Ok so I am sure this will sound lame, but if you're used to something being on just about every auto you've ever owned, and then you get one that doesn't have it, you really stop and think "why would they do that!?".

I'm talking about the fact that my ridgeline ('06) does not "squeegee" or wipe the window at all as it goes down. This may sound minor, but when you go out at 4:30Am on a cold morning and the truck is outside (unfortunately for me) you get fog on the outside of the window that makes it impossible to see out of. Typically one would roll down, then back up the window, and presto, fog is gone. But not my Ridgeline. So then, the side mirrors are useless for backing up, etc. Unless you keep the window down, which is not a great alternative when it is cold.

So the questions are:
1) Is it just my truck or do they all do this?
2) If they all do this, why in the world would they have overlooked this key little thing.
3) Can it be fixed with an aftermarket device or something?

Thanks!

My Buick Century does the same thing. No squeege effect whatsoever. It does let you stick little stickers on your side windows without the fear of them getting eaten by the rubber molding over time. (Just trying to show the bright side here.)

I have one of those California water blade thingys. It only takes 30 seconds to do all of the side windows with it in the morning.

All of my previous vehicles did have the auto squeege effect but the last 2 have not. Oh well.

Yes... mine's the same... noticed it the morning of the second day I had the RL.
Funny thing tho, after I started using Invisible Glass, (saw it mentioned in another thread - thanx ROC!) the "fog" has been lessened. Dunno if I.G. contains an "anti-fogging agent", er what... but I noticed the difference right away.
One thing's for sure... dirty glass will attract moisture alot more than glass without something there for the moisture to adhere to.
If it's real bad, maybe even a Rain-X treatment would do. Is the factory "tint" on the inside, outside, or "part of" the side-window glass? I suddenly have "CRS". :rolleyes:

I reckon that Honda chose to keep the rubber off of the side windows to avoid scratching the glass with the road grime that is likely to be present. Otherwise, when there isn't enough liquid to properly lubricate the glass, it has the same effect as fine grit sandpaper.

I reckon that Honda chose to keep the rubber off of the side windows to avoid scratching the glass with the road grime that is likely to be present. Otherwise, when there isn't enough liquid to properly lubricate the glass, it has the same effect as fine grit sandpaper.
Wonder just how good the "seal" is, then... I mean, to keep the water out?
Haven't checked, but hopefully there's good drainage in the bottoms of the doors.
Any one hear any "sloshing noises", yet? :eek:

I reckon that Honda chose to keep the rubber off of the side windows to avoid scratching the glass with the road grime that is likely to be present. Otherwise, when there isn't enough liquid to properly lubricate the glass, it has the same effect as fine grit sandpaper.

Good Point I guess, never thought of it that way.
Although, i tend to keep cars/trucks for a long time and that never seemed to be a problem before.

Yes... mine's the same... noticed it the morning of the second day I had the RL.
Funny thing tho, after I started using Invisible Glass, (saw it mentioned in another thread - thanx ROC!) the "fog" has been lessened. Dunno if I.G. contains an "anti-fogging agent", er what... but I noticed the difference right away.
One thing's for sure... dirty glass will attract moisture alot more than glass without something there for the moisture to adhere to.
If it's real bad, maybe even a Rain-X treatment would do. Is the factory "tint" on the inside, outside, or "part of" the side-window glass? I suddenly have "CRS". :rolleyes:

Thanks, Pug. I guess you guys have confirmed that this is way it is designed. I have heard from a friend this afternoon too, with a different make, same thing. Must be something new, either cost reduction or manufacturers figured out that it was somehow bad to have that squeegee thing happening. (If I were a gambling man, I'd bet on cost reduction).

If you live in cold places, a rubber squeegee would be a nuisance, no? Also on hot summer days, there's a possibility that the rubber would stick to the window. On my 84 Accord, I just push the side window out a bit as I roll it down. Does the job.

I've never owned luxury cars. Do BMW's and Mercedes have this squeegee thing on their vehicles? I guess if you can afford these types of vehicles, you would most likely have a home with heated garages.........

Do BMW's and Mercedes have this squeegee thing on their vehicles? I guess if you can afford these types of vehicles, you would most likely have a home with heated garages.........

I traded a BMW 540i for my RL. The 540 did have the squeege function to an extreme. It squeeged the window all the way up and then sealed the windows so tight that it would literally make your ears pop when you rolled up the windows. The manual said this was because it needed to seal the windows for high speed driving or something of the sort.

BTW. A heated garage doesn't help you if you park your car at your destination (work) and leave the car outside for 10 or 11 hours. The windows are still fogged or frosted up. That car took way longer to warm up than my RL does.

Never had a vehicle that did this...must have been a "defect" in your other vehicle that did. :)

I traded a BMW 540i for my RL. The 540 did have the squeege function to an extreme. It squeeged the window all the way up and then sealed the windows so tight that it would literally make your ears pop when you rolled up the windows. The manual said this was because it needed to seal the windows for high speed driving or something of the sort.

So, it's starting to sound like a cost thing..... a buddy of mine just bought a BMW something and he says all the hype about BMW is so true and he understands why now that he owns one.

You say squeegee the windows all the way up. You mean down and the windows seal tight as a drum in the up position. Sounds like uber quality. I guess you miss the BMW. 5 series to boot.

I actually went to a local dollar store and got a small hand held "squeegee" that I have to use almost every morning to clear the windows. Also use it to clear the mirrors as well.

... On my 84 Accord, I just push the side window out a bit as I roll it down. Does the job...

Thanks for the "common sense approach" tip! :cool: heh-heh! I "held" the window "out" a bit, while it was going down and Voila! What little moisture was there, was wiped-off. (tried it going UP too... didn't work as well.)
As far as my earlier-posted concern about the resultant sealing capabilities... I've noticed that after the window is rolled-up, the seal against it is better.

So, it's starting to sound like a cost thing..... a buddy of mine just bought a BMW something and he says all the hype about BMW is so true and he understands why now that he owns one.

You say squeegee the windows all the way up. You mean down and the windows seal tight as a drum in the up position. Sounds like uber quality. I guess you miss the BMW. 5 series to boot.


Just wait till he has to take it to the dealership or buys new parts. I spent a small fortune on stupid stuff like tranny fluid at $27 a quart and a $500 radiator on that thing. I averted buying a new $700 alternator by doing a DIY rebuild for the same cost of an entire alternator for a normal car.

He should also be aware that in most areas, the only one qualified to work on BMW's is the dealership. No one in my area would even touch the thing to do routine stuff like alignments. Dealership hourly rates run close to $100/hour in many areas on BMW's.

BMW's are vehicles that you shouldn't own after the warranty runs out if you can't turn a wrench on them yourself. He may be happy now but later on he may regret his purchase.

It was fast but you had to watch out when it got furious because it was going to cost you.

Just wait till he has to take it to the dealership or buys new parts.

BMW's are vehicles that you shouldn't own after the warranty runs out if you can't turn a wrench on them yourself. He may be happy now but later on he may regret his purchase.

It was fast but you had to watch out when it got furious because it was going to cost you.


Good ........ I'll ask him about his BMW next time he's in town. Maybe my turn to rub it in.