Heater for wiper blades - advice please

[Saxacat]

Hi All,

as mentioned in a previous thread, I had to have a windscreen replacement. It was carried out yesterday, and all seems good calibration wise.

I decided to check if the wiper blade heater worked, but it doesn't seem to. I put it on for a while and feel no effect on the glass, I also used an infra-red thermometer, and it detected no increase in temperature.

I was going to get on to Autoglass, but then wondered whether it would be thermostatically controlled; does anyone know if this is the case?

The screen is 14C, so maybe too warm for the heater to operate?

 

Any help appreciated.

 

[Rosgoe]

16 minutes ago, Saxacat said:

Hi All,

as mentioned in a previous thread, I had to have a windscreen replacement. It was carried out yesterday, and all seems good calibration wise.

I decided to check if the wiper blade heater worked, but it doesn't seem to. I put it on for a while and feel no effect on the glass, I also used an infra-red thermometer, and it detected no increase in temperature.

I was going to get on to Autoglass, but then wondered whether it would be thermostatically controlled; does anyone know if this is the case?

The screen is 14C, so maybe too warm for the heater to operate?

 

Any help appreciated.

 

I’m not sure how those heaters work is it the whole windscreen that is heated or just the bottom of the windscreen when the wipers are in the park position or are the actual Wiper Blades heated. Put a ice pack on the area where the heater is then see if it works. I shouldn’t have thought that it is thermostatically controlled as the rear screen heaters are not.

I suppose it is possible that they have fitted the wrong windscreen

[philip42h]

The owners manual isn't much use. It states clearly that the Heated Windshield Defroster (which we don't have) will not operate if the outside temperature is 5°C or higher. But all it says is that the windshield wiper de-icer will automatically turn off after a period of time ...

Stupid question: can you see the wiper de-icer heater elements embedded within the glass?

[Rosgoe]

As Phillip said that makes sense if the whole windscreen is heated I had a car with a heated windscreen and that would not operate in temp above 5 degrees c if it is a heated windscreen you should be able to see the elements from the inside  when the sun is shining on it.

[Saxacat]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

It is just the wiper blade rest area that is heated, not the whole screen.

I can see an element in the glass (not the same layout as the original, but it is there), I can even see what I assume are the rear end of the 2 electrical contacts through the glass.

I'm confident that the element is not heating (touch and thermometer), but of course its well above 5 degrees, so maybe its not supposed to.

I might just have to pester another RAV owner, if I see any 😁

 

[ernieb]

I think it’s dependent on the outside temperature so you’ll have to wait for a colder day, that said it only 7oC last night, Central Bedfordshire.

[philip42h]

4 hours ago, Saxacat said:

I might just have to pester another RAV owner, if I see any 😁

OK, you win ... 🙂

Just checked on mine - with the car in Ready mode and the windshield wiper de-icer switched on, the windscreen under the wipers feels distinctly warmer to the touch than the surrounding glass. And that took no time at all - I simply switched on, got out, walked around the door and the glass felt warm.

I'd assume that you'd have to be in Ready mode ...

[Roger_N]

I have just tried this and works as Philip says, the switch to the right of the steering wheel that activates it, I mention this as I did try the one on the centre console first that just sends the heated air to the screen (never used the wiper heater it before and obviously didn't read the manual).

[Saxacat]

2 hours ago, philip42h said:

OK, you win ... 🙂

Just checked on mine - with the car in Ready mode and the windshield wiper de-icer switched on, the windscreen under the wipers feels distinctly warmer to the touch than the surrounding glass. And that took no time at all - I simply switched on, got out, walked around the door and the glass felt warm.

I'd assume that you'd have to be in Ready mode ...

 

49 minutes ago, Roger_N said:

I have just tried this and works as Philip says, the switch to the right of the steering wheel that activates it, I mention this as I did try the one on the centre console first that just sends the heated air to the screen (never used the wiper heater it before and obviously didn't read the manual).

Hmm that's what I did and got nothing ☹️ Looks like I need to contact Autoglass.

[Rosgoe]

Worth checking the fuse 

[Saxacat]

Checked the fuse all good. Since I saw a guy with a 19 plate RAV HEV in the supermarket car park I asked him to check, he was kind enough to do so; took a while but it did get warm (external temp 11C)

 

I got a reply from Toyota technical services who tell me it will only operate below 5C !!!

 

So totally confused now.

[Roger_N]

Mine worked yesterday at over 14°C

[APS]

If you could get to the heater contacts with multimeter probes you could check for continuity. Then it's easier to say whether the heater element is broken or not. I'd expect to see about 2 - 4 Ohm (assuming around 30-50 W heater power).  

Regardless - your heater worked before they replaced the screen. Now it doesn't.

[Saxacat]

Contacted Autoglass today, got to wait for their warranty department to get back to me.

[Rosgoe]

9 hours ago, Saxacat said:

Checked the fuse all good. Since I saw a guy with a 19 plate RAV HEV in the supermarket car park I asked him to check, he was kind enough to do so; took a while but it did get warm (external temp 11C)

 

I got a reply from Toyota technical services who tell me it will only operate below 5C !!!

 

So totally confused now.

I must admit that it does make sense for it not to operate above 5 degrees C but if you checked another rav and it worked above 5 degrees C that’s blown that theory out the water! As aps said if you can get to the contacts with a multimeter  but also check for voltage.

[Saxacat]

Still not heard back from AutoGlass, regarding the heater, but now discovered some damage to the paintwork which I believe was done by them. It did strike me that the pre-inspection and post-inspection videos, were dramatically different. The pre-inspection was slow calm and in focus; the post one was quick jerky movements and not very well focussed. I suspect the reason for the poor post-inspection video was to hide the damage.

The still from the post inspection is not very clear, but there definitely seems to be a smudge evident where the damage is.

[Terry10]

Checked my screen yesterday at a minimum of 17 c and it got warm

Terry

[Shootgun]

On 10/4/2022 at 11:09 AM, Saxacat said:

Still not heard back from AutoGlass, regarding the heater, but now discovered some damage to the paintwork which I believe was done by them. It did strike me that the pre-inspection and post-inspection videos, were dramatically different. The pre-inspection was slow calm and in focus; the post one was quick jerky movements and not very well focussed. I suspect the reason for the poor post-inspection video was to hide the damage.

The still from the post inspection is not very clear, but there definitely seems to be a smudge evident where the damage is.

Oh boy...

[Saxacat]

So, a drive down to Autoglass in Doncaster yesterday (didn't fancy using the original one in Gateshead). Windscreen removed, found a broken connection and did a solder repair, then refitted the windscreen. The scuff mark on the paintwork has also been repaired. wiper de-frost function checked and all good.

Will wait for a few days to ensure there's no leaks before getting in touch with Autoglass for some recompense towards petrol and time for them to correct their poor work; won't be holding my breath though.

 

 

[JARC1]

8 minutes ago, Saxacat said:

So, a drive down to Autoglass in Doncaster yesterday (didn't fancy using the original one in Gateshead). Windscreen removed, found a broken connection and did a solder repair, then refitted the windscreen. The scuff mark on the paintwork has also been repaired. Wiper de-frost function checked and all good.

Will wait for a few days to ensure there's no leaks before getting in touch with Autoglass for some recompense towards petrol and time for them to correct their poor work; won't be holding my breath though.

 

 

Hope you get a fair and decent reaction to your claim for compensation with Autoglass.

Best Wishes and Regards, John

[ernieb]

Glad you finally got it sorted although a real pain in the proverbial. Agree they should definitely make some sort of gesture towards your time and out of pocket expenses.

[NASY]

Just shows the variance in standards across their organisation, which I think you should flag up as a favour to them so they can go fix it. They should be grateful. Pleased it is sorted.