Windshield deicer overheats, breaks windshield

[lenick]

I have a 2008 Land Cruiser and was warming up the vehicle with the windshield deicer on. I noticed a burning smell, then saw steam coming from the area where the deicer strips attach to the windshield from the attached wire. A few seconds later 2 big cracks opened up in the lower part of the windshield.

I'm going to replace the windshield but is there anything I should look out for so that this doesn't happen again?

 

[GoISU]

Is this a common failure? I always fire up the ice melter coils on a cold windshield, I assume it won’t make the cold windshield crack. I’ve only had the truck for one chicago winter though... I’ve never had the burning smell though so I’d assume that it was an actual malfunction though.

Did you frequently use the coils prior to this point or was this the first time in a long time type situation?

 

[TonyP]

Never heard of this. I'm guessing it isn't an original oem windshield?

 

[lenick]

I'd never heard of this either and I'm not sure what else to troubleshoot. As far as I can tell, it's the original windshield but I bought the truck used so can't be completely sure

 

[lenick]

I've used the coils sporadically over the winter, never had a similar issue

 

[M1911]

I haven’t had a similar problem, but I have heard of that sort of thing happening with aircraft.

I believe that the windshield heater has a timer that turns it off to prevent overheating the windshield.

 

[2016lc]

yes 2016 10 minute timer I believe

 

[EverywhereBear]

I use the heater during the winter all the time - no issues - no cracks