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Windshield wiper de-icer

15507 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  loopinwhole
I've been trying to figure out what the windshield wiper de-icer is supposed to be doing but mine seems to do nothing at all. The manual says its supposed to get warm along the bottom of the windshield and along the side pillars, but mine does not.
Has anyone seen/felt any evidence that this is doing anything?
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I haven't had a need for it since my RAV is garaged at home and work, but I figured it would help keep the wipers free of snow an dice build-up when going down the road in a snowstorm. The manual does say to use caution when the feature is on because it can cause burns, so it seems to me like if you've got the switch on it should be getting pretty hot.
I've been trying to figure out what the windshield wiper de-icer is supposed to be doing but mine seems to do nothing at all. The manual says its supposed to get warm along the bottom of the windshield and along the side pillars, but mine does not.
Has anyone seen/felt any evidence that this is doing anything?
I've only turned it on once when I had "fog" on the lower inside of the windshield, felt the bottom and same as you...nothing that I could feel. I'm not sure it did anything at all, I've not had a chance to try it with really ice or snow, my rav is usually garaged at home and at work so the only chance to use this feature is when I'm driving in snow, this is why I wanted the wiper deicer because snow builds up on the bottom of the windshield in snow. The mirrors certainly de-fog fast when I turn on the mirror defrost, I really like that.

Cheers,
I've only turned it on once when I had "fog" on the lower inside of the windshield, felt the bottom and same as you...nothing that I could feel. I'm not sure it did anything at all, I've not had a chance to try it with really ice or snow, my rav is usually garaged at home and at work so the only chance to use this feature is when I'm driving in snow, this is why I wanted the wiper deicer because snow builds up on the bottom of the windshield in snow. The mirrors certainly de-fog fast when I turn on the mirror defrost, I really like that.
Ditto, mirrors get toasty but windshield does not. The de-icer shuts off after about 15 min like its supposed to and I turn it back on again, but still nothing feels even slightly warm.
I've used mine a few time and it does make a difference. It basically ''warm'' the bottom of the windshield and helps with removing thin layer of ice on the wipers as well as facilitating the scraping of ice on the windshield. If I touch the area of the windshield where the wire run, I can physically feel it after a few minutes.
Remember folks, this is a wiper heater - as the wipers rest below the clear part of the glass, the elements are there. This is a great feature for loosening ice from the wipers both before driving and during ice storms. Use it religiously on my 2012.
Remember folks, this is a wiper heater - as the wipers rest below the clear part of the glass, the elements are there. This is a great feature for loosening ice from the wipers both before driving and during ice storms. Use it religiously on my 2012.
None of that is in question. The issue is that nothing is actually getting warm.
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None of that is in question. The issue is that nothing is actually getting warm.
Should have finished my thought better. Are you checking inside or outside? If it’s not warming, hope in for a check under warranty.
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None of that is in question. The issue is that nothing is actually getting warm.
Drove through rough patch of weather last Saturday, subzero temperatures amd snow.
wiper blade partailly froze, I must have turn the wiper de-icer 10 Times And Still gotNo improvement.
very disappointed with this feature
Drove through rough patch of weather last Saturday, subzero temperatures amd snow.
wiper blade partailly froze, I must have turn the wiper de-icer 10 Times And Still gotNo improvement.
very disappointed with this feature
Sounds like it’s dealer trip time.
Drove through rough patch of weather last Saturday, subzero temperatures amd snow.
wiper blade partailly froze, I must have turn the wiper de-icer 10 Times And Still gotNo improvement.
very disappointed with this feature
Remember that it can only melt ice and snow at the base of the window, and cannot heat much of the blade, except where it contacts the windshield, and only while the wipers are resting. But yes take your 2019 to the dealer to confirm its operation and your expectations. Hope it works out for you.
I used mine a kot of time and work just fine. I feel like how some people are talking about it that they dont know at all what it does....

Anyways turn it on while parked then in a minute go outside and touch the glass where the wipers rest. If its warm then it works. Its the same concept as your back windows but only one small section of the glass. Had this on my old subaru and loved it.
I have yet to use mine in the winter (Just got the rav) but it gets noticeably warm to the touch when you turn it on.
Crap. Just a got a crack (unfortunate) along the bottom of the windshield that fortunately didn't run up to my line of sight, but unfortunately it seems to be along the bottom element of the wiper de-icer. The de-icer doensn't seem to be de-icing that well now in this cold weather (-30C)
Remember folks, this is a wiper heater - as the wipers rest below the clear part of the glass, the elements are there. This is a great feature for loosening ice from the wipers both before driving and during ice storms. Use it religiously on my 2012.
Where do you turn this feature on in your car? I have a 2014 that I'm struggling to find the switch for this feature.
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