Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

Hey gang,

Have any of you noticed your Camry Hybrid windshields being very "hazy"? I have cleaned the outside and inside of the glass many times and cannot get the haze to go away. I finally figured out that it is inherrent in the glass. Spoke to Toyota service and they said that the windshield would have to be replaced. That is bad news because the car is never the same after a glass replacement. My Camry only has 1500 miles on it and the quality of the glass is very dissapointing.

I wonder if the "cloudiness" is related to the embedded polymer in the glass for sound dampening?

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

:confused: You certainly don't expect them to put in a 10K glass package when the Converter costs 10K, battery 4K, engine &powertrain 15K. They would end up like Ford and GM whom now wish they would have put regular window glass in lol:P :D :D

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

Yes. It is especially noticeable at night with oncoming headlights. It seems to be inside the glass itself.

Will Mayall

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

I have that problem with my back window only since day 1.

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

There have been previous postings on this topic, either here or on the Edmunds forum. Do a search for "clean windshield." You will see some unusual recommendations, including this one from "Big Foot":

My son is an autobody man and he showed (proved) to me that the silliest thing will work wonders with auto-glass. It's what he was taught in detailing class.

Use Windex or any other ammonia based window cleaner to get the heavy stuff off.

Then mist the window lightly with Windex or even pure water and use the Black & White pages of a newspaper to wipe the glass down.

Absolutely no streaking and the glass literally disappears with clarity!

I know it sounds dumb - but it truly does work!

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

I've been using the newspaper tip for yeas and getting awesome results every time. I also have been using Rain-X as I'm sure most here do. I do find that with Rain-X the windshield goes get very hazy when passing under road light at a very specific angle. Not a big enough issue for me not to use it though.

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

The problem with the glass is not something that can be cleaned off. Believe me, I've tried.

It has the appearance of very mild etching such as you might see on glasses that have been through a dishwasher too many times.

Will Mayall

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

Almost sounds like "sand blasting". If you lived in a desert area and it was on the outside glass surface but you said it was on the inside. Hmmm. Anyone smoke in the car?

Get your hands on some "Jeweler's Rouge". It's cheap. Mix up some in suspension and use a cloth and rub out a corner of a side window and see if it gets rid of it. Takes a little elbow grease. If it does remove the haze, it's only a surface issue and not through the entire glass thickness. If it works and the rear window is affected be carefull around the etched wiring.

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

It's been in the glass from day one. I'll do something about it before the warranty expires.

It's tough to describe as I've never seen anything quite like it. It sort of has the appearance (I would imagine) of acid having dripped down the glass. I think it is actually inside the glass. My understanding is that the windshield in the hybrid is unusual and has a layer of soundproofing.

It is very mild and only noticeable with strong light coming through the window. It will even be tough to show to the dealer. At night, with oncoming headlights, it is quite obvious and somewhat distracting.

Will Mayall

Re: Windshield "cloudiness" - cannot be cleaned off
 

Have you had your eyes checked recently? Not being snotty, just a medical person, but what you describe is very much like what cataract patients describe for point sources of light at night, usually a yellowish cast or halo. Just an observation.