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Windshield Chemical haze?

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Old 07-14-2023, 10:11 PM
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Zeus993
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Default Windshield Chemical haze?

Loving my new-to-me 2018 GTS except one thing - the windershield has what looks to be a chemical-like (washer fluid?) haze on it. It appears that the car spent most of it's time in New Jersey, which would be a state that gets cold in winter etc...

I've tried Griots glass polish and ultra fine steel wool to no effect.

One idea was that it had a protective film that could be peeled off but I just don't see that any such film is there.

Ideas? Replace windshield?

Thanks in advance...

JP

Last edited by Zeus993; 07-14-2023 at 11:54 PM.
Old 07-14-2023, 10:47 PM
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Terry Adams
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I use

https://www.griotsgarage.com/ceramic...BoCMO0QAvD_BwE
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Old 07-14-2023, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Terry Adams
I'll check that out.

Tku.

JP
Old 07-15-2023, 07:04 AM
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wingless
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Denatured alcohol is sometimes good for removing stubborn film. Follow all MSDS precautions.
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Old 07-15-2023, 01:49 PM
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BMinSFL
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Originally Posted by Zeus993
I've tried Griots glass polish and ultra fine steel wool to no effect
Griots has glass polishing pads that should be used with the polish on a rotary polisher. You won't get that far by hand, assuming the residue is something that can be polished off.

​​​​​​I had good results removing residue with those pads, a rotary polisher and CarPro glass polish but any cerium oxide based polish, including the Griots product, will work. It just takes a lot of effort.

Last edited by BMinSFL; 07-15-2023 at 06:50 PM.
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Old 07-15-2023, 02:51 PM
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DSC48
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Alcohol, then vinegar. If no luck, glass polish.
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Old 07-20-2023, 09:51 PM
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Ugh, I can't stand a dirty/hazy windshield! Have you checked to make sure the film/haze isn't on the inside?
Old 07-21-2023, 01:06 AM
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I bought one of these heavily advertised rectangular cleaning pads on a pole. They are made so cheaply that you have to treat them as perishable, but what a great job they do inside the windshield. Because of the steep angle, it is tough to get in there with just paper towels. It was about thirty bucks, which is at least three times what it should cost, but very effective with just Windex. It took months to arrive as it is a direct China product. Maybe just Google this, as I can't provide more information.
Old 07-21-2023, 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted by wwahl
I bought one of these heavily advertised rectangular cleaning pads on a pole. They are made so cheaply that you have to treat them as perishable, but what a great job they do inside the windshield. Because of the steep angle, it is tough to get in there with just paper towels. It was about thirty bucks, which is at least three times what it should cost, but very effective with just Windex. It took months to arrive as it is a direct China product. Maybe just Google this, as I can't provide more information.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/AstroAI-C...BoCZ-YQAvD_BwE
Old 07-21-2023, 11:24 AM
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boyce89976
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Originally Posted by wwahl
I bought one of these heavily advertised rectangular cleaning pads on a pole. They are made so cheaply that you have to treat them as perishable, but what a great job they do inside the windshield. Because of the steep angle, it is tough to get in there with just paper towels. It was about thirty bucks, which is at least three times what it should cost, but very effective with just Windex. It took months to arrive as it is a direct China product. Maybe just Google this, as I can't provide more information.
We just got something that sounds similar, but it’s just a sponge with a chamois type material covering it. Haven’t used it yet, so no idea if it’s effective, but it was around $10 on Amazon I think.


Old 07-21-2023, 03:08 PM
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I have a brand new 2023 Macan S. Had problems with the windshield fluid put in by the delivering dealer/factory. seemed too concentrated and left a stick residue. Solution was to drain and dilute it. Porsche NA is very specific now to not use rainX or anything that is not water based in the fluid reservoirs.
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Old 07-21-2023, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 2023MacanS4B
I have a brand new 2023 Macan S. Had problems with the windshield fluid put in by the delivering dealer/factory. seemed too concentrated and left a stick residue. Solution was to drain and dilute it. Porsche NA is very specific now to not use rainX or anything that is not water based in the fluid reservoirs.
I had the same issue, it was pretty bad on a black car. I captured a lot of it by placing bottles over the nozzles and running the pump. I then diluted it with distilled water. The rest was drained by running the pump when it was raining out.

I made sure before my service visit to fill up the tank with my diluted version so they don't refill it during the routine check/fill fluids step.
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Old 07-24-2023, 07:23 PM
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Did you get the residue off? I don't have this problem in the Macan, but have had it on other cars and tried alcohol, vinegar, 0000 steel wool, clay, it wouldn't come off. Didn't go to a polisher...
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Zeus993 (07-25-2023)
Old 07-24-2023, 11:28 PM
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I had this problem after hiring an actual clown to ceramic a car. I didn’t know he was a clown until after he did the work. Almost everything that could go wrong did including windshield chemical haze. It disappeared after about two years meaning it lasted longer than where the ceramic actually belonged.
Old 07-25-2023, 12:27 AM
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I've got a solution for you: Come to Colorado, go for a road trip, and rock damage is nearly guaranteed! My Macan had a windshield chip so bad we had to find clear packing tape and tape over it. Rain was coming in and dripping onto the dashboard. Of course it was day one of a seven-day trip to Utah. Oh, make sure your auto insurance covers windshield replacement first!

-James
Denver, CO
2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (loaded, 6-spd manual, with two (2) windshield chips in six months of ownership)
2020 Porsche Macan (base with a new windshield!)







Last edited by JDailey; 07-25-2023 at 12:29 AM.
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