Sponsored

Question regarding the Windsheld defrost

Jeepsterfreak

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
2,147
Reaction score
1,303
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
Honda, Future JLU
So we had our first significant snowfall yesterday and we exactly as I figured it would . The windshield freezes over and you constantly have to scrape it and smack the wipers to get the accumulation off .... I went home and cleared the snow off and had to run back to the grocery store , The frost is the driver side view and the clear is the middle and small portion of the passengers side ...

What a shitty design !! I cant imagine how this could have passed any sort of testing , also dont know ho they would or could fix this without major problems arising.

C016960A-E8B9-4010-BCF0-7DC02EE5F92B.jpeg


14635A68-187A-4143-B457-6D900063D3F6.jpeg
I would file a complaint with NHTSA including your pics. This is a real safety concern. I donā€™t see how Jeep can get a pass on this issue. Itā€™s a design defect.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/
Sponsored

 

Dubeau9005

Well-Known Member
First Name
Keith
Joined
Feb 26, 2018
Threads
21
Messages
203
Reaction score
108
Location
Ottawa
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep Wrangler JLU Sport S, 2010 GMC Sierra 1500
Donā€™t think this is an defect as it is more a design issue. If you block the middle vent, it starts blowing air out of the sides. As my career involves testing and adjusting airflow in commercial buildings, this is simply caused by the design of the duct in the dash. Airflow takes the most direct path. My guess would be that the duct comes up the middle of the dash and therefore straight out the middle. Mopar would have needed to place a deflector in the middle to create a more even flow of the air. Does anyone know if you can pop the vent out or if the dash has to come apart? If it can be popped out, I may design a deflector to help equalize the airflow throughout the windshield and can share my design/findings here.
 

Dubeau9005

Well-Known Member
First Name
Keith
Joined
Feb 26, 2018
Threads
21
Messages
203
Reaction score
108
Location
Ottawa
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep Wrangler JLU Sport S, 2010 GMC Sierra 1500
vents.jpg


Just to clarify, when in windshield or mixed mode, I don't feel any air coming out from the red area. The green area is fine. (The right side is not pictured but the same problem occurs on that side as well.)

The side window have a separate vent and they work fine.

Can anyone try this on their JL and let me know if this is the case on their Jeep?
Iā€™ve checked on our JL and same issue as you. See my post above for a more detailed description and possible solution. Will keep this updated once I dig a bit deeper. Wonā€™t be this weekend unfortunately as it is the last weekend of hunting season for deer up here.
 

Zazoh

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Threads
9
Messages
1,396
Reaction score
6,027
Location
San Antonio TX
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLU Rubicon Sting-Gray
Occupation
Software Engineer
Donā€™t think this is an defect as it is more a design issue. If you block the middle vent, it starts blowing air out of the sides. As my career involves testing and adjusting airflow in commercial buildings, this is simply caused by the design of the duct in the dash. Airflow takes the most direct path. My guess would be that the duct comes up the middle of the dash and therefore straight out the middle. Mopar would have needed to place a deflector in the middle to create a more even flow of the air. Does anyone know if you can pop the vent out or if the dash has to come apart? If it can be popped out, I may design a deflector to help equalize the airflow throughout the windshield and can share my design/findings here.
Unless ... the deflectors fall out, or were not installed. Good line of thinking though.
 

JeepCares

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2018
Threads
15
Messages
5,093
Reaction score
2,568
Location
Auburn Hills, MI
Vehicle(s)
JL
I'm scheduled to take mine to the dealer in two weeks. Has anyone had their's fixed yet? Just wondering what the cause was determined to be.

Thanks!
We're glad that you are planning on having your dealer take a look at this concern, mcolv2. Please send us a private message if you would like an added layer of assistance while your Jeep is at the dealer.
Lydia
Jeep Social Care Specialist

So, interestingly, we've had some cooler mornings with high humidity (typical South Florida pre-winter).

Using the defrost, I checked the vents, and like others stated, only the center vent seems to blow air. Now the interesting part was that after a few minutes, my entire driver's side had been defrosted, and only about 10% of the passenger's side. :)
So we had our first significant snowfall yesterday and we exactly as I figured it would . The windshield freezes over and you constantly have to scrape it and smack the wipers to get the accumulation off .... I went home and cleared the snow off and had to run back to the grocery store , The frost is the driver side view and the clear is the middle and small portion of the passengers side ...

What a shitty design !! I cant imagine how this could have passed any sort of testing , also dont know ho they would or could fix this without major problems arising.

C016960A-E8B9-4010-BCF0-7DC02EE5F92B.jpeg


14635A68-187A-4143-B457-6D900063D3F6.jpeg
Hi TimmH and jamielong,
Let us know if you plan to see your dealers about this. We would be happy to get a case started on your behalf in order to help monitor this concern. Just send us a private message.
Lydia
Jeep Social Care Specialist
 

Sponsored

TIDALWAVE

Well-Known Member
First Name
CHUCK
Joined
Oct 21, 2017
Threads
86
Messages
798
Reaction score
433
Location
MINNESOTA
Vehicle(s)
2015 Mustang GT Convertible, 2013 CHEVY SILVERADO, 2018 JLUR
My JL has the same bad design for the windshield defroster...no air flow on the right and left sides. I ended up placing a 3 inch x 12 inch felt strip over the center of the vent. This forces the warm air to the sides. 3 million miles of testing...all on southern beaches, I guess.
 

m3reno

Well-Known Member
First Name
Sal
Joined
Jul 21, 2018
Threads
47
Messages
1,090
Reaction score
996
Location
caldwell
Vehicle(s)
2022 Jeep Wrangler JLU
I had the same issues yesterday during the snow storm, center of windshield was clear but both left and right side of the windshield were iced up. Bad design
 

GRAK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2017
Threads
28
Messages
1,235
Reaction score
2,785
Location
Out West
Vehicle(s)
JL Rubi, Corvette
Clubs
 
Man. Between this and the LED headlamps this is looking like a warm weather only vehicle
 

Torero

Well-Known Member
First Name
J. Diego
Joined
Apr 21, 2018
Threads
24
Messages
831
Reaction score
817
Location
Illinois
Vehicle(s)
JL Rubicon, FJ Cruiser, BMW Z3, F650,GL63 AMG, STI
Man. Between this and the LED headlamps this is looking like a warm weather only vehicle
We are doomed:surprised: :facepalm::( .........:giggle:
 

Sponsored

szobell

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Nov 28, 2017
Threads
17
Messages
327
Reaction score
471
Location
Utah
Vehicle(s)
2022 JLUR
Man. Between this and the LED headlamps this is looking like a warm weather only vehicle
No issues on LED with snow or ice for me. My LED lights have melted anything on them just fine.
 

mcolv2

Active Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
25
Reaction score
3
Location
Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
JL Rubicon
Everything checked out and seems to be functioning. We checked a JL that was in the showroom, and it also blows from the center vents only.

Not what I had hoped to find out.
 

mcolv2

Active Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
25
Reaction score
3
Location
Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
JL Rubicon
Btt. Went to my dealership this morning and it seems that this is how it is supposed to work. We compared against other JL wranglers on the lot.
 

Mabar

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Threads
8
Messages
152
Reaction score
185
Location
Northeast Ohio
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2-Door
Hi Jamie,
Unfortunately, I am unable to determine how this design operates since I am not a trained technician. For this reason, we are suggesting that customers have their dealers be made aware of this while also sending us a private message so we can gather more information on the involved vehicles and have a case opened up for them.
Lydia
Jeep Social Care Specialist
I believe this defroster vent is a design defect and is a problem that the dealer will not be able to resolve. The defrost duct work needs to have the proper baffles to direct the defrost air flow to the entire defrost vent, not just the center section. I live in Northeast Ohio and this will be a real problem during winter storms.

This is not a problem that a dealer can correct. It is a manufacturing problem.

"Jeep Cares", is this a manufacturing problem that you can report to the factory?
Sponsored

 
 



Top