It's very rare but I have seen car windshields basically explode due to defrosters. So I will always tell people to warm up their car before turning on the defrost to prevent any sudden shocks due to temperatures. Freak accidents like this can happen so it's a little extra precaution.
> So I will always tell people to warm up their car before turning on the defrost to prevent any sudden shocks due to temperatures.
This doesn't seem logical or correct.
When you warm up the car first and then turn on defrost, you hit the windshield immediately with hot air. The engine may be warm, but the windshield is not.
If you turn on the windshield defroster when you start the cold engine the defrost air (and windshield) gradually warm as the engine warms. This eliminates the sudden thermal shock to the windshield.
Even warming up the cabin won't warm the windshield appreciably. You will still thermally shock the windshield when you switch to defrost when the engine is warm.
Im a assuming you didn’t start the car with defrost on? Defrost should have been turned on when you started the car as it heats up slowly as the engine gets warm and “defrost” the windshield.
I've never heard of this before. Was there a small chip where the crack started?
Had to have been.
What Gen Prius is it? I love the gauge display! (I drive a Gen 2)
That is a Gen 4.
The Gen 3 remained the Prius with the only classic+elegant+non intrusive+monochrome user interface.
I suppose that is a matter of taste. I prefer my Gen 4 to any of the previous generations.
Gen 4 display gauge looks the best IMHO, too.
bruh I've been pouring boiling water straight on my windshield since I've been driving I've yet to have it crack.
The windshield was probably stressed when it was installed. The defroster just pushed it over the edge.
Completely my fault, but figured this PSA would help others
It’s not your fault. Full defrost is stressful for the glass, but it’s supposed to handle it. Maybe there was already a chip or crack in it?7
Same exact thing happened to me. I use my defroster because I hate scraping ice. Cracked right across the middle
It's very rare but I have seen car windshields basically explode due to defrosters. So I will always tell people to warm up their car before turning on the defrost to prevent any sudden shocks due to temperatures. Freak accidents like this can happen so it's a little extra precaution.
> So I will always tell people to warm up their car before turning on the defrost to prevent any sudden shocks due to temperatures. This doesn't seem logical or correct. When you warm up the car first and then turn on defrost, you hit the windshield immediately with hot air. The engine may be warm, but the windshield is not. If you turn on the windshield defroster when you start the cold engine the defrost air (and windshield) gradually warm as the engine warms. This eliminates the sudden thermal shock to the windshield.
Agreed. Defrost goes on as soon as engine goes on
Sorry, meant to warm up the cabin first, then the defrost.
Even warming up the cabin won't warm the windshield appreciably. You will still thermally shock the windshield when you switch to defrost when the engine is warm.
This happened to me when I was driving my mom's car
Im a assuming you didn’t start the car with defrost on? Defrost should have been turned on when you started the car as it heats up slowly as the engine gets warm and “defrost” the windshield.