Is it still the case that some satnavs don't work with quick-clear screens?>>
I can confirm that my Tomtom One (mk 2) works under the QC screens of both my Mondeo (mk 2) and SWMBO's Focus (also mk 2). Could it be that everything has to be 'mk 2' in order for satnav to work? ;-)
I think QC screens are wonderful. I generally don't see the wires as I focus well ahead on the road in front of me - the wires are therefore out of focus. In fog, then I agree, they do become more apparent - I believe that this is due to the greater uniformity of fog as a background and the fact that the the driver is not able to focus so far ahead.
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I would think it's like everything else ~ the minority who dislike them make a big fuss about it, but the majority who like them just take them for granted and say nothing.
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L\'escargot.
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my Tomtom Go500 is quite old and i was warned it might not work with SWMBO's QC screen and we might need an additional aerial or be careful where we put it in the car
it works perfectly, even to the extent we left it turned on but hidden under a coat on the floor at a service station and when we set off again....(having temp forgotten about it) it burbled into life from the floor
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Just how quick are these windscreens at clearing frost?
Must admit in the 3 yrs we've had the van at work, I've never had to use the QC windscreen until this morning. Started it up and switched the heated mirrors and QC windscreen on (lights came on in switches to indicate being on) and proceeded to scrape the side windows. 1 or 2 mins later the windscreen was still frosted over and no signs of any of it melting. Ended up scraping the windscreen as well.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 15/11/2007 at 09:52
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Had 2 mondeos with QC windscreen- both worked well and I wasn't distracted at all by the wires- got used to them very quick. Even in very heavy frost it would clear the windscreen within about half a minute. Now got a Scenic and really miss the Heated Front Screen
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Must try to get in one of these Fords to see what all the fuss is about!
I must admit to hating dirty windscreens, inside or out, and yes, I don't like beads of water down the screen!
As regards the use of QC screens, I use a garage for my car and let my daughter leave hers outside to get frosted over, much less hassle! :-)
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I'm one of those who finds the wires irritating; it's not that you focus on them, it's that your eyes are constantly picking up 'something' in your field of view and it is distracting. Low sun makes it worse. I've driven several different Fords with these wires, for many thousands of miles (hire and company cars), and I never got used to them. I'd certainly never buy a car with wires in the windscreen.
Cars with aircon clear the screen in no time in winter anyway, and if starting from home I just use warm water, which clears the windows very fast.
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I got my first Ford in March and haven;t had to use the QC until now.
My car is an S-Max and the QC is fantastic. The S-Max has a very large windscreen and it would take an age to scrape it free from frost. Also, as others have pointed out, it doesn't re-frost again.
I'd never put warm water over a car to defrost the windscreen for fear of cracking the screen. Don't know what the risk is but I just wouldn't do it. Also, it it is a really cold day, that excess water will just freeze on your driveway causing a slip hazard.
I'm all for QC's
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6.00am this morning. -3c. Thick frost on screen.
Jug of luke warm water on screen, wipers on to keep it clear. start car - off we go - 20 secs max.
Whats the agro? who needs wires?
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< Ulla>
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Polarised views!
I am firmly of the belief that we need more ambivelence these days !
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To those who say that A/C clears a screen as quickly as QC does, you're right but only when talking about mist, as soon as you get frost on the screen A/C is no better than any other car as it doesn't heat the air up any quicker. That's when Q/C comes into it's own.
I personally have been known to use the warm water method on the BMW in the morning, but it's a lot more difficult to obtain a jug of warm water when leaving the office at midnight (we pnly have Klix style machines, no kettles due to H&S). Now that I've got Q/C back (for the first time in a few years) I know that I'll just be able to sit my behind on the heated leather and let the screen clear itself, it normally takes about a minute dependant upon the thickness of the frost. It sounds like the Q/C in your van doesn't work at all DD!
Blue
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>I know that I'll just be able to sit my behind on the heated leather and let the screen clear >itself, it normally takes about a minute
At 06:00 am, 1 / 2 minutes idling outside hacienda AE.... yes I can see that one.
PU do you deal with divorce cases?
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< Ulla>
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At 06:00 am 1 / 2 minutes idling outside hacienda AE.... yes I can see that one.
Serves you right if you've got a clattery diesel.
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L\'escargot.
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>> At 06:00 am 1 / 2 minutes idling outside hacienda AE.... yes I can see >> that one. Serves you right if you've got a clattery diesel. -- L\'escargot.
You see that's why I have a car trhat just purrs like a kitten at tickover :-)
Anyway, you've already said, when you're at home you have the warm water method anyway!
Blue
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It sounds like the Q/C in your van doesn't work at all DD!
If you want to test it, take a cup of hot water into the car and deliberately mist up the screen. That's what I did when I had a replacement (non-genuine) screen and I wanted to confirm exactly how many of the wires didn't work.
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L\'escargot.
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It sounds like the Q/C in your van doesn't work at all DD!
Oh great! Not only is it useless in that I hate looking through it and getting distracted by the damn wires, it's useless in that it doesn't even work. Wonder if I can persuade the lease company to replace it with a standard windscreen?
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Oh great! Not only is it useless in that I hate looking through it and getting distracted by the damn wires it's useless in that it doesn't even work. Wonder if I can persuade the lease company to replace it with a standard windscreen?
Worth a punt if so - cheaper for a start.
From what you say it sounds as if it's u/s. If I leave my QC on while attending to the side windows the frost has melted enough to be disposed of by the wipers by the time I'm done (2 mins max).
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... and it seems to me that if you were unlucky enough to get hit by a large stone while you were out and about and needed the replacement quickly, you might only be able to get a standard screen.
AAAhem.
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Cant believe anyone would 'choose' to replace a QC with a std screen:
www.specsavers.co.uk
;-)
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DD ... I bet you used to be a Luddite in a previous life ;-)
Lud ... no disrespect to yourself ;-)
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L\'escargot.
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LagunaII had quickclear windscreen listed in 2001 - but wasn't available for order (for unspecified reasons) when I tried.
More unusually:
Around 1976, at the Chipping Sodbury car auctions we came across a 3litre Austin (the pretty rare large land-crab). The first thing that we noticed was that the door hinges were shot - the doors dropped halfway to the ground when you opened them. However, we then noticed the Triplex redline heating elements in the opening side door windows! We presumed that the car had been on a development test bed, where the doors had been constantly opened and shut, to test the reliability of the contacts... Another idea that didn't make it to the market!
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Still miss the Ford Q/C windscreen 14 months after ditching the Mondeo. Prefer pretty much everything else about my new car, but the stone-age technology windscreen still irritates me everytime I have to a) scrape it or b) flick the wipers every few seconds to clear misting on coldish damp mornings. I probably used to switch the Q/C on 50% of mornings from late September through to March/April.
Yes, I could see the lines, but I soon got used to them (knew that I would from several thousand miles in rental Mondeos). I'd be interested to know if any of you who hate them have actually used a car day-in, day-out with a Q/C screen, without going back to anything normal?
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Never have a problem with Ford/Volvo QC windscreens myself. I think one of the reasons that some people love it and some hate it is down to an individuals eye-sight i.e. focal distance and range. My distance eye sight is very good but my arms are a little short for reading.
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I'd be interested to know if any of you who hate them have actually used a car day-in day-out with a Q/C screen without going back to anything normal?
I've had Quickclear screens for so long now that that's what I consider to be normal. It's the non-heated screens which are abnormal!
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L\'escargot.
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Ok, Sat Navs. The problem is not to do with heated windscreens, but either 'heat reflective' windscreens, or 'solar' type glass.
Heat relective- the coating that is applied to the glass (w/s mainly), that gives a 'rainbow' type of appearance. Renault were and are big on this since the original Megane. This blocks/disrupts the reception. Thus the aerial needs to be placed against a different glass. Only a handful of cars have the coated glass all the way around the vehicle. S class for e.g. This means that it is a bit more awkward, as you have to feed the aerial elsewhere.
Solar glass. This does not appear any different to 'normal' glass, i.e., green glass will look the same as green solar. The difference is that there is more iron in the solar glass, thus disrupting the reception, in the same fashion as above.
I met up with a representative from a sat nav company a few years ago, who contacted the company i worked for. He wanted to know if the trademark would inform his technicians of any specifics as mentioned. Unfortunately, only a few glasses have this info, but a good w/s company can tell you if this is standard or an option on the vehicle.
Heated w/s.
Generally have been around for around fifty to sixty years. As someone mentioned, the original mini used a version in the rally cars with the bars visible some 60mm inside the top and bottom of the screen. Enthusiasts today, still request this type of w/s, so they can fully replicate the original for restoration.
I believe Ford patented the name Quiclclear but not the technology, but plenty of manufacturers use and have used it. Apart from Ford, Renault in all Lagunas, original Meganes, Master van, Safrane. Rover/BMW in the Metro and Minis. Jaguar, Porsche in the original 911. Scania, Volvo trucks, Iveco (Ford is a partner), Maercedes commercial vehicles, MAN trucks, ERF, BMW 5 & 7 series for many years for the wipers only at the bottom edge, SEAT for wipers and on and on it goes!!
Some who haven't include VW, Audi, Saab, Vauxhall.... Some vehicles had them made for specific reasons, i.e., police Vectras, Senators and Omegas.
Many people get confused, because they have a button with a w.s picture on it, but all that does is concentrate the blowers on it.
I think the long and short of the arguments are that if all manufacturers offered it as an option, then those who like it can have it, and those that don't, don't. Remember, you can always get an unheated fitted aftermarket!!
Personally, i think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, especially in commercial vehicles. Lets face it, most company and private vans don't have aircon. Jumping into a van when it is wet and cold mists it up in seconds. For me, having the blowers on the side windows, while the w/s demists using the heating elements really is superb. No dry eyes, no hand marks and defrosted wipers.
Sorry it is long, but i hope this helps everyone. Please feel free to ask any questions, i won't be offended!
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