New windshield...

Not by choice of course.

Heading up an on ramp one of the cars/trucks in front of me threw a stone. I've heard them hit before and got lucky with no cracks. Didn't see anything at first, but once I was out on the highway I saw the crack spreading.

It's nice to have insurance with full glass coverage.

Interesting factoid...
Not sure what option level or 'package' includes it, but there is a heated section at the bottom of the windshield where the wipers 'park' to keep the ice off the wipers in the winter. The power hookup is in the passenger side A pillar. I'm guessing they power up with the rear window & side mirror defrosters.

Also interesting how much insulation is in the firewall section of this car. No wonder it's so quiet.

The wiper de-icer actually works which was nice this last winter.

Originally Posted by BobGee

The wiper de-icer actually works which was nice this last winter.

You say this as if they didn't work well in previous versions. Was this the case? I know it works fine on my 98, but all it does it keep them from freezing to the windshield, which is what I thought it was for. Would be nice if the wiper assembly itself had a heated element that could keep ice from building up on them at all. Everything works fine on a car but wipers are the only thing that make you have to get out into the cold every once in a while to break the ice off... surely there must be a way...

Usually gimmics like that don't work as they are marketed... Also I did read that in previous years or other model Subarus it doesn't work too well for some people..

yea I had to replace mine already too. Things aren't cheap either. The de-icer works when you turn on the front defrost/mirrors. Rear doesn't activate them.

My average is to replacing a windshield every other year. Suggest you stick with the OEM windshield. This past winter, I let the insurance comapany pick a third party replacement (for 07 OB); the de-icer never worked. Good thing is two weeks after that replacement, another rock cracked the glass. All is now well with the Subaru OEM windshield.

The 2007 OB and the 2010 LGT all have functional winshield and mirror de-icers, and rear window de-icers. No issues here.

Originally Posted by DanDaMan

yea I had to replace mine already too. Things aren't cheap either. The de-icer works when you turn on the front defrost/mirrors. Rear doesn't activate them.

What are you talking about? The defrost for the windshield, back glass and mirrors is all turned on by the rear defrost button, the front defrost just makes the air come out on top of the dash and nothing else.

the mirror defroster works awesome too.. My mirrors always fog up when I go into my garage and the deroster gets rid of it in seconds...

Originally Posted by MikeNH

The defrost for the windshield, back glass and mirrors is all turned on by the rear defrost button, the front defrost just makes the air come out on top of the dash and nothing else.

Concur (Owner's manual pages 3-34/35)

OK sorry to dredge this up but today on the way in to work I got a small chip on the top drivers side of my windshield I don't even have 5K miles on the car yet So, I call the ins. co. and they come out to do the quick fix for free (fill the chip so it does not spread) I've had this done a number of times w/ out any issues. They come to work and do it in the parking lot in under 15min. Not this time of course, the small spider cracks and spreads half way across almost to the rear view mirror right at eye level (of course).

So now I need a new wind shield, as stated not cheap.

OEM glass 359.96 (aftermarket not much cheaper not worth the price difference)

Molding kit: 32.09

Labor: 60.00

Tak: 40.46

grand total: 492.51 My deductible 500

Anyway the real reason I'm posting is not so much to vent, but I was sure my car had the heated wipers or rather the heated wiper park bands. That's what I told the guy, www.cars101.com says my Limited comes equipped that way:

All Weather Package: dual mode heated front seats, defrosting outside mirrors, front windshield wiper de-icer

I double check with the guy and say, that's got the heating element right? He tells me "No, your VIN says it's not equipped that way" So I go out and look and I don't see the orange bands like I do on our Tribeca and saw on a all my other Subarus I've had. So I'm pretty sure it's supposed to have heated wipers. Are the bands under the black band at the bottom? Are the wiper blades themselves heated and not the glass or is it some other means? Or do I just not have them? Can anyone let me know if they have the orange bands there?

Peaty

edit: I had to call a friend at Subaru to double check to make myself feel better. My VIN does list the all weather package so I am supposed to have the heated wiper park. He said it's hard to see the grid now as it blends into the black band. I've added the owners manual info on the heated parts too for the heck of it.

You have the heater, the element is no longer visible. The insurance co is being stupid unsurprisingly.

Actually, it's the dealer in Topeka telling them there is no heating element with my VIN. Which is BS, like I said I had someone that works for Subaru I know and trust run my VIN and he said I have it. Again though, unsurprising as you say. I parked the Legacy in the garage and will drive my Miata till the new windscreen comes in. Not only is it kind of embarrassing, since the crack goes right across my line of site, it's distracting. I keep seeing it and cursing. People in other cars must think I have torrents...

Hey funny story, driving in CA(now living in CA) and had 2*4's in the back seat, slammed on my brakes for a yellow light, cracked my windshield. MN where I am from has full glass, CA doesn't imagine my surprise when I called up to get a new windshield and they wanted to charge me 400$! Since I had changed my policy 1 week prior, and they asked me if I wanted to keep my full glass, I only ended up paying 50$

yeah i know what your going through with that spider crack, i caught a rock in july and had it filled a week later and sure enough there's a few spiders starting. i can't wait for the winter for them to spread like crazy. maybe i'll work it to get a deicer windscreen too!

Originally Posted by Peaty

OK sorry to dredge this up but today on the way in to work I got a small chip on the top drivers side of my windshield I don't even have 5K miles on the car yet So, I call the ins. co. and they come out to do the quick fix for free (fill the chip so it does not spread) I've had this done a number of times w/ out any issues. They come to work and do it in the parking lot in under 15min. Not this time of course, the small spider cracks and spreads half way across almost to the rear view mirror right at eye level (of course).

So now I need a new wind shield, as stated not cheap.

OEM glass 359.96 (aftermarket not much cheaper not worth the price difference)

Molding kit: 32.09

Labor: 60.00

Tak: 40.46

grand total: 492.51 My deductible 500

Anyway the real reason I'm posting is not so much to vent, but I was sure my car had the heated wipers or rather the heated wiper park bands. That's what I told the guy, www.cars101.com says my Limited comes equipped that way:

All Weather Package: dual mode heated front seats, defrosting outside mirrors, front windshield wiper de-icer

I double check with the guy and say, that's got the heating element right? He tells me "No, your VIN says it's not equipped that way" So I go out and look and I don't see the orange bands like I do on our Tribeca and saw on a all my other Subarus I've had. So I'm pretty sure it's supposed to have heated wipers. Are the bands under the black band at the bottom? Are the wiper blades themselves heated and not the glass or is it some other means? Or do I just not have them? Can anyone let me know if they have the orange bands there?

Peaty

edit: I had to call a friend at Subaru to double check to make myself feel better. My VIN does list the all weather package so I am supposed to have the heated wiper park. He said it's hard to see the grid now as it blends into the black band. I've added the owners manual info on the heated parts too for the heck of it.

Molding Kit?
I think you need to find a new glass installer.
There is no molding kit.
The windshield simply lays onto the body with two plastic plugs at the top to ensure the windshield is aligned properly and urethane to bond it to the body.

I watched the guy install mine just because I was curious (my brother-in-law used to install windshields). We chatted the entire time.

He did have to take apart the plastic shield at the base of the windshield (under the hood) and take off the wipers.