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Headlamp Deicing

E

el_barto

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More scheming:
The LED headlamps on this truck are really good, but! since they don’t produce heat like a halogen or HID headlamp, they are prone to icing up when it’s snowing.

Possible solutions:
1) Defroster/heating elements.
This is how aftermarket LED headlamps with heating elements do it. Downside is there is no aftermarket way to add this, to my knowledge.

2) washer fluid jets
This has solution has been around for a long time and would be reasonably easy to add using universal kit or pilfering parts from any number of cars. The plastic trim between the headlamp and the bumper would lend itself well to installing this but you might need the type of jet that pops out since it’s recessed relative to the front of the headlamp. Downside too is that it probably won’t work as well as a heater element if it’s truly iced over (vs slush)
www.tacomaworld.com

Retrofit Headlight Washer Jet on Tacoma

Hello TW, I just did this mod lately and I like it a lot. Some people might not agree on the way it looks but hey that’s just me, I like the OG style...
www.tacomaworld.com www.tacomaworld.com

3) human wiper
Yes I can stop and get out to wipe it once in a while but that sucks in a blizzard, requires pulling over to stop (not always safe), and isn’t as cool as options 1 or 2.

thoughts? ideas?

0840FF37-A5E8-4F7E-AFC0-D9AC1FC17BBE.jpeg
 
I'm not in an area that gets much ice and snow. I wonder if there is some type of pre-treatment that could be applied if inclimate weather is expected.
 
el_barto said:
More scheming:
2) washer fluid jets
This has solution has been around for a long time and would be reasonably easy to add using universal kit or pilfering parts from any number of cars. The plastic trim between the headlamp and the bumper would lend itself well to installing this but you might need the type of jet that pops out since it’s recessed relative to the front of the headlamp. Downside too is that it probably won’t work as well as a heater element if it’s truly iced over (vs slush)
thoughts? ideas?
Click to expand...
For option two, what about adding a length of coiled copper tubing close to somewhere warm in the engine bay, which will give you enough reserve heated washer to get ice/slush off?

15BDB1DA-BA0C-463D-A81C-B9CEE42208A0.jpeg
 
Fishnerd said:
For option two, what about adding a length of coiled copper tubing close to somewhere warm in the engine bay, which will give you enough reserve heated washer to get ice/slush off?

View attachment 21317
Click to expand...
Interesting idea... I think the washer bottle is pretty close to the radiator so it should stay pretty warm once the engine is up to temp. I haven’t had any issue with the washer fluid freezing.
I know there are a couple of 12V inline washer fluid heater options available as well.

AlphaTherm Heated Wash AT-38OD

Heated Wash AT-38OD Unit is designed to dramatically improve the performance of the washer system.The Unit provides heated fluid each time the driver activates the factory installed washer system, heated washer fluid is applied to the windshield.
www.alphathermusa.com
 
I tried an in-line washer fluid heater and it was a waste of money. Also your pick brought me down :(. The clock is ticking until such picks are reality here and I am not ready.
 
What's that white stuff on your truck? :rolleyes: :p :eek: :p

Or move. :rolleyes:

But seriously, not sure why the factory didn't have something for it. Especially since they ship to Canada. Wonder if a Canadian truck has a different light setup that has something integrated that we don't.
 
Great White North Eh said:
I tried an in-line washer fluid heater and it was a waste of money. Also your pick brought me down :(. The clock is ticking until such picks are reality here and I am not ready.
Click to expand...
Well good to know I can at least cross that option off the list of possibilities
 
Not sure where you live, but I live in Central PA, and we also get a decent amount of snow during the winter. During this past winter, I really didn't have much of an issue with the LED headlights on my 2020 getting snow-covered. And we did get a good bit of snowfall.

Rather, my main problem was the wiper blades icing up. I've lived here for many years, and I'm a pro at the lift-and-snap-on-the-windshield-while-driving wiper blade clearing technique. The windshield washer fluid rarely de-ices them enough -- I've tried. If anything needs to be heated, it's the wiper blades, IMO.
 
el_barto said:
I emailed them the other day. Bonus I live like 10 minutes from their main office.
Already planning to add their Defroster to my topper when it comes in
Click to expand...
On second review these headlights are so long I might be able to use their heating elements, they have a couple options under 24” . I’m not sure if they are safe to install on the outside of the vehicle though. I will have to consult with them.
gort said:
Not sure where you live, but I live in Central PA, and we also get a decent amount of snow during the winter. During this past winter, I really didn't have much of an issue with the LED headlights on my 2020 getting snow-covered. And we did get a good bit of snowfall.

Rather, my main problem was the wiper blades icing up. I've lived here for many years, and I'm a pro at the lift-and-snap-on-the-windshield-while-driving wiper blade clearing technique. The windshield washer fluid rarely de-ices them enough -- I've tried. If anything needs to be heated, it's the wiper blades, IMO.
Click to expand...
I’m in CO. I’ve always had issues with windshield and wipers getting iced up. Particularly on the A pillar where it pushes the snow but doesn’t fall off. I don’t remember the actual wipers freezing up these past 2 winters though. The defrost on these trucks works pretty well I think.
i tried heated wiper blades once, they were ok I guess. Didn’t last very long and were kind of streaky all the time.

The one blessing these headlamps have is they are very vertical and there is nothing directly under them for snow to build up on, so some snow and slush will just slide off.
 
el_barto said:
I’m in CO. I’ve always had issues with windshield and wipers getting iced up. Particularly on the A pillar where it pushes the snow but doesn’t fall off. I don’t remember the actual wipers freezing up these past 2 winters though. The defrost on these trucks works pretty well I think.
i tried heated wiper blades once, they were ok I guess. Didn’t last very long and were kind of streaky all the time.
Click to expand...

Yep -- mine builds up a lot at the A-pillar. But it also builds up on the blade itself and eventually lifts it off the windshield making it ineffective. I've driven though snowstorms where I had to do the lift-and-snap every few minutes. FWIW, I never heard of heated wiper blades -- but then I never searched for them, either. Now I'm curious. If the ones you tried were awful, I'm up for trying to come up with something better.
 
Would having the headlamps ceramic coated help at all? Doesn’t that help prevent things from sticking to the surface?
 
gort said:
Yep -- mine builds up a lot at the A-pillar. But it also builds up on the blade itself and eventually lifts it off the windshield making it ineffective. I've driven though snowstorms where I had to do the lift-and-snap every few minutes. FWIW, I never heard of heated wiper blades -- but then I never searched for them, either. Now I'm curious. If the ones you tried were awful, I'm up for trying to come up with something better.
Click to expand...
I’ve done that in traffic, but never while actually moving lol.
I don’t know if I would describe the heated wipers as “awful”... but they didn’t leave a lasting impression and I didn’t buy replacements when they wore out. That was like 10 years ago, maybe they have improved.

RAM_Dad said:
Would having the headlamps ceramic coated help at all? Doesn’t that help prevent things from sticking to the surface?
Click to expand...
Maybe...I have clear film over the headlights (to protect from pitting), can ceramic be done over the vinyl?
 
I have always just used rain x on my lenses and had little issue with ice/snow build up on all my led lights the only one that was bad was my jeep as the lights were recessed so they would pack full with my led housings
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
I have always just used rain x on my lenses and had little issue with ice/snow build up on all my led lights the only one that was bad was my jeep as the lights were recessed so they would pack full with my led housings
Click to expand...
Yeah they need to do something for the Jeeps with LEDs they get filled up really fast.
 
el_barto said:
On second review these headlights are so long I might be able to use their heating elements, they have a couple options under 24” . I’m not sure if they are safe to install on the outside of the vehicle though. I will have to consult with them.

I’m in CO. I’ve always had issues with windshield and wipers getting iced up. Particularly on the A pillar where it pushes the snow but doesn’t fall off. I don’t remember the actual wipers freezing up these past 2 winters though. The defrost on these trucks works pretty well I think.
i tried heated wiper blades once, they were ok I guess. Didn’t last very long and were kind of streaky all the time.

The one blessing these headlamps have is they are very vertical and there is nothing directly under them for snow to build up on, so some snow and slush will just slide off.
Click to expand...

The defrost on the driver side of my truck was utterly useless when we had a freezing rain/sneet some time in March 2020 after I got the truck. Running down Hwy 83 outside Franktown I was concerned with the rapidly diminishing visibility on the driver side. Perhaps the TSB fix will make it better, but it still feels pretty weak.

FWIW, I just bought replacement OEM blades for $38 on e-bay. I don't recall the blades themselves having any issues, but my goto choice of blades if not OEM is Bosch Icons. They are the best blades available. Sadly, the 4 24" blades I have left from the 04.5 truck are too long.
 
Brutal_HO said:
The defrost on the driver side of my truck was utterly useless when we had a freezing rain/sneet some time in March 2020 after I got the truck. Running down Hwy 83 outside Franktown I was concerned with the rapidly diminishing visibility on the driver side. Perhaps the TSB fix will make it better, but it still feels pretty weak.

FWIW, I just bought replacement OEM blades for $38 on e-bay. I don't recall the blades themselves having any issues, but my goto choice of blades if not OEM is Bosch Icons. They are the best blades available. Sadly, the 4 24" blades I have left from the 04.5 truck are too long.
Click to expand...

I just put Bosch icon blades on my truck a couple weeks ago. I thought the oem ones were pretty good but couldn’t find a part number for oem so I just bought the Bosch ones.

I’ll have to be more cognizant of and document the defrost and icing on my headlights this winter to see exactly where the problem points are. I know I would get the headlights iced over from road spray, but I suppose they are very vertical with no shelf below so maybe it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

I just ordered the Boost Auto heated convex mirrors, that will be a nice upgrade since I know they would stay icy much longer than the main glass (heated)
 
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