Windshield Ice Accumulation

[jclark]

Any luck or reviews of the gatekeeper setup?

I was wondering the same - I'm in Michigan and have started looking at options for heated wiper blades.

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[Gregory61]

As my second winter with a Bronco starts in Colorado, I am reminded of an issue I was hoping Ford would have addressed. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this issue(not sure how you couldn't) but the tips of my windshield wipers do not defrost. Where the sun sensor sit there is a gap in the defrost vent. This leads to the tip of the drivers windshield not being heated and an accumulation of ice on the last 2-3 inches on the blade. The ice builds under the blade and lifts the blade so only the few inches closest to the mount make contact with the windshield. Does anyone else have experience with this and have any suggestions? I have pre-ordered the Gatekeeper heated windshield wipers. I had reached out to Ford Development with no response last year. I am also running the stock blades and have not used any RainX or repellent on the windshield Thanks!

Same.

 

[B22-2023]

Colorado guy here as well and that has been one of my bigger gripes driving the Bronco in the winter. I usually have my defrost only on full blast and still get issues with the ice accumulation.

Well, if there is throwback feature to Gen 1 Bronco we didn’t need, this is it!

 

[buffhorse]

As my second winter with a Bronco starts in Colorado, I am reminded of an issue I was hoping Ford would have addressed. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this issue(not sure how you couldn't) but the tips of my windshield wipers do not defrost. Where the sun sensor sit there is a gap in the defrost vent. This leads to the tip of the drivers windshield not being heated and an accumulation of ice on the last 2-3 inches on the blade. The ice builds under the blade and lifts the blade so only the few inches closest to the mount make contact with the windshield. Does anyone else have experience with this and have any suggestions? I have pre-ordered the Gatekeeper heated windshield wipers. I had reached out to Ford Development with no response last year. I am also running the stock blades and have not used any RainX or repellent on the windshield Thanks!

how do you like the gatekeeper wipers? Are they worth it? Was the install easy?

 

[SkiSquatch]

Since there's been no followup on this, I went and purchased a set of thermalblade heated wipers. They are the ones Gatekeeper resells, but Gatekeeper also includes a bracket for the extra money. I 3d printed a bracket (if anyone wants he STL or the tinkercad info, let me know.

Kind of a pain to get the wires through the Cowl, and the passenger side I had to add another 'drain hole' that I ran the wire through.

Just getting around freezing in my part of the north east, so no reports yet. I'll post when I have more feedback about them. Some pics of the install, needs some cleanup this weekend.

 

[Footer]

Ran the Everblades on my FJ for years, did an admirable job. One of the drawbacks was replacing them once they were shot, $60 per blade.

Any reason you couldn't run these to an OEM AUX switch ?

 

[SkiSquatch]

Ran the Everblades on my FJ for years, did an admirable job. One of the drawbacks was replacing them once they were shot, $60 per blade.

Any reason you couldn't run these to an OEM AUX switch ?

Those would be any easer install, simpler wiring harness. But the replacement thermalblade squeegee is $24.99.

 

[23OBX2.7]

Those would be any easer install, simpler wiring harness. But the replacement thermalblade squeegee is $24.99.

What a great solution!!

 

[SkiSquatch]

So no complaints so far. Had some snow and ice overnight this week and seems to be working well. Remote started the bronco and wipers were pretty clean when I came out. I haven't driven it in a big storm yet, so that's the next real test. I do think the warm squeegees are cleaning my windshield well. So no issues so far.

Looks like some storms coming in next week, I'll report back on driving in a storm if that happens.

 

[SkiSquatch]

So I ran them all winter, drove through some really bad storms that I had to stop and deice my headlights. The wipers were great, no accumulation. And when I remote started in the really cold mornings or with snow/ice accumulation, there was no sticking to the windshield and the warm blades worked well in the morning. So no issues and it was worthwhile.

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