My car is frozen!?

Question

Could the window crack if I pour some boiled water on the layer of ice on my car's driver side door and window?

Answer 1

It can break. Chances are it won't. Don't use boiling water, just hot tap water. If you have any imperfection in the door glass it will fail. The same is true of the windshield, however, the windshield is constructed of laminated glass and, therefore, weaker. Tempered glass, like that of your door glass, is very strong. It is heat strengthened. This makes it very durable.

Answer 2

Here is the rule of thumb I have used for over 40 years:
If it is 20 degrees or above (but still iced up), I use warm water (about like bath water). I have never had a glass break yet.
If it is below 20 degrees, I use cool water (65-70 degrees). Of course, the colder it is, the more difficult to keep the water from freezing on your windows. I usually free up the drivers door, get in, start the car, and then after it has warmed up, begin freeing the windows of ice.

Answer 3

It is likely to shatter the window, not crack it. Try warm water, just heated to a tepid condition and pour it slowly over the ice. If it refreezes then you are stuck with using a hair dryer or heater set on low.

Answer 4

If you use warm water it should do fine! The best bet is to let the car run for about half an hour with the defroster on and that will melt it from the bottom letting you lift the whole sheet off in one piece, or at least large pieces at a time. I live in the NE and thats what we do up here! Good luck hope this helps

Answer 5

Yes it can because your treating your window with two differant extreams. if you want to un freez it take a blow dryer and an extention cord and heat it up slowly. it will take time but keep you from cracking your window. to keep this from happening again is when your park your car at night put a blanket in your door jam so it hanges over the out side it will keep from freezing.

Answer 6

just to be on the safe side use 3/4 boiling and 1/4 cold water, thats what we do n the windows have always been fine - good luck and hope you have a safe journey. x

Answer 7

Yes! Your glass molecules are contracted, if you pour hot water on it, the molecules will expand rapidly; and any weakness in your window will crack it.

Answer 8

Yes it could, and most likely will, if you must use water, use cold water... best to turn your defroster on low and let it run for a few minutes, supposedly the heater works better on low when the car is first started.....

Answer 9

Use a credit card. It works just as well as one of those ice squeegies only a little faster and it's safe for your windows. Get's rid of all the ice too ;-)

Answer 10

I would try winshield wiper solvent or lock deicer. Try to gently chip the ice away. Better yet, just stay home till it thaws. It's too cold to go out today.