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car windshield problems(now heater core)

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 6:51 am
by iwannadie
ok im just going to throw this out there and see if anyone has an idea, im at a lose.

my windshield on the inside gets this nasty greasey film on it constantly. i clean it and let it sit over night and the next day its back! ive tried everything i have to clean with, water with newspaper workd the best it stayed clean almost a week. it seems if i drive during the day it gets really bad, if it just sits during the day its not as bad. could something be leaking through my defroster causing this, or am i just maybe not getting whatever it is Off the glass. seems like windex/paper towel just smears the layer of junk around enough to make it clear but when it drys agian later its still there. no other window seems to have this problem. i used armor all car glass cleaner wipes a long time ago and it seems ever since then its been like this.

anyone have any clue how to clean this junk off so i can see out of my windshield again ; \

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 6:59 am
by TechTMW
Instead of windex try rubbing alcohol and newspaper... gets mine sparkly clean.

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:01 am
by iwannadie
TechBMW wrote:Instead of windex try rubbing alcohol and newspaper... gets mine sparkly clean.
just straight alcohol or mixxed with water?

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:09 am
by old-n-slow
When that happened to my vehicle it turned out to be the heater core had a tiny leak allowing radiator coolant to escape and vapourize. I suspect it will be the same whether using the heating or airconditioning. I would look for the problem there if it was me. This event has occurred at least twice with different cars, over the years, that I recall.

You can clean your windshield till the cows come home and it won't help, if that is the cause of the problem.

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:19 am
by iwannadie
old-n-slow wrote:When that happened to my vehicle it turned out to be the heater core had a tiny leak allowing radiator coolant to escape and vapourize. I suspect it will be the same whether using the heating or airconditioning. I would look for the problem there if it was me. This event has occurred at least twice with different cars, over the years, that I recall.

You can clean your windshield till the cows come home and it won't help, if that is the cause of the problem.
thats what i was worried about. but i dont use the ac(it doesnt work, its the old style and has no freeon in it). and no heater is being used. ill double check the defroster isnt running some how. my coolent isnt low(or going down) i check that regular, but ill keep checking to make sure its not slowly going down.

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:39 am
by TechTMW
Straight alcohol ... (Don't inhale) heheh :drunk:

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:45 pm
by BuzZz
Quit smokin' those cannons in the car. :mrgreen:

If it reappears every day or so, and grease-cutting window cleaners don't work well, I'd lay cash it's your heatercore leaking. Most cores will circulate some coolant even with all the controls off.

Wash the windows with water and dishsoap. Just a little soap is fine. Wash it good, rinse it with clear water and see if comes back. If it does, get the heatercore checked.

BTW...is this your first BBQ? You know better than to not say what kinda car we're talking about...... :wink:

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:46 am
by iwannadie
well i was hoping it would be just an issue of the windshield not coming clean rather than an issue like the heater core. excuse the ignorance but what is the heater core and what does it do haha. im assuming it grabs heat from the motor to use for the heater?

its an 87 supra n/a.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:19 am
by TechTMW
It's sorta like a mini-radiator buried deep in your dashboard. takes hot water from the engine and circulates it thru the core to provide heat for the car. (S'why you gotta ait for the car to warm up before it starts blowin hot air in the winter)

good luck ..

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:25 am
by iwannadie
ok doesnt sound like something i Need as i never will turn the heater on. would it be possible to think its something that can be removed/bypassed rather than replaced. i did some quick checking and the part is a good 60$ which i hate to spend on something that ill never use for heat lol.

sucks also, the dashboard needs pulled out to get to it. im going to have to attempt it myself. from what i read its an easy job just time comsuming(so it would cost a fortune by the hour at a shop).