Windshield distortion
Thread Starter
is learning to moonwalk i
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 15,520
Likes: 3
From: SoCal
Windshield distortion
The lower passenger corner of the windshield on my 04 TL is distorting the view through the glass. It's basically causing me to see waves through the windshield. While it isn't in my primary viewing area, it is still very noticable when driving, especially turning right and is very distracting. This does not seem normal, but wanted to verify before I went back to the dealer. I'm also somewhat concerned that a replacement won't fit in as well as the original. Has anyone else noticed this?
Team Camel Executive VP
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 0
From: NY
It is part of the "enhanced design" of the windshield which is made of a special acoustic polymer that enhances the DVD-A stereo system. I don't like the distorted windshield and I don't like the very visible speakers (especially the center channel) but the sound quality is amazing so it's a doable tradeoff.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Port Washington
Why should acoustic polymer make the view distorted? In any case mine is very noticable (distortion) viewed from the drivers seat over to the extreme right. Have not looked for it other places or from other places but wouldn't be surprised to find it. I would not have the windshield replaced to correct...would be buying other problems probably.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 433
Likes: 1
From: SE Wash. State
The majority of cars I've looked at in the last 10 years have had these vertical "waves" in the windshield. It occurs in the acoustic windshields as well as the "regular" ones. (There's actually not a lot of difference, as all windshields have a layer of plastic sandwiched between the glass layers).
Stand outside of a car's driver's window and look through the windshield from a large angle. Move your head back and forth slowly, focus on the view through the glass, and watch what happens. (It's easier to see when looking at vertical lines, like buildings). Waves and distortions will show up all over the place in most of them. Some cars are much better than others. It's even in front of the driver's view, but doesn't show very much when looking straight through it. It seems to me like taller windshields are worse, and windshields are getting much taller as they angle back more with new designs, for aerodynamics and looks. (Old VW Beetle = near perfect glass). Check out windshields in traffic even, as cars pass you slowly or whatever. It's pretty bad once you start to notice it.
I'm wondering whether the glass goes over some pretty severe heat treatment, where jets of flame or whatever are on the verge of melting the glass, and it droops down very slightly, in the wave pattern to match the direction the glass travels over the jets. The waves are typically fairly evenly spaced, maybe a couple of inches apart. They seem to show up more in the center than on the top and bottom. I did have a PPG replacement windshield once that had waves in the opposite direction (horizontal) from the vertical that the stock glass had. This sure seems like a problem that could be easily corrected, but it must not be, or not enough people notice or care. (It's in every TL I have seen, and I've wondered for months why there were no posts on it, so obviously most people never really notice).
Stand outside of a car's driver's window and look through the windshield from a large angle. Move your head back and forth slowly, focus on the view through the glass, and watch what happens. (It's easier to see when looking at vertical lines, like buildings). Waves and distortions will show up all over the place in most of them. Some cars are much better than others. It's even in front of the driver's view, but doesn't show very much when looking straight through it. It seems to me like taller windshields are worse, and windshields are getting much taller as they angle back more with new designs, for aerodynamics and looks. (Old VW Beetle = near perfect glass). Check out windshields in traffic even, as cars pass you slowly or whatever. It's pretty bad once you start to notice it.
I'm wondering whether the glass goes over some pretty severe heat treatment, where jets of flame or whatever are on the verge of melting the glass, and it droops down very slightly, in the wave pattern to match the direction the glass travels over the jets. The waves are typically fairly evenly spaced, maybe a couple of inches apart. They seem to show up more in the center than on the top and bottom. I did have a PPG replacement windshield once that had waves in the opposite direction (horizontal) from the vertical that the stock glass had. This sure seems like a problem that could be easily corrected, but it must not be, or not enough people notice or care. (It's in every TL I have seen, and I've wondered for months why there were no posts on it, so obviously most people never really notice).
an Acura has-been
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 6
From: Hmmmm......
Originally Posted by Hybrid
The majority of cars I've looked at in the last 10 years have had these vertical "waves" in the windshield. It occurs in the acoustic windshields as well as the "regular" ones. (There's actually not a lot of difference, as all windshields have a layer of plastic sandwiched between the glass layers).
Stand outside of a car's driver's window and look through the windshield from a large angle. Move your head back and forth slowly, focus on the view through the glass, and watch what happens. (It's easier to see when looking at vertical lines, like buildings). Waves and distortions will show up all over the place in most of them. Some cars are much better than others. It's even in front of the driver's view, but doesn't show very much when looking straight through it. It seems to me like taller windshields are worse, and windshields are getting much taller as they angle back more with new designs, for aerodynamics and looks. (Old VW Beetle = near perfect glass). Check out windshields in traffic even, as cars pass you slowly or whatever. It's pretty bad once you start to notice it.
I'm wondering whether the glass goes over some pretty severe heat treatment, where jets of flame or whatever are on the verge of melting the glass, and it droops down very slightly, in the wave pattern to match the direction the glass travels over the jets. The waves are typically fairly evenly spaced, maybe a couple of inches apart. They seem to show up more in the center than on the top and bottom. I did have a PPG replacement windshield once that had waves in the opposite direction (horizontal) from the vertical that the stock glass had. This sure seems like a problem that could be easily corrected, but it must not be, or not enough people notice or care. (It's in every TL I have seen, and I've wondered for months why there were no posts on it, so obviously most people never really notice).
Stand outside of a car's driver's window and look through the windshield from a large angle. Move your head back and forth slowly, focus on the view through the glass, and watch what happens. (It's easier to see when looking at vertical lines, like buildings). Waves and distortions will show up all over the place in most of them. Some cars are much better than others. It's even in front of the driver's view, but doesn't show very much when looking straight through it. It seems to me like taller windshields are worse, and windshields are getting much taller as they angle back more with new designs, for aerodynamics and looks. (Old VW Beetle = near perfect glass). Check out windshields in traffic even, as cars pass you slowly or whatever. It's pretty bad once you start to notice it.
I'm wondering whether the glass goes over some pretty severe heat treatment, where jets of flame or whatever are on the verge of melting the glass, and it droops down very slightly, in the wave pattern to match the direction the glass travels over the jets. The waves are typically fairly evenly spaced, maybe a couple of inches apart. They seem to show up more in the center than on the top and bottom. I did have a PPG replacement windshield once that had waves in the opposite direction (horizontal) from the vertical that the stock glass had. This sure seems like a problem that could be easily corrected, but it must not be, or not enough people notice or care. (It's in every TL I have seen, and I've wondered for months why there were no posts on it, so obviously most people never really notice).
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