24 replies to this topic

[k992511]

Ford and screen fitters say the elements fail which fail one half of the screen. Nope, the heating elements are in parallel not series, so one failing wont fail a side of the screen. Instead your windscreen wiper mechanism is fouling the delicate fol strip that supplies power to the screen. Ford wont admit this design fault unless more people complain to ford, they should be recalled. Mine is a ford focus titanium 06 model.

Below is my youtube video showing the reason my drivers side of the screen has faile, it funny from what ive read its always everyones drivers heater that fails!

[k992511]

in reply to a message received, it is not possible to move the foil power supply lead to any other position. It has very little play and the plastic cowling sits above it. This is a MAJOR design fault. It seems ford added these screens after designing the wipers. I imagine thousands of people have replaced windscreens thinking the elements have gone when in fact fords bad design has caused this problem. With winter approaching if yours has failed I urge you to approach ford to complain about this design fault, and also BBCs Watchdog. Has anyone else removed the cover and seen this before?

[soulman123]

That is absolutely shocking!!!

Probably explains why mine is not working!

Pee's me right off as I was looking forward to using it this winter no more de-icer or scraping but hey ho. (new to fords and always loved the quick clear)

Great post and video very helpful, thank you.

[ajt]

Is the foil strip the return (-ve) or power(+ve)?

[ajt]

Would it be possible to take the wire connector over the top of the wiper strut, to lift the foil above the moving part, and cable tie it out the way. I have read your comment about not being able to move it any where else, but in the vid it does look as if it could go over, rather than under. Or do the plastics preclude this? It's dark at the moment, but if not to much work involved to get to the strip then I shall have a look myself.

Fancy posting a couple of bullet points on how to expose the strip?

[artscot79]

Would it be possible to take the wire connector over the top of the wiper strut, to lift the foil above the moving part, and cable tie it out the way. I have read your comment about not being able to move it any where else, but in the vid it does look as if it could go over, rather than under. Or do the plastics preclude this? It's dark at the moment, but if not to much work involved to get to the strip then I shall have a look myself.

Fancy posting a couple of bullet points on how to expose the strip?

i would if possible glue a thin foam piece to the metal above the strip then use something to keep the strip out the way for extra protection glue a soft piece of foam very thin foam on the wiper arm where it may rub

[ajt]

I had a look at mine earlier (TDCi Zetec 1.6 2007)

Drivers Side Windscreen Ribbon

and it is routed as I suggested in earlier post! I'm a genius

[ajt]

@k992511

At 2.32 in your video I believe I can see the clip that the wire should be clipped into on your car, its slightly obscured by the wire that goes through the bonnet hinge, in horizontal alignment with the wiper post and wiper fixing bolt. It looks as if it has not been fitted right.

It is not a design fault.

[ajt]

I just watched your video again and spotted you have the same problem on the passenger side. There is a clip that is not being used. I would suggest the screen connection should be clipped to this, to stop the wire and ribbon just flapping in the wind, so to speak.

[Barry_]

readimg that and watching the vid again i would have 2 agree with ajt

[catch]

Nice video, but just an observation, in the video you keep calling it the Heated Rear Windscreen

[dougies st]

I have the solution for how to repair this fault.

Its very easy and only takes around 30 - 40 mins.

I posted it on the passionford forum but didnt get much of a reply !

I have just repaired mine and these are the steps I took to do the job.

Tools needed. Stanley knife, pipe grips, thin headed screwdriver, solder iron and solder, 2.5mm stranded cable, heat shrink, a small crocodile clip or a friend.

ok so here is a few simple instructions on how to repair your faulty heated front windscreen.

1. Open bonnet
2. Remove rubber covers on window wipers. Expose nuts
3. Using a set of grips or spanner undo bolts
4. THE WINDOW WIPERS.
To remove the wipers, push down on the join and pull the wiper arm towards the engine bay and lift up. x2
5. You will see around about 8 clips holding on the plastic trim that the wiper supports come through. Remove these clips
6. Remove plastic trim, this just peels off.
7. Now you have exposed the window wiper bars and heating elements.
Take a look on the driver side and you will see a cable hanging loose and a black tab hanging from under your window.
8. Disconnect cable and cut open the opposite end to expose the cable inside. You will see small square of treated copper.
9 scrape off the silver to expose copper.
10. Get some 2.5mm stranded cable around 10 inches is enough. strip 10mm of insulation away and using a solder iron tin the end fully. Heat shrink can be added to this cable.
11. Tin with solder the exposed copper on the small square of copper.
12. If you can clamp these 2 cables together while you solder then do so as it can be tricky. If not get someone to help you.
13. Heat both parts together and add extra solder to join both parts. Leave to cool/set then slide black rubber over the joint and tape closed.
14. Using the same method as you have just carried out, peel back some of the black covering to expose the silver looking copper. scrape away carefully a section to expose the copper and tin with solder.
15. Strip around about 15mm off insulation from the other end of the cable and tin with solder.
16. Clamp these to sections together or get a friend to hold.
17. Apply heat from the solder iron and add extra solder to get a good connection. Leave to cool and set and then tape exposed joint.
18. Plugging the cable back in and test window to make sure it now works. This can be tested by boiling a kettle and letting it sit in your car.
19. Once you have confirmed the window heater works unplug and reroute the cable so it is kept as far away from the wiper bars as possible. Reconnect the plug.
20. It is now time to put the plastic trim back on.
TIP make sure the trim is fixed into the runner bar first before putting clips back on.
21. With the trim all secure and clips in place, rescuer the wiper blades. The same rule applies when putting back on as you did taking off. but push the wiper up the window.
22. Job Complete.

[dougies st]

@k992511

At 2.32 in your video I believe I can see the clip that the wire should be clipped into on your car, its slightly obscured by the wire that goes through the bonnet hinge, in horizontal alignment with the wiper post and wiper fixing bolt. It looks as if it has not been fitted right.

It is not a design fault.

If you use this clip then the cable seems to get crushed by the plastic trim and bonnet. Not enough to damage the cable but enough for it to discolour and stretch the insulation. This clip is meant for thinner cables that you see on the driver side. This would be used on left hand models I presume

[dougies st]

Is the foil strip the return (-ve) or power(+ve)?

just to inform the foil strip is a thin copper strip with a covering applied ( gives the foil look )
this has to be scraped off to apply a solder so the cable gets a secure connection

[bondquest]

This has got to be quick, as I've got to go back to work.

My drivers side FSH has just failed, and I'm gonna look at this foil strip.

I can't help but thinking, but wouldn't the only way this could be fixed cheaply was if your windscreen got damaged, and you paid the excess for a new one?

That fix described above looks like hell on earth to me.