Question for the cold weather people

I live in middle Tn and although this winter in particular has been a little all over the place, it usually isn’t that cold or that cold for long. So my question for you cold weather folks, what do you do about your folding mirrors and wiper blades freezing? I have had my mirrors freeze close a couple of times now I just have to wait for them to defrost/keep moving them to break them free. Do you just leave them extended when you are expecting freezing temps and rain/snow? Also, it seems like the wiper blades sit low on the windshield and don’t get defrosted as easily or quickly as the windshield.

 

Hadn't thought of that. It hasn't happened to me yet but then we have not had ice or any significant snow this year. Is there a way to leave them extended and still lock the truck? I haven't looked into that.

 

Freezing rain/ice in the forecast? lift the wipers. Snow, slush, sleet: leave them down, and brush off the exterior while the truck is warming up. Should be letting your truck idle at least 5 min or more if it's cold enough for snowfall and/or freezing rain. Keep the defrost rolling, use your rear window/mirror heater button. 5 minutes those things are screaming and clearing most of the stuff off anyway.

Dont try and just turn on your wipers with a ton of heavy snow or ice. You can smoke the wiper motor pretty easily.

 

You can leave them extended, it is controlled by a switch on the drivers door. I just usually leave mine on automatic.

 

So generally just let the truck idle to warmup and melt is all? No issue with that answer, just wasn’t sure if there were any tricks to it.

 

Make sure you turn the wipers off before turning off the truck.

 

yeah, pretty much. We're sitting at a -25F real feel this morning. My truck idled/warmed up for 15-20 min this morning before I got in it. Windshield was clear, seat was warm (my mirrors aren't the powered ones so I dont have that issue), and most importantly (for me) the engine was at operating temp. Had to get into 4wd and mob through a few drifts in the driveway but it ran like a Tundra.

 

Especially if you plan to remote start it and won't be in the cab to turn the wiper switch off if the wipers are stuck.

 

Ha, Yeah we don’t often have drifts in the driveway to deal with. But thanks for the info, I will just keep planning on letting it idle to warm up then on the few mornings that it is an issue.

 

Anyone notice that when you remote start the truck only the heat works. I walk up to the truck and my seat warmers are lit up and the heated steering wheel is lit up, but it doesn’t get warm until the truck is restarted with the key in the truck. Kind of strange

 

Huh, I have not noticed that. I usually just use the key fob to remote start though and it seems to warm up the seats and steering wheel for me.

 

Sometimes I question if the heat is even running when I remote start. If they’re going to force us to use the app only, maybe they should figure out how to incorporate CC adjustments in the app when you do remote start.


To the OP, as someone else said: Leave mirrors out, turn on rear/mirror defroster. Turn on Max front defrost (if you have chips in your windshield and it goes from freezing to 100° in minutes, they will split). Run the truck for at least 5-10 minutes prior. Leave the wipers up if your windshield is going to get covered in anything, makes it easier to scrape or brush if needed too. I start my wife’s car outside the shop every morning this way before she leaves for work.

 

I don't have the mirrors, but as far as wipers go, I have two old T-shirts that I wrap around the wiper blades when it's going to show/rain. That way I'm not wearing out the springs for the wipers. I remove them when I go out to warm up the truck.

 

As far as the mirrors go... You should have heated mirrors on a limited correct??? Maybe that's a regional thing...

Leave the wipers folded up (off the window) Let it warmup with the defrost on.

 

On my Platinum, there are heating elements in the windshield where the wipers sit. I've had quite a few mornings this winter with snow or freezing rain and haven't had an issue with the wipers when I have remote started. The mirrors seemed to open up with no problems, but I wasn't able to see them open when I remote started.

 

I read somewhere on the forum that those of us with SR5s with the PVM and heated mirrors option also get those wiper rest area heaters. I need to go out there with my IR thermometer and test that one of these days.

 

You should be able to see linear heating elements at the bottom of the windshield (similar to a back windshield). At least you can on 2.5 Gens.

 

Don't set the park brake either, that's always been a bad idea in the winter time.

 

I park in the garage.

Seriously though, when my vehicles are going to be left outside I lift the wipers up. Keeps them clear whether it's snow or ice. I don't have folding mirrors on my Tundra but my 2011 Sierra did. I just never folded them in during winter.

 

I ALWAYS set my parking brake and never had an issue with my Tacoma over 15 winters, including many monster snow and ice storms. But those were drums. Are the parking brakes with Tundra's rear discs more prone to freezing? Now I did have the doors and windows freeze up many times. LOL.

 

Lift wipers and put mirror covers on

$10 EcoNour Car Side Mirror Snow Cover (2 Pack) | Fits for Most Cars, SUV's, Vans and Trucks | Waterproof Material | Soft Snow Mirror Cover Keeps Ice and Snow Off (14” x 15”)

Amazon.com: EcoNour Car Side Mirror Snow Cover (2 Pack) | Fits for Most Cars, SUV's, Vans and Trucks | Waterproof Material | Soft Snow Mirror Cover Keeps Ice and Snow Off (14” x 15”) : Automotive

 

No you shouldnt. Thats exactly how you load up the oil with gas. Start it, let it idle to get things pumping, then drive it gently until it warms up. If you just let it idle in park it takes 10x longer to heat up.

Thats of course if your windows arn't coated in Ice, but if not, you shouldnt just be letting it idle.

 

Don't see them on mine but these wipers sit very low and completely out of sight from inside the cab. The glass down there is black so even looking from the outside don't see much.

 

That's similar to the 2.5 Gens, but you can definitely see some lines/elements.

 

When I lived in the near actic Northern Vt area for most of my life, I'd keep the wipers lifted if it was freezing rain predictions. Always off. Then, while scraping or brushing ice/snow have the truck running, seats/wheel heating, and when cleared, jump in and go.

 

From the inside or outside?

 

That hasn't been my experience. Cold starts for me each Tundra I've owned rev's a good 500-600 rpm above idle for a couple of minutes simulating that "gentle drive til it warms up" - after that, idling is just warming the cab, the windshield and the seats at the expense of mpgs.

 

Both. mine doesn't have it, but there was a pic posted on here (I have no idea what thread) a while back showing them. It looks identical to my wife's '16 4R that has the heated windshield at the wiper region.

 

Northern New York. Brings back many memories of hunting camp in the Newcomb area. One morning, the thermometer was bottomed out at -40. The old style front hubs on Dad's International would not move as the grease congealed. We had to pull it into a building, put heaters on the hubs to thaw before they would turn. My Dad fortunately left his cars in gear and we were able to move it. Transmission was so tight, it would not come out of gear until it thawed as well. Most don't realize how cold it is up there.

 

Find some Prestone Deicer solution and soak the wipers down and the mirrors. Thaws them out faster. As others stated, you need to start and let the Tundra run with defrost on high for several minutes. For me, I don't like lifting the wiper arms as this over time weakens the springs. Also, with freezing rain, it jams up the springs and can prevent the wipers to return correctly on the windows until they thaw as well. when this happens, takes much longer due to the arms being raised away from the windshield.