I've had a few cars with heated windscreens and I've always noticed a haze or shimmer when it's turned on. My current car is a 63 reg Zetec and I've occasionally noticed the haze when I start the car but the windscreen light isn't on. The haze disappears after about 5 minutes.

I'm sorry if this is a thick question but is this normal?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Can't say I have noticed a haze on mine? Sometimes the little wires can catch your eye but that's about it?

It's strange, my husband doesn't notice the haze but I've noticed it on every Ford I've had that's had the heated windscreen! I obviously look for problems!

The haze is likely just a transition on the screen of any moisture present from solid, to liquid to vapour. Nothing to worry about

Thank you. I love my heated windscreen (one of the reasons I only drove a Peugeot for 3 weeks!) and I'd be gutted if there was a problem!

Even though the light isn't on the screen could well be. Anything below 5 degrees outside and they both come on automatically!

The Focus is automatic but you have to turn it on in the Fiesta.

Both of my Fiestas (2010 Zetec S and 2013 ST) have come on automatically - I never press either button in the mornings but both screens always come on and melt the ice! (plus steam comes off the door mirrors)

Thanks all. I'll keep an eye on it and see when it does it - although it was cold this morning there was nothing to melt!

Both of my Fiestas (2010 Zetec S and 2013 ST) have come on automatically - I never press either button in the mornings but both screens always come on and melt the ice! (plus steam comes off the door mirrors)

Do you have yours in auto Martyn?

My 2013 Titanium dosen't come on until I tell it to

Do you mean auto on the climate control? If so I do on the ST but the Zetec S didn't have this so no :P. I tried turning the button on and off again to see if that would stop it, but it stayed on. Seems there was no way of turning it off when it comes on by itself. In fact, my first post on here was about this very issue! http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/17027-heated-windowsmirrors-coming-on-themself/

Interesting. I've never had the heated front / rear screen come on by itself when it was cold the other day so guessed it was a case me pressing the buttons to activate it. Admittedly I always have the auto climate control set manually (temp / fan)

Will leave it on full auto setting and see if the screen heater come on automatically too.

It's a bit annoying really, there's plenty of days when it's cold but not frosted up so it's pointless having it on. If I get petrol on my way to work it's only about a 2 minute drive down the road, so the car doesn't warm up meaning when I set off after getting it the sceen is on again for another 5 minutes.