Defroster vent plugs

[Mac]

I had the same thing, rotated them 90 degrees seemed to help

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[Willys2Gladiator]

I had the same thing, rotated them 90 degrees seemed to help

It did help some but not 100%. Same issue in out JL.

 

[WXman]

We had 3 back to back to back ferocious winter storms and I had no issues. But I'll keep an eye on this again this winter.

 

[Gren71]

You didn't get this while putting them in did you Matt?

Hahahaha nope, for once it was an injury free install

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

There was another thread on this. This is a cut and paste from that thread.

I tried some end caps, the ones I had didn't fit flush and looked like crap. They pushed themselves up and we're uneven looking. I found that if I trimmed them shorter they fit and looked better. So I sat in the drivers seat and trimmed a bunch of them, I installed them in front of me just to test the fit, then I was going to place them in the middle where they are needed. I found out that being shorter now, if I drop one they can fall through the grill. I dropped 2 into the shallow part of the vent, I was just thankful they didn't fall into the vent abyss in the middle. This could have been a lot worse. Laughing at myself, I got a mirror and tweezers and fished them out. What a bonehead. I'd try it again with a different manufacturer, but I tossed the ones I had after the unsuccessful and idiotic attempt.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Interesting - Put some in mine over a year ago. Mine wasn't bad really but thought maybe it can be better. They are still in there over a year later, none popped out, no issues with 'em in there so I'll just leave them.

 

[MrFahrenheit]

I got those cheap plugs on Amazon and was wondering if anyone could share a picture pattern that works good in a snow storm but still gets enough heat to the get the center of the windshield. Thanks

I blocked off every hole between the dividers in the dash tray and never had a defrost issue during the Minnesota winters. So much air leaks past them that it's not really an issue for the center while still directing more heat to the sides where you need it.

 

[dpowell5523]

So has anyone had the spontaneous cracking since doing this? I always blast the heat and roast the interior because I do not want to crack the windshield from using the defroster.

 

[Gren71]

So has anyone had the spontaneous cracking since doing this? I always blast the heat and roast the interior because I do not want to crack the windshield from using the defroster.

Two winters with the plugs and not a single crack in mine.

last winter with my wifes JLU she cracked the windshield before i got the plugs in.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So has anyone had the spontaneous cracking since doing this? I always blast the heat and roast the interior because I do not want to crack the windshield from using the defroster.

Unrelated.
I don't run the plugs and have not had a windshield break from defrosting.
A windshield NOT breaking after inserting the plugs is not proof the plugs fixed any issues. It only means that it's likely that one wasn't going to crack anyway.
Sometimes people believe that lack of something happening is because THEY fixed it when in reality, it most likely wasn't going to happen anyway.
If this was a real issue, you'd see a whole lot of busted windshields every winter and fact is, you see only a few and yet the fact that most of us don't run plugs but don't see cracks means nothing to people.
Into my 4th winter with Gladiators - no defrost problems, no cracks from using defrost.

By the way - back in about 2000 or maybe 2001, I drove my 1995 F250 across town to scoop snow from the sidewalks in front of a store we used to own. I left my truck sitting out front with the engine running and defrost going because it was still snowing - came back out to a cracked windshield.
So it was 5 or 6 years old and wham, the windshield cracks while I have the defrost on high.
Had the windshield replaced and kept the truck into 2011 and never lost another windshield. Sometimes things just happen. If there was a "defrost issue" don't you think I'd have lost at least one more windshield? I drove that truck another 10 years - another decade, no issues with glass.
So - was it the defrost on that truck?

 

[starrskream]

2025 checking in i just did this. turning them 90 degrees helped fitment. Also put them in at an angle right side first then gently press left in and wiggle. they do move front to back so adjust as necessary. I think the ones popping out are because the fins on the sides dont settle flat and stay pointed up. You could also fill the inside of them with rtv gasket sealer to prevent them from catching air.

 

[Gatorized]

Strategically placed ducks will prevent vent plugs from popping out…

 

[ShadowsPapa]

2025 checking in i just did this. turning them 90 degrees helped fitment. Also put them in at an angle right side first then gently press left in and wiggle. they do move front to back so adjust as necessary. I think the ones popping out are because the fins on the sides dont settle flat and stay pointed up. You could also fill the inside of them with rtv gasket sealer to prevent them from catching air.

The square plugs I used in my 2020 were, well, square, so turning them meant nothing But they sat in there nicely and never moved.
I really never needed them in my 2022, and the 2025 - that's yet to see but they have made changes since 2020.
I recently found the rest of the package I bought back in 2020.

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