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Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Warning

I have an older car, which I get hand washed by the various car washes. The pearl off effect does n't last. It was overdue a car wash.

It has been raining heavily, but the visibility from my windscreen is not great, especially as it was nighttime. I have new wipers (Bosch). I have tried various cleaner, but my windscreen does not clean like a new car. It was hard to see the white lines on the road. I think there is a film of something on the windscreen.....

I have tried various windscreen cleaners e.g Windowlene, Mr Muscle, Turtle Wax glass cleaner, Fairy....

If this was a new car, I know, I would not have this problem with the windscreen

Does the windscreen degrade with the age of the car.

How can I fix it?

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - badbusdriver

If it is an older car I suspect the problem is simply the thousands of tiny chips which build up over time. As an ex bus driver, this would cause me all sorts of problems at night with the glare of oncoming headlights lighting up these tiny chips resulting in it seeming like trying to peer through a thick fog with main beam on. Same problem with a low sun.

Not strictly ethical (or legal!), but try to arrange some proper 'damage' (which was 'done' by something falling off a truck you were following) to the screen and claim off your insurance for a new screen. You'll probably have some excess to pay, but I suspect rather cheaper than paying for a new screen yourself.

Edited by badbusdriver on 21/10/2021 at 07:55

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - RichardW

Scratches and chips on older screens certainly make things worse, but sometimes a film builds up / is washed on which is very hard to shift. I had this trouble with y 3008 when I got it, I tried everything I could think of with not much luck, until some one suggested I try decorator's Sugar Soap - which cleaned it off a treat. It's never going to be as good as a new screen, but it got rid of all the smearing that was going on.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - nellyjak

Try a clay bar.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - catsdad

You need to be careful using anything not designed for the job. For example sugar soap may work on the glass but it would not do your paintwork any good. At the very least any overspill would take the wax off the paint. It might also affect the paint itself. Windolene might well have made the problem worse as it has something in it (wax?) to make windows shine.

I would try real elbow grease again and an Autoglym or similar screen product and, even though they are new, carefully clean the wiper blades too. They might have picked up contamination from the screen.

Slightly against my own advice you could try a clay mitt (easier to use than a bar) with the right lubricant. Some are said to be safe on glass. But try it on a rear window first.

Finally didn’t we have a valeter who used to contribute here and might advise?

Edited by catsdad on 21/10/2021 at 08:59

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Xileno

"Finally didn’t we have a valeter who used to contribute here and might advise?"

Probably stunothants26. Hasn't been on here for over ten years.

I think I would try some vinegar but keep it off the paint.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - mcb100
0000 grade steel wool removes particles that have adhered to the glass and creates a good finish, but I’m not sure whether it will remove a chemical layer. Cheap enough to try, though.
Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - bathtub tom
0000 grade steel wool removes particles that have adhered to the glass and creates a good finish, but I’m not sure whether it will remove a chemical layer. Cheap enough to try, though.

I would have thought that would make it worse. I wouldn't use anything abrasive, it may well scratch it. I know someone who used a plastic, cooking room scourer and that scratched the glass.

I wonder if the solution suggested by HEADHUNTER247 in this thread has been tried, causing the problem: www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=84166

The OP could try any of the other suggestions.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - paul 1963

All clay bars are safe on glass and will remove contamination but in this case it sounds like a product has been applied to the screen during it's trips to the "car wash" ( term used loosely!)I would try autoglym tar and glue remover.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - mcb100
0000 grade isn’t abrasive, it’s used to polish surfaces and a whole different kettle of fish to something designed to remove dried on lasagne from oven dishes…
I use it a couple of times a year to remove small items of debris that stick to the glass and nick the wiper blades.
The difference is akin to rubbing your hand over half the bonnet you’ve polished versus the half yet to be done.
I got the tip from someone on here who’d put a video on YouTube - clean first with brake cleaner (carefully), then rub with 0000 grade steel wool.

Edited by mcb100 on 21/10/2021 at 11:23

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Andrew-T
The difference is akin to rubbing your hand over half the bonnet you’ve polished versus the half yet to be done.

So would you clean your bonnet with 0000 grade ? If not, then perhaps it is a bit abrasive after all :-)

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Bolt

Or you could try a proper glaziers window glass cleaner, i sometimes find a film is left after having car cleaned but no idea what they use for the glass but its bad stuff imo, it takes a few tries but does clear it leaving screen nice and clear

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Andrew-T

<< If this was a new car, I know, I would not have this problem with the windscreen. Does the screen degrade with the age of the car. >>

You have said it is an 'old' car, presumably with its original screen. Years of using the wipers will have scoured the surface with fine road dust, so it has become microscopically frosted. People I have asked in the past have always said this frosting cannot be effectively polished off. So perhaps trying these apparently unsuccessful treatments is making things a bit worse ?

Maybe the only effective answer is a new screen.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Falkirk Bairn

Have you cleaned the inside of the screen?

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Terry W

You should try some proper windscreen polish which is really just a very fine abrasive which should remove surface scratching. Halfords etc probably sell it.

As an aside I believe Rolls Royce used to polish their windscreens with jewellers rouge. There are also a number of fixes involving toothpaste - another fine abrasive - but personally I would go for something developed for the job, not a cheap fix which may make matters worse.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Bolt

Have you cleaned the inside of the screen?

The inside of the screen is usualy the part that gets all the grime from traffic film even if some have aircon filters the grime from diesels does get through...including other dust and rubbish from motors that burn engine oil which sticks to glass ...

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Ian_SW

Its definitely worth giving the inside of the windscreen a good clean if it's not been done already. I had to do mine the other day - it has accumulated a surprising amount of grime over the summer which I'd not noticed until driving in the dark or low sun. I just use the screwfix "no nonsense glass cleaner" and several clean microfibre cloths. Main thing when cleaning glass is to use a really clean cloth, very little of then glass cleaner and lots of elbow grease.

Failing that, the windscreen could be scratched or have lots of small chips. It might be worth paying to have the screen replaced - it's not as expensive as you'd expect on most ordinary cars.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - badbusdriver

"Finally didn’t we have a valeter who used to contribute here and might advise?"

Probably stunothants26. Hasn't been on here for over ten years.

I think I would try some vinegar but keep it off the paint.

I did used to be a car valeter, but I don't usually comment on car cleaning related questions because the most recent I was employed as a valeter was 18 years ago!. I have no doubt new and much improved products have become available since then, so between that and my 'hazy' memory these days, I feel others (not necessarily pros, just folk who are obsessive about their cars appearance) would be better qualified to answer.

But for what it is worth, I don't recall ever having some kind of film build up on the outside of the screen. I only ever used a windolene type cleaner or glass polish, usually Autoglym. The inside of the windows could and would get gummed up by a variety of contaminants, but he same products would still be used, possibly two or three times. For the most part, I'd just use the window polish, only using windolene first if they were particularly greasy.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Engineer Andy

I have an older car, which I get hand washed by the various car washes. The pearl off effect does n't last. It was overdue a car wash.

It has been raining heavily, but the visibility from my windscreen is not great, especially as it was nighttime. I have new wipers (Bosch). I have tried various cleaner, but my windscreen does not clean like a new car. It was hard to see the white lines on the road. I think there is a film of something on the windscreen.....

I have tried various windscreen cleaners e.g Windowlene, Mr Muscle, Turtle Wax glass cleaner, Fairy....

If this was a new car, I know, I would not have this problem with the windscreen

Does the windscreen degrade with the age of the car.

How can I fix it?

Apologies if this doesn't apply to you, but one thing a lot of people miss is properly cleaning the inside windscreen and making sure the ventilation / A/C settings are sufficient to keep it from steaming up. All matter of muck - including a mixture of dirt, dust, whatever we breathe out and moisture from the vents, can build up on the inside windows, especially the front windscreen.

I prefer using Autoglym's cleaners - after all, The Queen uses them! :-)

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - catsdad

And her Maj used to be a mechanic!

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Galaxy

Clean the windscreen thoroughly and then clean it with T - Cut. It won't scratch it.

Then apply Rain-ex which must be applied as per the instructions.

That's what I do once or twice a year - Been doing as described for years!

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - bathtub tom

Clean the windscreen thoroughly and then clean it with T - Cut. It won't scratch it.

As Andrew-T has stated: So would you clean your bonnet with it?

I find Rain-ex very 'marmite', between those people who swear by it and those who swear about it. Personally, I wouldn't use it, until I saw some definitive comparison (on somebody else's screen). Bear in mind, folk who spend a lot of money on some 'wonder material' aren't disposed to admit they wasted their money: see emperor's new clothes.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - alan1302

Clean the windscreen thoroughly and then clean it with T - Cut. It won't scratch it.

As Andrew-T has stated: So would you clean your bonnet with it?

I find Rain-ex very 'marmite', between those people who swear by it and those who swear about it. Personally, I wouldn't use it, until I saw some definitive comparison (on somebody else's screen). Bear in mind, folk who spend a lot of money on some 'wonder material' aren't disposed to admit they wasted their money: see emperor's new clothes.

You do use T-Cut on the bonnet if you are wanting to get rid of a few marks/swirls in the paintwork - it's what is is designed for. On a windscreen you use it to get rid of any contaminates on the screen and more ingrained layers that can get on there. No different to using a glass polish.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Andrew-T

<< You do use T-Cut on the bonnet if you are wanting to get rid of a few marks/swirls in the paintwork - it's what is is designed for. On a windscreen you use it to get rid of any contaminates on the screen and more ingrained layers that can get on there. No different to using a glass polish. >>

Or Brasso, or several other similar products. I think there is quite a wide market for cleaning and polishing products 'specially formulated' to do one specific thing. I can tell you that Brasso is quite good for curing scratches on CDs, for example.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - focussed

As a UK driving instructor I was always cleaning windscreen, rear and side windows and mirrors before pupils went in for the test to give them the best chance possible. I just used Nilglass pro glass cleaner from a spray bottle and kitchen roll.

Gives the best result possible.

You can buy it in a 5 litre container ( this is not advert) Amazon sell it.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - JohnX

Not sure about the physical causes but I use this Duxback product, which is quite pricey but works a treat to keep the rain drops from splattering as they hit the windscreen.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - up north

There's a film on windscreen from some car washes who spray wax on windscreen as well as bodywork and hard to shift. There's a cheap glass cleaner Elbow Grease Power performance probably around £2. You need three goes but not when it is warm sunlight and you can visibly see the film removed. Worked for me, but but your issue could be something else. If you notice bodywork has strange line marks after a car wash noticeably in sunlight, then that is what they ares praying on the windows!

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Andrew-T

The makers tell users to keep silicone-based things like Bumper Care off glass, as it is quite hard to remove. Silicone is water-repellent and different from normal greases, so it doesn't remove quickly with detergent.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - John F

Try scrunched up slightly damp newspaper.

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - DreamDetail
I have spent my lifetime detailing cars and appraising car products. Three decent products I would recommend here without going expensive or specialist: A good citrus cleaner such as W5. A decent glass product such as Autoglym Glass Polish (not Autoglym Fast Glass!!) and a budget windscreen water repellent such as Rain X. (Someone commented on this thread about they wouldn’t try Rain X ; gee they haven’t lived and they have lost out in years of safer motoring and joy in driving in wet weather :-) It will last for months, particularly on the side windows, where wipers don’t wear it off.
Start with the windscreen (or by the sounds of things, an all over coat of citrus cleaner watered down all over the car to remove any greasy residue) You could apply to the windscreen neat with a cloth and clean the wipers rubbers with it too. Rinse off after 5 minutes and when the screen is dry, buff the screen (and all glass) with the Autoglym Polish and a good microfibre that has a good ‘biting’ surface. (Polish all the glass inside too) Remove all the residue and finally, on the external glass only, apply some Rain X with a cloth, allowing to dry before adding a second coat and finally rubbing off with a lightly damped cloth. Now enjoy the experience in the rain, particularly if you are out of town and able to get up the speed!

Ps I have found that one of the best wiper brands for performance and price is Valeo

Edited by DreamDetail on 26/10/2021 at 09:13

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Hugh Watt

Thanks for that, DD - I hadn't given my averagely-grubby windscreen much thought until I read that, but I'm now on the point of ordering all 3 potions and following the instructions to the letter!

Poor visibility from windscreen in heavy rain? - Graham567

See my other post about glass cleaner that works.

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/158913/a-glass-cle...t