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AlphaTherm AT-38OD Windshield Washer Fluid Heater

3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 88 ratings
Currently unavailable.
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AlphaTherm AT-38OD Windshield Washer Fluid Heater

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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
88 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the performance and ease of installation of the auto accessory. For example, they mention it works well, the instructions are great and the mounting bracket is simple. That said, some complain about the heating and ease-of-use. For instance, they say it gets warm but not hot enough and the fluid turns to slush. Opinions are mixed on construction.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

48 customers mention39 positive9 negative

Customers like the performance of the auto accessory. For example, they mention that it works well through freezing rain, helps the weak stock wiper setup work better, and is well capable of dealing with the elements. Some say the unit does heat the fluid, but with their system at least, there isn't enough. Overall, most are happy with the product's performance and recommend it for any car lover.

"...glad to see that this is a well built product that appears to be well capable of dealing with the elements...." Read more

"...I don't waste fuel or time waiting for engine warm up. Within 2 minutes the unit is hot. No more frozen hands ! On tall vehicles, a must have...." Read more

"...Heating the fluid really helps the weak, stock wiper setup work better than it ever did from the factory!..." Read more

"I was delighted for a few weeks, during which the product worked very well through a freezing rain and some very low Canadian temperatures...." Read more

25 customers mention22 positive3 negative

Customers find the installation of the auto accessory to be easy. They mention that the mounting bracket is simple and easy to adapt to almost any mounting.

"...Installation is fairly simple, but your vehicle can make it difficult for you depending on how crowded the engine compartment on your vehicle..." Read more

"Unit is great, fully automatic. Install easy ! Customer service was excellent, they answer their phone...." Read more

"...The mounting bracket is simple and should easy to adapt to almost any mounting situation. I was also impressed with the quality fuse holder." Read more

"...I had about 6 inches of hose left over. This was an easy install on this vehicle, but I suggest you examine yours before you purchase to insure you..." Read more

4 customers mention3 positive1 negative

Customers like the cleaning of the auto accessory. They mention that it's great for cleaning, and that it cleans faster than cold spray. Some say that it is great at clearing the salt film off the windshield.

"...But wiper area stays spotless clean...." Read more

"...windshield warms up some and you're driving along, it's great at clearing the salt film off the windshield, much better than just the washer fluid..." Read more

"...In addition to things below it doesn't do well, it doesn't even clean the ice off my windshield well when it gets really cold; even if I spray for..." Read more

"...a dust problem from construction of new buildings and this cleans faster than cold spray...." Read more

9 customers mention6 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the construction of the auto accessory. Some find the build quality good and impressed with the quality fuse holder, while others say the electronic components included were not robust enough for the environment and failed.

"I was glad to see that this is a well built product that appears to be well capable of dealing with the elements...." Read more

"...on my truck that worked well, but they were cheap and broke before the winter was up...." Read more

"...The wires and plastic housing seem like very good quality. The mounting bracket is simple and should easy to adapt to almost any mounting situation...." Read more

"...Sturdy piece of kit , the bracket may be a weak link .I attached the heater to the bracket with wire ties just to be on the safe side ...." Read more

13 customers mention3 positive10 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the heating capabilities of the windshield cleaner. They mention that it gets warm but not hot enough to melt any amount of ice without, temperature loss in the whole length of the hose from the device to the nozzles, and that it stopped heating the fluid after a few weeks. They also say that it's great for cleaning but less great in deep cold.

"...I just started looking for a replacement. This wasnt very hot either. Barely warm enough to almost de-ice the windshield...." Read more

"...After a few weeks it stopped heating the fluid. I checked the fuse and the feeding voltage, they were OK...." Read more

"...The reason - temperature lost in the whole length of the hose from the device to the nozzles is tremendous.-..." Read more

"...wipers work so much better with the warm liquid, keeps my wipers free of snow and ice...." Read more

6 customers mention0 positive6 negative

Customers find the auto accessory hard to mount. They mention that the provided bracket was useless for their vehicle and that the bracket may be a weak link.

"...for the unit are "3.9 x 1.7 x 5.4 inches" but this does not include the mounting bracket which is slightly taller and wider..." Read more

"...have been in the location I mounted the unit, as it was very hard to find a good spot...." Read more

"...I installed it in a Ford Escort. The provided bracket was useless for my vehicle and I ended up mounting it with plumber's strapping and throwing..." Read more

"...But... there was only one spot to mount it and you better be creative. These days, there is no empty room anywhere under the hood...." Read more

3 customers mention0 positive3 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the fluid. They mention that it turns to slush as soon as it touches the windshield, and that the product could not deliver windshield fluid on the windshield as advertised.

"...- AlphaTherm AT-38OD definitely could not deliver Windshield fluid on the windshield with advertised temperature of 51-57C (124-135F) upon..." Read more

"...is so cold and there's so little heated fluid that the fluid turns to slush as soon as it touches the windshield and piles up to freeze where the..." Read more

"...warm the wiper fluid on a frigid day but the reality is that you use a lot of fluid and don't get much melting of ice or frost on the windshield...." Read more

Great cold weather accessory
5 Stars
Great cold weather accessory
I was glad to see that this is a well built product that appears to be well capable of dealing with the elements. I was concerned that I might lose pressure at the nozzles with this thing built into the washer fluid line. However, there was no loss of pressure coming out of the nozzles after installing this product. The only downside I noticed is that there is a bit of a lag of windshield washer fluid coming out of the nozzles after I depress the washer fluid button. Despite this minor inconvenience I am still very satisfied with my purchase.IMPORTANT READ: I highly recommend figuring out where you will install this product prior to purchasing it. The given dimensions for the unit are "3.9 x 1.7 x 5.4 inches" but this does not include the mounting bracket which is slightly taller and wider (I uploaded a picture of the installed product on Amazon, take a look, if it's there). The recommended installation suggest its mounting it to the firewall of your vehicle, as close to the sprayer nozzles as possible, and as far away from the engine as possible. I had no room on the firewall so I improvised and attached it to the heat-shield of my cold-air intake system. I recommend you look at the installation instructions on [...] prior to purchasing it so you know what you're up for and can figure out where you will installed it on your vehicle. Installation is fairly simple, but your vehicle can make it difficult for you depending on how crowded the engine compartment on your vehicle is.Would I purchase this product again for another vehicle: YesWould I recommend this product to my friends: Yes
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Top reviews from the United States

Archer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great cold weather accessory
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2012
Verified Purchase
I was glad to see that this is a well built product that appears to be well capable of dealing with the elements. I was concerned that I might lose pressure at the nozzles with this thing built into the washer fluid line. However, there was no loss of pressure coming out of the nozzles after installing this product. The only downside I noticed is that there is a bit of a lag of windshield washer fluid coming out of the nozzles after I depress the washer fluid button. Despite this minor inconvenience I am still very satisfied with my purchase.

IMPORTANT READ: I highly recommend figuring out where you will install this product prior to purchasing it. The given dimensions for the unit are "3.9 x 1.7 x 5.4 inches" but this does not include the mounting bracket which is slightly taller and wider (I uploaded a picture of the installed product on Amazon, take a look, if it's there). The recommended installation suggest its mounting it to the firewall of your vehicle, as close to the sprayer nozzles as possible, and as far away from the engine as possible. I had no room on the firewall so I improvised and attached it to the heat-shield of my cold-air intake system. I recommend you look at the installation instructions on [...] prior to purchasing it so you know what you're up for and can figure out where you will installed it on your vehicle. Installation is fairly simple, but your vehicle can make it difficult for you depending on how crowded the engine compartment on your vehicle is.

Would I purchase this product again for another vehicle: Yes
Would I recommend this product to my friends: Yes
Customer image
Archer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great cold weather accessory
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2012
I was glad to see that this is a well built product that appears to be well capable of dealing with the elements. I was concerned that I might lose pressure at the nozzles with this thing built into the washer fluid line. However, there was no loss of pressure coming out of the nozzles after installing this product. The only downside I noticed is that there is a bit of a lag of windshield washer fluid coming out of the nozzles after I depress the washer fluid button. Despite this minor inconvenience I am still very satisfied with my purchase.

IMPORTANT READ: I highly recommend figuring out where you will install this product prior to purchasing it. The given dimensions for the unit are "3.9 x 1.7 x 5.4 inches" but this does not include the mounting bracket which is slightly taller and wider (I uploaded a picture of the installed product on Amazon, take a look, if it's there). The recommended installation suggest its mounting it to the firewall of your vehicle, as close to the sprayer nozzles as possible, and as far away from the engine as possible. I had no room on the firewall so I improvised and attached it to the heat-shield of my cold-air intake system. I recommend you look at the installation instructions on [...] prior to purchasing it so you know what you're up for and can figure out where you will installed it on your vehicle. Installation is fairly simple, but your vehicle can make it difficult for you depending on how crowded the engine compartment on your vehicle is.

Would I purchase this product again for another vehicle: Yes
Would I recommend this product to my friends: Yes
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8 people found this helpful
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Brad
2.0 out of 5 stars Hotshot this isn't - worked for 2 seasons
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
I got this hoping it was like the hot shot system i installed in my truck years ago. It was not. This alpha therm AT-38OD worked...sort of...for 2 winter seasons in northern virginia. Stopped working last year. I just started looking for a replacement. This wasnt very hot either. Barely warm enough to almost de-ice the windshield. My old hot shot system was great. I wish they hadnt stopped selling those.

The alpha therm gets power. Fuse is good. Just doesnt heat anymore.
3 people found this helpful
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David Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Product. 2nd one I've purchased !
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2012
Verified Purchase
Unit is great, fully automatic. Install easy ! Customer service was excellent, they answer their phone. This is the 2nd unit that I have bought from this maker. The 1st unit has been in operation for years now on my Suburban. Older unit is the manual operation type, works flawlessly. New unit is fully automatic, always hot and ready. On GM vehicles you will have use more fluid than normal, as you have to push the heated fluid through the washer plumbing and heat the tubes. No different than waiting for hot water at home. Works excellent for bug removal too. I am the envy of co-workers in the winter. I don't waste fuel or time waiting for engine warm up. Within 2 minutes the unit is hot. No more frozen hands ! On tall vehicles, a must have. No more climbing to reach the windshield, my wife loves it. Don't waste your money on a remote starter just to clear the windshield anymore. This a better option and cheaper too. Have some fun with it. I live in Michigan, and love it when I stop at a light. Just hit the washer and watch the steam cloud fly. Other drivers just stare. I've had people stop me and ask where they can get one.
3 people found this helpful
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buildit
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice feature to add to your vehicle.
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2014
Verified Purchase
I put this heater, combined with a modern electric washer pump, on my '66 Chevy C10 pickup. It's my only vehicle and I need to drive it in the snow and rain all the time. Heating the fluid really helps the weak, stock wiper setup work better than it ever did from the factory! My favorite part is how it can provide enough hot fluid in one squirt to melt stuck on freezing rain. Much easier than stopping and scraping or trying to melt with cold fluid.

The build quality is good on this too. The wires and plastic housing seem like very good quality. The mounting bracket is simple and should easy to adapt to almost any mounting situation. I was also impressed with the quality fuse holder.
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Alaskan Outpost
1.0 out of 5 stars Not as Good as Expected
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
Edit: After using this for a few months of a Michigan winter, I'm lowering my rating from 2 stars to 1. In addition to things below it doesn't do well, it doesn't even clean the ice off my windshield well when it gets really cold; even if I spray for several seconds. So it does a halfway job of cleaning off my windshield, doesn't keep my wipers clean and is a huge pain to install. I do not recommend.

AlphaTherm could have saved me a lot of trouble if they'd simply attached the mounting bracket to the unit for me. The part of installation that took the longest was trying to bend the bracket just right so it would slide into the slots on the unit. It's still not attached very securely, but it's the best I could do. Unless it saves them a few pennies on shipping because it fits in the box better, there's no reason it can't be attached at the factory or even manufactured as one part. Another thing they need to do is include self-tapping screws. My box had everything else that might be needed except for screws.

As for the unit itself, it doesn't function quite as nicely as I thought. Last winter I installed some heated wiper blades on my truck that worked well, but they were cheap and broke before the winter was up. I thought heated washer fluid would be the next best thing in keeping my windshield and wiper blades free of ice. The hot washer fluid does clear up my windshield, but no better than the interior heater does. And since I almost always start my truck up several minutes before I have to leave, my windshield is defrosted by the time I get in. This unit isn't doing much for me. And the hot fluid does nothing to keep my wiper blades free of ice buildup, which is mostly what I wanted it for. The windshield doesn't stay clear for long if the wiper blades have ice or slush stuck to them. If you're someone that doesn't let your vehicle idle for a few minutes on winter mornings and just hops right in and takes off in the cold, I suppose this might be something you'll like. It's not worth it to me for what I paid.
5 people found this helpful
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