it sleeted here and my windows froze over. I accidentally turned on my wipers and the drivers side one went up 1\4 the way up and stopped and the other onw went nowhere. i was hoping they would go down once the ice defrosted but i got to work and window was clear the wipers still wont operate. did my motor burn up or just frozen in place?

 

Did you check your fuses? It's possible they are still frozen to the windshield, try pulling them away from it and then try turning them on.

 

The wipers, not the fuses . I can't write today.

 

normally you want to break the wiper away from the windshield first before turning them on.

 

if you turn on the wipers when it's cold and they are frozen to the windshield, you need to gently, but firmly force the wipers away from the frozen windshield, because, if left alone, the motor tries to move them and unless they (the wipers) get unstuck, will most likely burn out the motor. (hopefully, the fuse would blow first, though)

 

Next time if you see ice in the future, put some cardboard over your windshield, under your wiper.

 

After work when all the ice was gone and it was 40 degrees again they worked fine.

thanks guys.

 

or just pull them out and leave them sticking up in the air. that was you wont have cardboard frozen to your windshield.

 

I keep a bottle of isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle in my truck.

When it's snowing/sleeting/freezing rain kind of weather when I exit the vehicle, I spray the windshield with the stuff. I've found it keeps the wipers from freezing to the windshield, and also slows down the formation of ice.

You can also pour some windshield washer fluid (the winter grade type) on an iced over windshield - helps melt the ice.

Or, the slow but steady method, break the wipers loose from the ice, or snow (gently, as to not damage the rubber blade), then start up the truck, put it on full defrost, and wait for the ice to melt - this is for patient people only.

Operating the wipers over ice formed on the windshield (or even snow) can damage the rubber on your wipers.

Operating the wipers when they're frozen to the windshield (or when the windshield is still full of snow) can damage the wiper arms, or the wipers, or rip the rubber right off the blades, or even cook your wiper motor - known of instances of each.

The fast method to get rid of ice is to use an ice scraper, but be aware that the plastic blade on the scraper can scratch up your windshield if you're not careful using it.

Hammering or chipping away at ice on your windshield is an invitation for a broken windshield - better to let the defroster do its job.

Don't pour hot water over an icy or frozen windshield - that's an invitation for a cracked windshield.

 

I laid towels across my windshield before it froze over, and in the morning just peeled them away. Works every time, no scraping or waiting for ice to melt.

 

Start your truck and let it run for a bit on full defrost hot air, Should warm up your windshild enough for your wipers to work

 

I keep one in the truck and one in the front entryway. Just in case my doors freeze shut.

 

i put a trashbag over it. and let all of the snow/ ice get on that, and then in the moring, i just peel it off. works awesome

 

I usually let the truck warm up for about 5 mins prior to going anywhere. In that 5 mins I'm usually brushing off all the snow accumulated on it, and then I make sure to remove any ice and snow from the wiper area and only remove the worst ice. Usually the defroster has turnedmost of it to water which I can just wipe off a few minutes later with the wipers.

btw, I also use the regular 'Reflex' wipers. They are worth every cent. Best wipers out there for summer or winter use. Don't bother with winter blades or teflon coated ones....regular Reflex ones do the job. I also have springs on my wiper arms for extra grip. My wipers work freakin sweet.

 

I had the same issue as you (wipers glued to windshield). I just started the truck and blasted the defroster on high. While I waited for the windshield to warm up a bit I attacked the all the other windows with my ice scraper and broom. When I know there is going to be any snow or ice I usually go outside and stand my wipers up. I also use winter grade wipers (Ive had ice form in your standard ones) and have a can of de-icer in the truck at all times.

 

you probably had that cowl vent (idk what rangers call it, but thats what they call it on my mustang(the area below your windshield with all of the holes)) fill up with water and freeze. happened to me , and i bought a new motor. i unbolted the motor and found solid ice. boiled some water and dumped it in. viola working wipers.

 

start engine, turn heat + defroster on full blast. go back in house and have breakfast...

 

thats what i do here when i think it'll be a problem

 

Yup,that's the way to do it.

 

heh, plenty of canadian winters taught me that, lol

 

Step 1. Walk outside and start vehicle
Step 2. Turn Defrost on full blast
Step 3. Get scraper/brush and start brushing off snow and scraping off the ice.
Step 4. Unplug block heater
Step 5. If wipers are frozen to windeshield try to gently scrap ice off the windshield around the wipers.
Step 6. Pull wiper away from windshield and remove any ice built up on wiper with hand.
Step 7. return in your vehicle and begin driving with a clear windshield and no ice or frozen wipers.

I live in Northern Alberta. Temperatures can reach -58F which is -50C. People still drive there vehicles at these temperatures. We see -22F (without windchill) quite often and experience ice quite a bit. All these tricks with a garbage bag seem a little too much. I find my technique takes about 3-5 minutes and allows enough time for the engine to warm up enough to actually drive.

 

Come on people he was asking about whether his wiper motor burnt out...

I think he knows how to defrost and brush snow off his truck.

How my post would have read, had I continued the pattern already firmly established here: "Place both hands firmly on the handle of my scraper and apply pressure gently and evenly to the windshield thereby dislodging all ice in the vacinity. Don't forget to use your strong arm nearest the end of the scraper."

seriously people.

Maybe I should start a thread asking how to fill up my gas tank?

Oh I know... How about rolling down the windows. No Wait, what about a how-to discussing proper blinker usage, i've always wondered that...

Sorry got a little carried away, but some of the responses to this thread just blow my mind.

That Rain-x De-Icer looks interesting though.

 

dats de answer, Im with mikey on the reflex blades also

 

Read this:

And while your at it, read the Title of the post.

Obviously he is not familiar with freezing conditions. These were tips to help him avoid this in the future. Everyone has different ways of doing it. Think about it, you never would have learned about the De-Icer if everyone here didn't post.
The thread delivered.


And yeah you got beyond carried away.

 

This is really all the detail he needed about cleaning the windsheild...

I think the 7 step approach was a little overboard, if you think not...

Then I guess we agree to disagree.