Is there any "easy" resolution for the poor quality glass Honda used in the s2k? I've have a 2005 s2k with ~16k and the internal "water spotting" issue with the glass has gotten to be very irritating, and potential dangerous at night. At night it has the same effect as having a very dirty windshield, causing substantial glare around outside lights, inparticular the head lights of oncomming traffic. The "water spotting" appears in the outside mirror glass, rear glass, and the side window glass, and is probably a product of the delamination of the internal plastic film layer. Has anybody gotten glass replacement under warranty for this issue. The problem in the side glass is just embarrising, but the issue in the windshield id getting dangerous at night. Does non Honda replacement glass have this issue? Just as a side check, I closely looked at the windshield in my 97 nissian and it does not have this issue. I did a quick forum search and it appears that isn't an isolated case. Thanks for any info.

 

If the water spots are etched in, you'll have to use a mild... MILD abrasive cleaner to remove them.. Then when you wax, if you use a microfiber with just the residue from the wax clearing. Use this to go over your glass when you dry the car. I find just that touch of wax is enough to keep the water from sitting and allows it to run off.

And yes, HONDA glass really does suck. Bad

 

Bon Ami, if you can find it. it's a powdery cleanser that is non-abrasive. you can also try a Clay Bar, the same thing you use on the painted body panels, it might work.

 

As best as I can tell, it is not an external issue, but is an internal issue with the plastic film layer in the glass. This is the first real disappointment with the car.

 

The first I have heard of such an issue. It really sounds like acid rain type etching. I would try what others have suggested to remove the issue and then use Rain-X regularly to keep the water beading off.

 

I tried some toothpaste as a polish (has hydrated silica in it) with no noticable change. If it is "acid rain", how come my Nissian pickup that has been in the same conditions since 1997 doesn't have an etched windshield? I think if some owners take a closer look tonight and compare to other makes of cars they have, they might see the issue. I first noticed the problem when I got the car new (had 175 "demo" miles on it) and it seems to may be worse now (but it could just be me getting a little irritated about it). I'll try something like "sight savers" that fill scratches to see if that makes a difference. If it doesn't, then it is not an external etching problem.

 

i'm a little confused. do you have actual water spots on your windows, or do you have pitting in your windows caused by rock chips?

if you just have water spots, try vinegar/water on the windows.

if your window is pitted, you can try to polish it. if it is too damaged then this will not work for you.

i know my windows and front bumper have tons of rock chips for being a daily driver. i have never driven any other car that suffers from rock chips as much as the s2000 though. your nissan pickup may not have rock chips because of the fact that it is a pickup. the way our car's windshield is angled, and how low we are results in tons of rock chips.

check out the wash and wax forum if you really want to learn how to polish out the windows.

 

As best as I can tell, it is neither (not an external issue). It looks somewhat like water spots on the outside, but upon close inspection it appears to be some type delamination or degradition of the plastic film inside the windshield itself.

 

If it is in fact an internal issue, your best best is to take it into the dealer and start a service ticket. It could be you have a defective batch of glass. I would bet you will need a DSM to come and see the car to have any chance of getting all the glass replaced.

 

I did a closer inspection this morning and it appears that issue may be a surface issue instead of internal to the glass (hopefully). I also found instances the spotting pattern on the black windshield post which is not glass (hopefully to eliminate potential etching of the glass). A possible suspect may be a near by maple tree which has showered the car with some type of clear miracle adhesive (sugar?). My truck which has been in the same spot for 10 years seems to be somewhat immune to the problem. Anyhow, now I'm looking for something that might disolve this material (assuming it is external). So far I've tried acohol, carb cleaner, lime-a-way, ether, and other stuff from under the sink with out immediate success. Interesting in that the side mirrors are verticle and more sheltered, yet they exhibit the same regular distributed water spotted pattern from top to bottom like there is a plastic film on the surface that has gone bad. Guess I'll do some more backyard science today.