This is not the first time it has happened. I notice there is some kind of blotchy film on the outside of my windshield and window glass of my 4Runner. When the windshield is clean or dry, it is invisible. But as soon as it rains, or even if you wife a damp cloth across it, it shows. It affects my visibility in the rain at night.

This happened to my last truck and my wife's Civic, both after coming back from different shops.

I tried a body shop and an auto glass place, and they have never encountered it before, but the auto glass place gave me some stuff that seems like rubbing compound which removed a little from my wife's car.

On my 4Runner, I can see the outlines of some letters which I assume were written on the windshield at some point during assembly.

I haven't gone at it with the 4R yet, but on my old truck I tried Ajax, Bon Ami, rubbing compound, GoofOff, denatured alcohol, and that stuff they gave me for he Civic. And though it looks spotless, as soon as it is wet, there it is! I have tried rubbing it off dry, and if I rub really hard on a tiny little spot until I think the windshield will crack, a tiny bit will disappear for a while. I'm going out of my mind. There is nothing environmental I can think of which is causing it, the only common denominator is that all vehicles were in the shop- the Jeep and the Civic in different, partially reputable neighborhood places, and the 4R at the dealer. The only thing I have tried on the 4R is Windex. Didn't work. it's not paint overspray either.

It just seems like this stuff will not come off my windows. It gathers at the edges of the wiper arc, but exists outside the arc as well as inside. My blades are clean and new, and from past experience, changing blades does not help. The key thing is, like I said, it does not appear to be there when the glass is dry. It doesn't feel different either.

I feel like I am in the twilight zone, having three cars with this issue and no one has ever seen it.

 

Although I can't offer you a cure i would at least like to offer you some peace of mind! Don't think that you are insane or alone on this problem. On both my '92 standard cab pickup and my '96 4runner i have come across this film.

I have tried all kinds of cleaners as well and have about drivin myself insane trying to find a cure. On my pickup it is also on the side windows and on particularly humid days I can clearly make out the bottom portion of the original window sticker on the passenger window! This leads me to believe that it has been on there since the beggining, which would explain the writing you see on your windshield as well. I really hope that someone on here can explain this and more importantly offer a solution. At times, it has been so difficult to see that i have had to pull over!

 

arent windshields 2 pieces of glass together with i'm going to be crude with the term "taped" together..safety glass?, at least my 79's windshield was
would it possible that condensation is between the 2 pieces or the 2 pieces are not held tight enough together? (ie, factory defect?) and "filming" it up, this would make it imposable to "clean" b/c its between both pieces?

out on a limb, just my thoughts, thinking out loud

 

My thoughts too, They are basically two sheets glued together.

Im thinking it might be some residue from the "Forsale/lease" promotional stickers it had on the window at some point when it was forsale or some kind of protective paper or something that was on the windshield from the factory then removed at the dealer or something along those lines, probably the remnants of an adhesive in other words.

Try "Goo gone".. read up on the stuff first before you apply it, its for removing gunk and stuff from stickers/decals etc.. You should be able to get it at a hardware store or something, Ive bought it at Canadian tire and it works great(I used it to remove some left over adhesive on my dirtbikes gas tank where the stickers peeled off.

 

Maybe time for a new windshield.....but first, try carb cleaner....just a little bit, though.

 

if you're really desperate try some gasoline or diesel

 

Its definitely not between the layers because I can remove a little bit with a lot of work.

I think Goo Gone and GoofOff may be the same thing, but I'll try it today.

I actually did try diesel on my Jeep, with no change.

Thanks for the advice! Since we no longer have the Civic or the Jeep, the question is moot on those, but I'm gonna attack the 4Runner today with the same stuff and see what happens. Maybe it is some factory crap that will come off with a little Bon Ami?

 

Try
-- oil cleaners
-- acid cleaners
-- base cleaners


So

FIRST - use Goo Gone
If you dont have GooGone - use what you probably DO have
-- WD40
Apply
let sit
Use a NEW safety razor and scrape carefully

If that doenst work
-- Acetic Acid
Better known as Vinegar
Use newspaper to wipe clean - leaves no streaks and no fibers
This IMHO is the BEST finish cleaner for glass tho it is a tad stinky.

If its an oil based goop (think Kitchen grease baked on the vent hood) then use a BASE such as Amonia.

Do NOT mix the Amonia with Bleach!!!!
Think WWI trench warfare and mustard gas...

 

I actually have straight acetic acid, didn't think of trying it.

I'm mixing some bleach and ammonia right now! it makes a great s ddd ghwlqq x ...

 

I keep a spray bottle of straight acetic acid handy in the garage.

I USED to keep an amonia and a bleach spary solution around till one day cleaning the bathroom I mixed em up....