Numbers and streaks on Windshield

[Will733]

Did anyone have numbers written low on the drivers side part of the windshield that only appear when there is dew on it in the morning?

I just started to notice it since it's gotten colder (In San Diego it's rarely cold enough for dew to form on cars), and it's been 2 months since I bought it, and have washed it several times already.

You can also notice water lines where some liquid must have dripped from the roof down and permanently engraved itself into the windshield.

Normally you can't see any of this at all, but now in the colder mornings, it's all over the windshield with 4 numbers written on the outside driver side of the windshield. Once I drive and it warms up, the dew is gone and so are any signs of writting and streaks.

Any ideas as to why it is still on there, or anyone else who has/had this on their 4Runners?

 

[Dispense]

Haven't heard of that before but have you tried anything to get it off? I use a clay bar like the ones made by Mothers on my windows and paint, it really helps pick up hard to remove sediment. Might be worth a shot.

 

[Will733]

Haven't heard of that before but have you tried anything to get it off? I use a clay bar like the ones made by Mothers on my windows and paint, it really helps pick up hard to remove sediment. Might be worth a shot.

Claybar sounds like a good idea, I'll give that a shot next car wash... but I just figured it was worth checking on here to see if anyone else had prior experience with this before going to town scrubbing at it, waxing, buying rainex, etc...

 

[KevinG]

Did anyone have numbers written low on the drivers side part of the windshield that only appear when there is dew on it in the morning?

I just started to notice it since it's gotten colder (In San Diego it's rarely cold enough for dew to form on cars), and it's been 2 months since I bought it, and have washed it several times already.

You can also notice water lines where some liquid must have dripped from the roof down and permanently engraved itself into the windshield.

Normally you can't see any of this at all, but now in the colder mornings, it's all over the windshield with 4 numbers written on the outside driver side of the windshield. Once I drive and it warms up, the dew is gone and so are any signs of writting and streaks.

Any ideas as to why it is still on there, or anyone else who has/had this on their 4Runners?

Another option is extra fine steel wool. Like a 0000 grade. The more 0's the finer it is. Body shops use it all the time to remove overspray from glass...

 

[BrianLSU]

I have it too, I can see it as the Windex is drying with the perfect light bouncing off the windshield. Probably wax pens from the factory during assembly. I would stay away from abrasion and maybe focus on acetone or a thinner. Rain-x might help too, I haven't tried it yet.

But as your windshield gets older and sucks up more stuff it will blend in.

 

[Shamish]

Funny you should mention that...I just noticed this on my vehicle this morning. When I got the vehicle, there was all this white stuff (it looked like a giant bird crap) on the plastic cowling just below the VIN Plate. Maybe that was a remnant from whatever was on the windshield...

 

[Fuzzylogic]

Funny you should mention that...I just noticed this on my vehicle this morning. When I got the vehicle, there was all this white stuff (it looked like a giant bird crap) on the plastic cowling just below the VIN Plate. Maybe that was a remnant from whatever was on the windshield...

It's from grease pencil residue. It will go away over time with washing. Don't use an abrasive. It's no big deal. My suburban, then Expedition and Titan all had it when new.

My wife's Jeep had the worst case of it. In the morning dew, across the entire windshield it said "tastes great...less filling"

 

[GatorFL]

Rainx gets rid of it.

 

[Will733]

It's from grease pencil residue.

That explains the numbers, but what about all the running water streaks?

My wife's Jeep had the worst case of it. In the morning dew, across the entire windshield it said "tastes great...less filling"

Haha... Yeah, I guess I can imagine much worse things being written on the windshield.