09 defrosting...

Sartori · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:10 pm

Hello

Was just wondering if anybody knew if the defrosting issue was fixed on the 09 Libertys?

jeepxk · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:00 pm

I'm sure it's the same as the issue on the 08's.
search the threads and you will find plenty of comments about it.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:32 pm

probably not :roll:

unless they do something later this years, it's probably going to stay a problem till 2012 if they are still alive

unclejjg · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:37 pm

I don't see it as that much of a problem. In Rochester, NY we get as much cold weather as anyone...if you let it heat up for a minute it has been fine by me.

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:44 am

unclejjg wrote:

I don't see it as that much of a problem. In Rochester, NY we get as much cold weather as anyone...if you let it heat up for a minute it has been fine by me.

Oh I wish that were true

Current Temp
Rochester, NY: 52F
Winnipeg, MB: -28F (-44 with wind chill)

Average January (Coldest Month) Temp (High/Low)
Rochester, NY: 31F/17F
Winnipeg, MB: 9F/-9F

melting · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:51 am

it's not fine if you let it heat up for a minute. It needs to be constantly blasting on the windshield or it will freeze up a good 6 inches on the outer edges. It's actually embarrassing if you have a passenger. $25,000 and it won't defrost the windshield.

Sartori · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:59 am

melting wrote:

it's not fine if you let it heat up for a minute. It needs to be constantly blasting on the windshield or it will freeze up a good 6 inches on the outer edges. It's actually embarrassing if you have a passenger. $25,000 and it won't defrost the windshield.

My wife said the same thing the other day.....

I guess theres only a few of us that drive our Jeeps in the winter.....

melting · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:28 pm

I drive mine in the winter just fine. As a matter of fact the weathermen are forecasting 12-16 inches of snow tonight and into tomorrow. Snow and ice are a fact of life up in the northeast about 4 months of the year.

The defrost is really the only complaint that I have with my Jeep. It's really no big deal cause if I end up off the road because I can't see out the windshield, it'll be fine, it is trail rated right?

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:36 pm

trail rated :twisted:

but really, I have only found it to be a problem during certain situations. Chrysler does have room to improve, but this little problem isn't enough for me to trade in my KK....

beside, just think of the poor people that have soft tops on wranglers when it snows :shock:

unclejjg · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:37 pm

Come on guys...seriously. If this is the worst problem.....

Look, just keep the defrost on low (like I do) and even turn the heat dial down toward warm. You should be perfectly comfortable. What are you guys worried about....gas mileage?

I agree that if you turn the heat off the window will freeze/fog up, but who the hell turns of the heat when it is 30 degrees or less out?

In single digit weather, I have had no problems with the vehicle...but perhaps I'm in the minority by keeping my heat on when it is cold.

I'm just saying that there is an easy medium between full blast heat at the highest temp. setting and running the fan at a moderate level.

However, I won't say that this "is a Jeep thing"...its poor planning by Chrysler, but easy enough to deal with in my opinion.

unclejjg · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:38 pm

Gimme Liberty wrote:

unclejjg wrote:

I don't see it as that much of a problem. In Rochester, NY we get as much cold weather as anyone...if you let it heat up for a minute it has been fine by me.

Oh I wish that were true

Current Temp
Rochester, NY: 52F
Winnipeg, MB: -28F (-44 with wind chill)

Average January (Coldest Month) Temp (High/Low)
Rochester, NY: 31F/17F
Winnipeg, MB: 9F/-9F

hahaha...okay, anywhere south of the Winnipeg and the North Pole! lol The point being we have our share of negative temperature.

Huntyeraws · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:27 pm

melting wrote:

it's not fine if you let it heat up for a minute. It needs to be constantly blasting on the windshield or it will freeze up a good 6 inches on the outer edges. It's actually embarrassing if you have a passenger. $25,000 and it won't defrost the windshield.

I live in Rochester NY and have to deal with this in my KK. Pretty embarrasing to spend the $$$ on a new vehicle and to not have the windshield defrosted even after a 20 minute ride to work.

melting · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:08 am

OK, the trail rated comment was a joke.

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:36 am

I don't want to belabor the point seeing as it's been discussed in a few threads now, but speaking for me I either have the directional setting set to AUTO or DEFROST and the fan usually set at 60% or faster the entire time. Plus the defrost button on. This isn't about being too cheap to run the heat and frost is building up, this is I'm literally doing everything possible to keep the windows (windshield and front side windows) frost-free.

I'm sure in 30F weather it's not that big of an issue. But after a certain point I start wishing the AC socket was powerful enough to let me plug in a hair dryer to help defrost things.

Now, is it a big enough problem that I would not have bought the KK if I had known about it? Well... I know for a fact I said that very thing to my wife just last week as we were merging onto the highway, heading east first thing in the morning, and the sun was lighting up the front on the windshield and I could barely see a thing. My only consolation is it's only freezing cold 6 or so months of the year here.

lfotto · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:53 am

My defrost appears to be working fine. I live in Syracuse and I haven't had no problems so far. My wife always comments that the heater really works good and we always have to turn it down after a few minutes. With the defroster on at full bore it appears to clean it up pretty quick.

unclejjg · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:11 am

Gimme Liberty wrote:

I don't want to belabor the point seeing as it's been discussed in a few threads now, but speaking for me I either have the directional setting set to AUTO or DEFROST and the fan usually set at 60% or faster the entire time. Plus the defrost button on.

Here is a possibility I'll throw out there for a little data collection:

Of those who are experiencing the problem...how many of you have the "auto temperature" option. I believe it is the "Premium Group II" option with the cabin filtration and 18" wheels.

Just trying to compare if the problem stems from the system. I personally have Premium Group I, but opted not to bother with Premium group II....hence, I have the manually controlled HVAC system. Mine seems to work, as do some others here.

System vs. expectation....lets find out. Post which system you have and if you experience a problem with defrosting.

johnb · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:45 am

We had a cold snap here back in December... Was in the -10 range for about a week... Noticed that the windshield would ice up in the mornings driving before the sun came up. Other than that, hasn't beenb an issue.

Huntyeraws · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:20 pm

lfotto wrote:

My defrost appears to be working fine. I live in Syracuse and I haven't had no problems so far. My wife always comments that the heater really works good and we always have to turn it down after a few minutes. With the defroster on at full bore it appears to clean it up pretty quick.

I agree, the Jeep heats up fast in the cabin and I like that. However, the defroster blowing geometry sucks as it peters out near the edges and has a rough time defrosting and melting ice/snow on cold days.

BTW - I have manual temp settings in my Sport.

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:41 pm

Huntyeraws wrote:

lfotto wrote:

My defrost appears to be working fine. I live in Syracuse and I haven't had no problems so far. My wife always comments that the heater really works good and we always have to turn it down after a few minutes. With the defroster on at full bore it appears to clean it up pretty quick.

I agree, the Jeep heats up fast in the cabin and I like that. However, the defroster blowing geometry sucks as it peters out near the edges and has a rough time defrosting and melting ice/snow on cold days.

BTW - I have manual temp settings in my Sport.

I think that's the key problem - there are no vents that aim to the edges of the windshield, and the front corner vents that do aim toward the front side windows are also pretty ineffective (not enough warm air is reaching the side window.

I agree though, the cabin is plenty warm. Ironically it can get too warm when trying to defrost the windows, so I've had the situation when front seat occupants are uncomfortably warm and there remains frost on the inside of the windshield.

09 defrosting...

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