Need to solve this windshield problem once and for all!

[Kraeken]

This was the view out of my windshield last night in the rain. That haze you see with the streaks in it is an invincible film seemingly chemically bonded to the glass, streaks and all. I have had this problem with various vehicles, including both my 4Runners. I have read tons of stuff online and in forums, talked to glass guys, body shop guys, and though there are tons of theories and remedies, nothing seems to work.

I have this film on the outside of my windshield. I have noticed it has gotten much worse in the last few days.. The only thing different is that the truck was at both the dealer getting 5k service and at a tire place getting new tires. After the dealer I took it to some crap ass neighborhood car wash near the dealer because they gave me a free wash with service. It is the old touch kind with the long strips and rollers that our car goes through.

I had this on my old Jeep, and my 07 T4R. On the Jeep, thankfully the windshield broke and I got rid of the truck soon after. On the '07 T4R, the only clean spot were the words "L/NN," probably from the factory. But between both trucks I tried- Goof Off, 0000 steel wool, WD-40, diesel, kerosene, acetone, denatured alcohol, regular alcohol, Coca Cola, physical force, Bon Ami, Ajax, white vinegar, acetic acid, and a body shop tried a clay bar, with ZERO results.

After reading here last night, I went out today and bought some Stoner Invisible glass and a package of new microfiber cloths. I did my windshield 6 times, and could see the stuff, unchanged, after each cleaning. I used a different new clean cloth for each washing.

Mind you, the glass is crystal clear and looks perfect when dry, but in the rain, it becomes painfully obvious.

Everything can be dissolved by something. What dissolves this crap? Even physically rubbing it only does very minimal, if any removal. If I remember correctly physically rubbing the windshield until exhausted got a tiny part clean on one of my old vehicles.

What the hell is this stuff and why is it talked about by everyone but no one officially knows anything about it or how to get rid of it???? How do people who install automotive glass for a living claim ignorance????

Help!

 

[Maritimer]

Just wondering if you park under any sort of tree? I know this isn't much help to a solution, but if we could find out what's different about your situation and pinpoint the cause, perhaps the solution will be more apparent.

 

[Kraeken]

No, no trees. The film coats the entire windshield.

Also, to elaborate on the picture, those runny streak marks are clearspots in the haze. I just drove home in the rain again. It was a nightmare, I could barely see a thing with the glare from headlights and streetlights through this stuff. Its almost better with the wipers off.

I have a feeling it may be some product from the car wash I went through last week.

 

[Maritimer]

I know that some car washes use clear-coat finish or something. May also use some kind of Rain-X crap. I know I won't let that near my windows as it streaks them all to hell and doesn't X all the rain it needs to. Need a bare window and a simple wiper. Maybe their brushes are gunked-up, too.

Keep this thread alive, as someone must have a solution. I would be freaking, myself, as I can't stand streaks--and they are the worst at night in the rain as you say.

 

[maddogusmc]

When you go to the car wash DO NOT use anything except their regular wash soap cycle and rinse! What you have is a build up of either their rain-x or clear coat wax. I:thumb3: had the same problem until I figured it out. Try washing the windshield with dawn dish soap and hot water, it may take several washes to get it all off.

 

[li_runner]

I have to agree what do you use to clean you truck? It looks like a film left by cleaner.

 

[Kraeken]

After another vigorous round of various solvents, spirits, strippers and steel wool, I started going at the windshield with rubbing compound. As I was doing this, my neighbor's friend came by. He happens to own a hand car wash/ detailing place in the neighborhood. I never thought to ask him about it because of previous experiences with other professionals. So I showed him the picture, and he immediately told me he sees it a lot- its the residue from the stuff they use in automatic car washes. He said that's one of the reasons he owns a hand car wash.

He said what I was doing by hand with the rubbing compound is the same thing he does with his machine. Compounds the stuff right off the windshield! Lo and behold, after I compounded the windshield like four or five times with a lot of elbow grease, I couldn't see any of the stuff anymore. Before the compound a damp paper towel would bring the crap right out. Not anymore! Plus the water sheets off the windshield now instead of beading into tiny greasy droplets. I rinsed everything really well and cleaned the windows with Invisible Glass.

So we'll see what happens next time it rains...

 

[scenic-seeker]

I previously read about claying windows to perfection, but now I'm going to try rubbing compound. I have a rear window wiper scratch that I can't get rid of. Thanks for your solution. :thumb3:

P.S. Is that your blimp?

 

[Kraeken]

I wish it was my blimp! It's a blimp that was moored in Brooklyn for the summer a few years ago. You could go right up to it and talk to the crew, go inside, but I nevergot a chance to take a flight.

Anyway, make sure you rinse the glass well because the compound leaves a residue. I washed my entire truck then cleaned the glass again. It may rain tonight, hopefully it worked. I will be unhappy if it isn't at least half gone.

 

[Edubsam]

I would bet it's either wax or a clear coat. Have you tried scraping it to see if anything comes off? Putty knife a corner and see what happens. Scratches won't be any worse than the haze, but use a plastic one and it shouldn't scratch the window.

As you have tried everything else, maybe try a headlight restore thing? The mcguires kit has a buffer ball you run off a drill. That's better than elbow grease. Maybe just try the buffer dry first and see how it goes.

 

[Kraeken]

Yes I forgot to mention, I used a widget and a regular razor, nothing. The compound definitely did something, how much it get rid of is the question. Someone do a rain dance, make Irene get here a day early!

 

[Kraeken]

Ok, solved, this is how it turned out- compound by hand changed the pattern and got rid of some of it but it was still there and still bad. I took it to a detailing place and they compounded my windshield with the machine.

I have been out driving in the hurricane, my windshield is CRYSTAL clear!!! So that's what works- compound with the machine, grind that crap right off. There is a small spot up near the top they missed, so I can definitely see the difference.

 

[derekdevasia]

I've heard about films on windows caused by well water? Does your car sit by the sprinklers? Or do you use well water to wash it, please say no....

 

[Kraeken]

No, I use good 'ol NYC tap water. The stuff on the windshield was most likely caused by all the crap they gloop onto your car at those crummy automatic car washes. Apparently they are silicone based.

 

[Jab3style]

Ok, solved, this is how it turned out- compound by hand changed the pattern and got rid of some of it but it was still there and still bad. I took it to a detailing place and they compounded my windshield with the machine.

I have been out driving in the hurricane, my windshield is CRYSTAL clear!!! So that's what works- compound with the machine, grind that crap right off. There is a small spot up near the top they missed, so I can definitely see the difference.

Do you happen to know exactly what compound they used and what is this type of machine you mentioned?

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Try dawn dish washing liquid. I use that every Time I wash it (ONLY ON THE WINDSHIELD) and I never have this problem. Also keeps the wipers from skipping from the road grime and dust.

 

[Kraeken]

Do you happen to know exactly what compound they used and what is this type of machine you mentioned?

Welcome to the forum!

I don't know what they used. However, I had it done again since my last post and it didn't do much this time. Basically what I'm doing now is scrubbing my windshield with liberal amounts of Bon Ami (Mohs scale be damned) dish soap and applying RainX, even though I hate the stuff. The RainX seems to act as a sacrificial coating between the glass and the grime. I also only use Bosch Icon wipers now. It seems to be working ok...

 

[Bossman315]

Try this!

I just bought a 2016 Jeep Wrangler with this same issue, I didn't read through all the replies but if anyone comes upon this I solved it by wetting the glass with a spray bottle in the shade, carefully use a utility/razor blade and slowly scrape l left to right . You will feel maybe hear it removing the rough build up. Except for a few chips is good as new. I assume it's either automatic car wash wax build up or Rain X or bad mixture of both.

 

[shahsmerdis]

Funny, I found this on google. I have the same problem. I do have a DA polisher, What polish do you end up using to get this shit off. Do you have a after shot? Yeah I know im bringing this back from the dead. But Its infuriating.

 

[NoLight]

Try what [MENTION=144570]Bossman315[/MENTION] said then use a magic eraser but not the ones with soap in them, to clean your windshield I use hot water no soap going up and down with overlaps then side to side with overlaps. Then rinse with clean water. Then I use Meguiars Synthetic X-press Spray Wax to clean my windshield, and all interior except cloth give good shine on painted surfaces also for the in between waxes... Try it before you buff your glass with compound..