1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Windscreen looks fuzzy in rain, I want to replace it

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Mayank Jain, Nov 22, 2024 at 10:10 PM.

Tags:
  1. Mayank Jain

    Mayank Jain Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2018
    101
    70
    1
    Location:
    Cupertino, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Hi everyone,

    I am a 2012 pip owner (bought used 6 years ago), currently at about 120k miles.

    The car itself drives very well, but I am noticing that the visibility from the front windscreen gets very poor (and fuzzy) when it is night and it rains (even with wipers at full speed + defoggers ON).

    Any shining light in front of me (either tail lights of cars ahead of me, or traffic lights) show up as vertical shimmers across the windscreen.

    Today evening, I was in a very similar situation - I was taking my son to his art class during night time with heavy rains and I had a very strong heightened awareness of risk due to poor visibility.

    I am thinking if I replace the windscreen, it could perhaps fix the problem?

    If I am on the right track
    - Would this actually fix the problem which I describe?
    - What type of cost can I expect with OEM parts + labor?
    - Should I get it done from any place which offers cheapest labor cost?

    If I am not on the right track to fix this problem - what other ideas can I try?

    What is your collective guidance on this topic?
    Anyone else faced same issues with their old PiP's?

    Thank you!
     
  2. Mayank Jain

    Mayank Jain Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2018
    101
    70
    1
    Location:
    Cupertino, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    This is a close approximation of what I see while driving (obviously my vision is more in focus that what I could get with the camera)
     
  3. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    1,876
    949
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    No, replacing the windscreen won't fix that issue and may even make it worse, if you get cheap glass with imperfections. Imperfections are focal points within the glass that's difficult and nearly impossible to recognize, in daylight.

    Try cleaning the inside of your windscreen, then treat it with anti-fog. I've found that wearing those anti-glare night driving glasses also helps. Also turn-on your AC unit and set to cabin recirculate, you may have to crank-up the heat a bit to compensate, set fan to low defroster + center or foot vents. That should take care of your issues. The AC will become your own personal dehumidifier, that'll eliminate inside glass fogging; that's difficult to recognize while night driving.

    Hope this helps....
     
    #3 BiomedO1, Nov 23, 2024 at 12:47 PM
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2024 at 1:20 PM
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,247
    50,095
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    is there any technology in the windscreen such as heads up display?
     
    BiomedO1 likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,770
    39,269
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring