Headlights with thick ice

[DebbyM46227]

We had a horrible ice storm yesterday and I didn't get my car in the garage soon enough. Now I have over 1" thick ice and sleet also on my headlights which will keep me from driving in the dark unless I remove it. Can I pour warm water on them to melt the ice or will that crack the headlight covering - are they made of glass or plastic?

It took 2 hours to scrape all the windows this morning but I'm afraid to use a scraper on the headlights. It also won't be melting anytime soon as it will be a low of 7 degrees tonight and not above freezing until the weekend.

[CTScott]

They are plastic. Scraping is not a great idea, as it will probably result in scratches. Hot water should be fine. Start the car and leave the headlights on on high beam for a while to help loosen the ice from below as well.

[SailDesign]

They are plastic. Scraping is not a great idea, as it will probably result in scratches. Hot water should be fine. Start the car and leave the headlights on on high beam for a while to help loosen the ice from below as well.

Worked well for me this morning, with a quarter-inch of ice.

[Betrivent]

IO find ice melts off on the headlights very quickly

[DebbyM46227]

Thanks!

[RedRide]

Just start the engine, run defrosters and turn on the headlights (if iced up) while cleaning the rest of the car and ice will loosen enough on widows and headlights for easy removal.

I went through this today in NYS.

[Betrivent]

YOu could also leave your hi beams on while warming up.. haha

[DebbyM46227]

Just start the engine, run defrosters and turn on the headlights (if iced up) while cleaning the rest of the car and ice will loosen enough on widows and headlights for easy removal.
I went through this today in NYS.

Nope, that didn't work this morning when I had the car running for almost 2 hours while scraping the windows (defroster on). The ice on the headlights was over 1" thick.

I finally got the ice off this afternoon, it took a gallon of very warm water poured over each headlight to get the ice un-thawed enough.

[Betrivent]

OH JESUS 1". No wonder

[Betrivent]

.. Cover them over night with something? Wrap a tarp around the front of your car, ride the wheels over it so it won't blow away?

[DebbyM46227]

It was almost a once-in-a-lifetime ice storm so everything is OK now. And it's going in the garage from now on.

[rick996]

I had the same problem. I gently thumped the lens covers with my gloved fist enough to flex the plastic without breaking it and the ice came right off. I guess I'm lucky I didn't crack the lens cover. Next time I think I'll use the hot water.