It is a windshield defrost not heater. It shuts off after 15 minutes or so automatically. So it is working normal. You can't change that setting unless someone can verify it ican be changed in Techstream.

 

I know i'ts not a heater and it's working just fine but, just wanted to know if it could help in am when windshield is full of ice and i use the autostart, that's when it would of been helpful. Once I get in car and turn on defrost and heater that clears the windshield , other wise it's kind of a useless feature.
Maybe your idea using techstream might work, I will look into that

 

I'd like to add a wiper defroster (i live in Wisconsin and it can get to -10F daytime for a few months straight). They can ice up while driving, even with defrost on "cook 'em." I could use a "nuke" switch at times. Thoughts? ((2009 RAV4 Base, currently stripped for upgrades))

 

I would not spend any money on getting that option (it came with my XLE), dos not really work that well . that's why i was asking if anybody new how to get it to turn on when i do autostart.otherwise it's not worth it IMO.

 

You have a remote start so just leave the heater on high the day before. This is what I do to get the windshield to melt snow or ice in the morning. I let mine warm up for at least 10 minutes. That windshield defrost does not work that fast like the heater and is really to keep the wiper from freezing.

 

No remote start, though I think I saw one of the site sponsors offer a remote start package?

(I added a block heater and battery maintainer, but that doesn't help me at work.)

 

Looking at this for the Wife's RAV4. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CFRXGXW Because unlike my Ram, her car doesn't have factory "free" remote start... (I'm not paying monthly for it...)

 

I have a pushbutton remote start in my 2017 SE. I keep my heat set at 73 mostly. To defrost my windshield properly I have to turn on the defrost button before I shut down for the night in the driveway. When I remote start the car in the am any heave frost is gone in ten mins max. If I forget to set the front defrost button it will still work but it will take 15+ min to do it.

I got an aftermarket remote start put on professionally. Very glad I did it, Winter is a long season in Maine.