Frozen snow / ice blocked my headlights last night

[BeleeEV]

I am very concerned about this. Here in CT we haven’t had any snow since the trucks have been out. But it sure seems like a problem. I may look I to the aftermarket top light bar just for winter applications. I know it’s not legal to use on the road. But for emergency times in a storm when the headlights become useless, I’d rather take my chances with this light than no light.

Sponsored

 

[REM]

Did you perform a full defrost pre-conditioning before driving?

 

[D101010]

Same thing happens with any LED headlight at some point they are too cool, and light is reduced. One thing we have to remember is that these lights are incredible compared to headlights from like 30 years ago. So even if they are reduced in brightness, they are still better than those even when not blocked. Ilive in MN and that only happens to me maybe once or twice a year.

 

[Pulaski]

In my experience, if you're driving in that kind of weather, no matter the truck I'm having to get out to scrape off the headlights.

 

[Stuck4ger]

Maybe we need our hot burning HID or Halogen light bulbs back?

Uh, not for me.

 

[CyberTruckeeTheOne]

Obviously vision-based FSD will not work too as cameras will also be blocked by snow-ice.

But I wonder if Google's lidar-radar combo system used in Waymo would have worked "painting" a 3D contour of the way ahead.

Encountered the same conditions on my 4runner and regretted not stopping overnight at a motel rather than endangering my family on what I thought is an part adventure in 4x4. Never again!

 

[devdrone6]

Uh, not for me.

Just being sarcastic - but we do need heated led covers. That would help for sure.

 

[nocyber]

Looks like we need Not A Flame Thrower and Cyberhammer with Cyberpick to ensure clean headlights in ice/slush.

In all seriousness though, I’m very curious to see how this will shake out in practice. I do always have a scraper and tools for winter in my vehicles in the event of an emergency so while I can sympathize that you were unable to clear out the frozen over ice with your bare hands - in practice for me I would have had something to clear it out.

I’m assuming it’s just going to be annoying like our Rivian R1S though where the lack of heat generated from the LEDs will ultimately make you need to clear out the fixtures more often. Maybe an aftermarket solution will come to be.

 

[REM]

The truck has 20 amp 110volt plugs. Bring a hair dryer lol

 

[mongo]

Obviously vision-based FSD will not work too as cameras will also be blocked by snow-ice.

Rear facing fender and tailgate camera seem to get ocluded the worst, but the two main front cameras have heaters and the wiper to keep them clean.
B pillars have been fairly dust/dirt/mud resistant, which may bode well for winter.

 

[tbuck]

Obviously vision-based FSD will not work too as cameras will also be blocked by snow-ice.

But I wonder if Google's lidar-radar combo system used in Waymo would have worked "painting" a 3D contour of the way ahead.

Encountered the same conditions on my 4runner and regretted not stopping overnight at a motel rather than endangering my family on what I thought is an part adventure in 4x4. Never again!

Not well, or at all.

LIDAR uses the measurement of reflected light to operate. It is hampered by snow and can be rendered useless in heavy snow or conditions that block the light's transmission or reception - such as being packed with snow or in heavy blowing snow.

 

[CyberTruckeeTheOne]

Not well, or at all.

LIDAR uses the measurement of reflected light to operate. It is hampered by snow and can be rendered useless in heavy snow or conditions that block the light's transmission or reception - such as being packed with snow or in heavy blowing snow.

I understand, but the Google system in Waymo has employs a Lidar and radar and my son, not on Google nor Waymo but in government says it's now penetrating radar that can distinguish a mound of white stuff to be concrete or bank of snow and the deep of water in a swimming pool.

 

[dw321]

Heavy blowing snow and slush froze over my headlight bar last night. It was very difficult for me to see while driving. Turning on the brights had no effect.

I turned on my hazards and followed the road's tire tracks *very slowly* to get home.

Anyone else experience this? What's the solution?

Headlights flush with bumper might work. This needs to be fixed. I was just thinking of my wife driving during the winter. If she had to clean the bumper so she could drive - no bueno!! as well as unsafe.

 

[sansoy]

had the same problem during our current snow storm. the horizontal light bar is not the headlight. The headlights are located just above the front bumper which has a lip collecting snow. had to get out a couple times to clear the snow to see the road.

other than that the truck performed flawlessly on the snowy/icy roads!

 

[Cybertruck2024]

The illegal light bar may need to get some emergency use on my Beast if this happens...

Sponsored