headlights icing over

makar · 12-06-2007, 03:13 PM

I have a peculiar problem...

With winter upon us, my headlights are icing up. I have to scrape the ice off them in order to get reasonable light from them at night. Rather than scraping the plastic (and inadvertently scraping the car), does anyone have a solution for this that doesn't entail using toxic aerosol de-icer?

I don't have a garage or sheltered area to park the car.

hyo silver · 12-06-2007, 03:36 PM

I'm surprised they don't heat up quickly enough to melt the ice. Assuming you have to scrape the windshield and probably the other windows, why not turn on the headlights when you start the car? Yes, leaving the car running while you scrape the windows will use some gas, but that's not an unreasonable thing to do in trade for being able to see where you're going.

**Tideland Prius** · 12-06-2007, 04:23 PM

That is odd. The headlights (in stock form) are warm to the touch. A peculiar problem indeed!

Unless you have HIDs.. do those run cooler than halogens? (my guess is yes since it's a lower wattage).

Neicy · 12-06-2007, 05:23 PM

I have the HID headlights and I have not had any issues. However, when it is snowing or raining I drive with them on.

makar · 12-06-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyo silver

I'm surprised they don't heat up quickly enough to melt the ice. Assuming you have to scrape the windshield and probably the other windows, why not turn on the headlights when you start the car? Yes, leaving the car running while you scrape the windows will use some gas, but that's not an unreasonable thing to do in trade for being able to see where you're going.

I do have HID headlights. I do turn the car on while I'm scraping the windshield. We had such bad sleet and freezing rain, I had to pry a 1/2-inch thick sheet of solid ice off the front of the entire car. But even since then, I've had to scrape ice off the headlights, though not a solid sheet of ice.

hyo silver · 12-08-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makar

...We had such bad sleet and freezing rain, I had to pry a 1/2-inch thick sheet of solid ice off the front of the entire car...

Well, that's a lot more serious than a touch of frost. Mind you, if there's that much ice on the roads, I wouldn't be worried about scraping the car, because I wouldn't be driving.

makar · 12-08-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyo silver

Well, that's a lot more serious than a touch of frost. Mind you, if there's that much ice on the roads, I wouldn't be worried about scraping the car, because I wouldn't be driving.

I had gone to Chicago (a 2.5 hour drive for me) to take two exotic birds to my avian veterinary specialist (they have chronic illnesses). Got caught in bad weather on the way home.

I drove slowly on the Interstate (about 35) going home -- quite a few cars had slid off the road. I did hit a patch of black ice... and the car fishtailed a bit, but the antilock brakes performed beautifully and the car stabilized. It took me over 5 hours to get home, but I got home safely and the birds were tired but okay.

Doc Willie · 12-08-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makar

I had gone to Chicago (a 2.5 hour drive for me) to take two exotic birds to my avian veterinary specialist (they have chronic illnesses). Got caught in bad weather on the way home.

I drove slowly on the Interstate (about 35) going home -- quite a few cars had slid off the road. I did hit a patch of black ice... and the car fishtailed a bit, but the antilock brakes performed beautifully and the car stabilized. It took me over 5 hours to get home, but I got home safely and the birds were tired but okay.

What kind of tires are you driving?

makar · 12-09-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Willie

What kind of tires are you driving?

The tires that came with the car. I am not in a position to spring for new tires.

diamondlarry · 12-09-2007, 06:30 PM

I think that when you encounter the ice that he was describing that tire type is going to make little or no difference unless they were studded or had chains.

I too had headlights that were a bit icy today and they are HID's.

12-06-2007, 03:13 PM	#1
makar Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 25 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	headlights icing over I have a peculiar problem... With winter upon us, my headlights are icing up. I have to scrape the ice off them in order to get reasonable light from them at night. Rather than scraping the plastic (and inadvertently scraping the car), does anyone have a solution for this that doesn't entail using toxic aerosol de-icer? I don't have a garage or sheltered area to park the car.

12-06-2007, 03:36 PM	#2
hyo silver awaaay Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 7,389 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 32	I'm surprised they don't heat up quickly enough to melt the ice. Assuming you have to scrape the windshield and probably the other windows, why not turn on the headlights when you start the car? Yes, leaving the car running while you scrape the windows will use some gas, but that's not an unreasonable thing to do in trade for being able to see where you're going.

12-06-2007, 04:23 PM	#3
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,900 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	That is odd. The headlights (in stock form) are warm to the touch. A peculiar problem indeed! Unless you have HIDs.. do those run cooler than halogens? (my guess is yes since it's a lower wattage).

12-06-2007, 05:23 PM	#4
Neicy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wakefield, MA. Posts: 781 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: G Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	I have the HID headlights and I have not had any issues. However, when it is snowing or raining I drive with them on.

12-09-2007, 06:30 PM	#10
diamondlarry EPA MPG #'s killer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 532 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	I think that when you encounter the ice that he was describing that tire type is going to make little or no difference unless they were studded or had chains. I too had headlights that were a bit icy today and they are HID's.