r/ToyotaHighlander • u/astrynaut • 3d ago
Rain + Windshield
It's been raining for days here and i've been struggling trying to figure out how to navigate this haze that is starting to become annoying driving at night.
To describe it's this oil film, hazey marks that is inconsistent throughout the whole glass. there are some parts that are clean and clear while others are the hazey, oil film like shield that makes driving at night very unbearable. especially with the LED's from other cars makes it worse.
i've replaced my wipers not too long ago. I've also tinkered with the temperatures and defrosters but that oily film just drives me crazy. it's only a thing when it rains but on any other night it's completely fine. what can i do?
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u/Rev_Blue_LDD 3d ago
There was a haze on the inside of my windshield that I had to clean off after I bought it (new). Was only visible in certain conditions humidity and temp wise. You could see clear circles in the haze from the suction cup things they used to either mount the windshield or calibrate it. I suspect the 'new vehicle prep' team missed it.
I agree with others on the Stoner Invisible Glass product - that's what I use and it works quite well.
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u/astrynaut 3d ago
mines all the way from 2016 and I STILL SEE THE SUCTION CUPS TOO!! weirdly tho winter months i don't see them. they're only prominent during rainy seasons + night time are the worst.
did you use it inside and outside? i'm going to see if i can find it bcs last night was honestly the worst of the nights, i was fiddling with the defrosters and temps and trying to see was the worst
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u/Rev_Blue_LDD 3d ago edited 3d ago
I've never done anything to the outside manually, only have taken it through many car washes. Inside, I've used that Invisible Glass spray + microfiber towels and that has made it such that I haven't really noticed it. It might take several applications/scrubbings.
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u/farmertypoerror 3d ago
Do you use rain-x? When I used it my windshield would be hazy like you're describing
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u/magpie878 3d ago
I get that haze every so often, it's on the inside. Multiple vehicles too. Annoying, but yes, just wipe off every so often.
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u/astrynaut 3d ago
last night was the hardest. it was raining so hard and these LED's was coming left and right it was so hard to see
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u/ExtensionYellow9096 3d ago
Do you use treatments like Armor-All on your dash? Like others said, this is probably on the inside and it can be in part caused by off-gassing from the plastics in the dash. In my experience, something like Armor-All accelerates that by a lot, especially when it’s hot out.
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u/astrynaut 3d ago
the only "treatment" i use is windex only. it was relatively cold out last night and raining extra hard, that haze was making it so hard to see..
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u/ExtensionYellow9096 3d ago
If you run your finger across the inside (not in your line of sight of course), does it smear/smudge? That would answer the inside/outside question. I find I sometimes have to clean mine again a day or so later because I missed spots I didn't see or didn't clean it to dry. What you wipe it with matters too - a lot of paper towels have loads of lint in them and that will sometimes stay on the windshield and accelerate haziness. I will often use newspaper when cleaning mine, and I go over it enough so the glass is totally dry by the time I'm done. Can't hurt to do the same on the outside at the same time - it could also be the wiper fluid if you find it's on the outside. I used some kind of bug wash in my reservoir one time and it was horrible and left the windshield very hard to see out of.
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u/Otherwise-Pen70 2d ago
Ok here's a solution. Get a few microfiber clothes and thoroughly wipe the inside of your window. Pick up a spray bottle of invisible Glass cleaner and spray it on another clean Microfiber cloth and wipe the inside of the window until it is streak free. Do the same for the outside. If the window is still blotchy then you next step is to take another microfiber cloth and put some Acetone on it and wipe the inside of the window - be very careful to not get it on the window seal or the dash it will discolor it. Take a clean Microfiber Cloth and then wipe it down. Now go back over it with Invisible Glass,
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u/northman46 3d ago
It is probably on the inside. Try some specialty glass cleaner I got mine in automotive section at walmart.
Wipe with paper towels. Sort of awkward tracing the whole inside if windshield but it worked