GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Anyone else have their first battle scars from using an ice scraper on the front windshield to remove a heavy frost? Didn't notice them till a few days later (nice sunny day with the sun at the right angle) 2-3 inch vertical scratches all across the windshield. Never had this happen (or noticed) on other vehicles I've owned...Maybe its the difference between buying a new vehicle in the winter with a 'virgin' windshield as opposed to one bought in the summer that is already so pitted you can't see them! Although at less than 1000kms this glass is already looking pretty pitted... Bad glass???

Might have been a bad scraper. The best scraper I've ever owned had a soft brass blade. It was specifically designed to be softer than glass, but harder than ice or snow. I eventually wore it out (broke the handle) and have yet to find as good a scraper. Plastic scrapers seem like they should work, but I've found they often allow grit to impale or embed itself into the plastic, so from that point on the blade will scratch the window every time you use it. If you're using a plastic scraper, inspect it carefully. If it looks a little dirty or worn, throw it out.It's so nice to have a new Vibe to drive. I didn't realize how badly the 16 year old windshield of my old truck was damaged/scratched until I compared it to a "clean, clear" windshield on a new car. I'm gonna go out of my way to keep from scratching this windshield.KSNeptune.

I have a scraper that has a heating element in it...you plug it into the cig lighter, and it heats up, so you don't have to work to remove the ice...it does a great job on heavy ice...was about $10 a target, and well worth every penny!

just buy some winshieldwasher/deicer made by presedents choice. youll never have to scrape again

quote:just buy some winshieldwasher/deicer made by presedents choice. youll never have to scrape againThat's fine too, but sometimes, if the blades are frozen TO the windshield, and surrounded by ice, you don't wanna engage the washer nozzles because the blade will try to move, be unable to, and may possibly cause damage to the motors...happened on my sunfire...the right motor burnt out in just a few seconds...thankfully, warranty covered it...granted, the heated scraper won't separate the blades from the windshield, but an aerosol deicer could do that too...

I just have a big nick out of the windshield from a battle with a stone. I dont use an ice scraper. I go out 10 min. before I need to leave, fire up the Vibe, defrosters on full, and by the time I come out, the wipers do the rest.

I noticed a small little nick on the hood of my car.. It made me sad to see this but so far my windshield is OK

I have a few scrapes from an A-HOLE dumptruck that had a ton of mud on it's tires. I was following behind it on the highway on-ramp and it flung mud all over my car, I turned the wipers on to get rid of the mud and there must have been a few stones in the mud because I have arched scratches on my windshield. I wish I would have got the name of the company that the truck belonged to. I would have asked them to pay for a new windshield. They probably would have told me where to shove it, so either way I'm screwed. Oh well.

LOL! You're probably right about the trucking company.As for preventing scratches from scrapers, I totally forgot, there's an even better method than a scraper. At Target (EVERYTHING I get is from Target!), I bought a windshield cover for about $6-$10. When it threatens to snow, I spread the cover out over the whole windshield, and even under the wiper blades. Then the edges go around the A pillar and you close the door over the edges. This holds it in place, taut, and keeps someone from swiping it. Then, as it snows, or ice forms, it all forms on the cover. The next morning, just pull off the cover, and the ice and snow come with it. When not in use it folds up and goes inside a nifty little sack to keep it safe. It's WELL WORTH the investment! Saves me tons of time each morning I don't have to scrape or brush off the windshield!

Did you tried AQUAPEL ?Applied this stuff (free with purchase of winter blades at G.Lebeau) it's about the same stuff used for our coast guard helicos... http://www.ppg.com/gls_aquapel/main.htm

Sticks and stones may break my bones (or windshield in this case)... But are they supposed to scratch my glass? I thought that you needed at least a diamond? Thanks for the suggestions but as I don't see my driving habits (of the past 20+ yrs) changing much. I don't usually have that 10 minute window to prep the vehicle. Although I recently had a remote start install, hopefully this with help some.My question is, is the glass these days up to the spec it used to be???If it scratches this easily that back windshield would be a right off in one winter season!Maybe we could get NASCAR 'tearoffs' for our Vibes!