Snow Catcher Front End…

[Doobster6]

I’m sure others in snowy climates have experienced this before, but it was my first occasion yesterday. There was a decent snowfall happening as we drove home and suddenly a warning message popped up that ‘sensors were blocked so forward collision systems were off’. Minutes later a different message appeared. Sure enough, when I got home the concaved front non-grill area had filled with snow, as well as beneath that above the bumper. Just something for the Northern state and Canadian drivers to keep in mind. Where I live in SE PA, it’s a non issue for 363 days out of the year.

Sponsored

 

[AliRafiee]

Yeap. It’s the sensor between the two vents below the grille

 

[Maquis]

Every car I’ve driven with front sensors does this.

 

[hybrid2bev]

Yeah, unfortunately Ford chose not to heat the radar cone area.

 

[Byrus]

This happens to all cars in the snow (at least all that I have owned).

 

[MonkeyNutz]

Yep.. The joy of driving in winter. And it's worse with cars that have LED headlights. And worse again with EV's that don't have an engine up front generating heat. Rivian just got awarded their patent for an integrated heating element design for their headlights. Their headlight design is really problematic in a lot of winter driving conditions due to their headlights being indented like little cups that collect snow and slush. The Cybertruck has issues with its headlights too with the relatively small physical size and placement. I have seen others voice their concerns over the similar headlight design on the new Model Y (most Tesla fanboys dismiss the possibility of it being a problem). The new Y has those same tiny headlights located low on the front like the Cybertruck, but they're much lower to the ground vs. the CT and right in the spot where all the crap collects on those front sensors on most cars, including the original Model Y. And not only that, but the airflow inlets create pockets just past those headlights toward the wheels. People are going to to be fighting winter slush on the new Model Y a lot.

Anyway, I've been driving cars with LED headlights for almost 15 years and with front sensors for even longer. when you wash your car, give the lights a quick spray and wipe with some Rain-X or similar as it will help keep the snow and slush from collecting quite as bad. I'm always driving in the mountains so I keep the -30F rated ice cutter wiper fluid in my cars. Not a bad idea to have an extra spray bottle with some in case you need to do some extra cleaning on longer drives or road trips. Can't depend on gas stations having usable windshield scrubber/squeegees and usable soapy water when it's well below freezing outside.

 

[Doobster6]

Well, not all cars have this issue. My fully loaded 2017 Infiniti QX50 had all these bells and whistles and the snow never bothered it. While sometimes criticized for its latter years inelegant styling, it had more aerodynamic curves for air and snow to flow around rather that a built in maw that provides a cup-like feature in which snow can collect. Like I said though, I rarely drive headlong into driving snow anymore and I like the Mach-E styling as is. I’m actually worried a wee bit about how Ford might ‘evolve’ the styling when it ultimately comes out with Mach-E 2.0; I think they kinda knocked it outta the park with their first effort.

 

[CameraCarl]

This happens frequently with my 2018 Ford Edge. You have to keep the grille area and the top of the windshield clean for all the electronic driving aids to work properly.

 

[vsguru]

Blocked IR sensors actually happened more often on my Explorer than on my MME. AFIK using a good brand of low temperature windshield washing fluid and Rain-X on them and your headlights before it snows is the best you can do. Good luck!

Sponsored