should I expect them to work? He said that the applications that are 20 years old are still doing the job. I have my fingers crossed that this will help, because last winter it was damn frustrating, and a bit scary.

I did not do a great job on my initial post, as to the installation. We did remove the pillar covers and "hid" the two bars that the strips attach to. The strips are applied to an adhesive that allows you lay it out and peel, much like you would do with a decal. Removing the window is not necessary nor recommended.

It looks very professional, doesn't distract from your vision and installs in about 1 hour. Add to this, it is somewhat inexpensive $60. I will report out as soon as I hit some snow, or frost. I hope I can give this product two thumbs up:cheers:

 

I'm interested in these. Tahoe, are they in your field of vision any or are they barely noticeable? I didn't see any thinner profile ones on their website. The bottom of the windshield on FJ's are pretty high up so I was just wondering. Heck, just having the windshield wipers all in my face sometime bothers me. I'm 6 ft tall (5' 12" to be more precise) and I keep the seat pumped all the way up and still hate the wipers. They should be like 2 inches lower when not being used.

 

Very cool mod I hope to never need!! Great investigative solution. This place comes up with all the solutions
Great Job

 

Tahoe Dave,

I'm glad you got it to work for you. I tried to do this mod last October 2009, but I just couldn't get the heater strips to line up (I had a heck of a time with the curve of the windshield by the pillars) It's a great mod I just couldn't get it to work for me. I used or rather wasted the roll of heater strips that came in the kit and just gave up. It's definitely a two person job, preferably in a nice heated garage On a side note I bought another stick kit as I had the controls from the previous order and did the BACK WINDOW to my wife's Ridgeline Leer camper top. It works good.

Anyway I researched a little more and came up with this solution; "Northwind heating strips" It's not as clean an install as the Frost Fighter and it limits your visibility somewhat (initially it seems to limit your visibility but, within a few days you won't even know it's there) but it works and it installs in less than 5 minutes. Plugs into 12v socket with on/off switch on the end of the 12v plug. Eventually I'm going to hard wire it but for now it works fine.

And here's a :clap:"BONUS":clap: for other SandStorm owners that I didn't realize until I installed it. The heating grids actually match the SandStorm color. :rocker:

Here's the site: PoleCat Mirrors: Miscellaneous

It's been awhile since I bought this heating strips and I seem to recall it was a hassle ordering on their site so I just called them and made the order.

here's some pics of my install:

Aloha......

 

would it be possible to redirect some of the airflow with a baffle?