Hey guys,
2013 - any advice on trouble shooting my windshield wiper heaters? They don't seem to work.
Thanks
2013 - any advice on trouble shooting my windshield wiper heaters? They don't seem to work.
Thanks
trouble shooting heated wipers
- Thread starter cederholm
- Start date
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Just in case of confusion... -They only heat the glass where the wipers rest at the bottom...so they can be freed if frozen to the windshield.
- Thread starter
- #4
Yes, thanks guys. They worked when the car was new, but not now. Any idea what fuse runs them?
Mine weren't working when I bought my 2013 used. The dealer ended up having to replace the entire head unit. Fortunately, that was under warranty.
Mine aren't working either so I spent some time troubleshooting the de-icer system. Assuming the fuse listed above isn't blown and you know your way around a multi-meter I would start by pulling the de-icer relay. If you look at the relay you see a set of small contacts and a set of larger contacts. Measure the DC voltage across the connectors that the small contacts on the relay plug in to. You should see ~13v when the de-icers are turned on and ~0v when the de-icers are turned off. If that is working then you can at least rule out the head unit and the air conditioning amplifier which are the two parts you don't want to have to replace. If you are seeing voltage at the relay then the problem is either the relay, the cable that provides power to the windshield heating elements or the windshield itself. You can swap out the relay with the security horn (I believe it was called that) relay to validate if the de-icer relay is faulty.
The heating element is at the bottom of the windshield and extends up the driver side A pillar side. Their function isn't just to prevent the windshield wipers from sticking but to prevent the windshield wipers from getting hung up on accumulating snow at the bottom of the windshield or driver side edge while driving in heavy snow fall.
- Thread starter
- #9
useful info guys, thanks!!!
IIRC, they first replaced the A/C amplifier on my Landcruiser. That didn't solve the problem, so they then ordered a new head unit.
This is my first winter with my 200 and since we've gotten a good snow in the past week, I noticed my wiper de-icer doesn't work. I checked the fuse (which is in a different location than Markuson - see attached), but that was good. I had my windshield replaced in Sept. and thought that maybe the installers forgot to plug it in. Took it by their shop and they pulled of the cowling and everything looked good. We turned the de-icer on and started feeling around the bottom of the glass under the wipers and there was no heat, except it was very hot to the touch in the small center portion of the glass where the wires come in. So, the installer thinks it's a defective glass (Pilkington) and will replace it under warranty. I'm hoping that's the problem. Does that sound right or might I have a bigger issue?
Also, one thing that I found strange was in addition to the two wires coming out of the glass connecting via plug (to power and ground) as shown in the GSIC, there were three extra wires which aren't shown on GSIC. They were all different colors and heat shrinked together, but didn't seem like they were crimped or connected (just capped off). Any idea what those are for? The owner said the previous models only had two wires. I should have take a picture, but didn't think about it.
Also, one thing that I found strange was in addition to the two wires coming out of the glass connecting via plug (to power and ground) as shown in the GSIC, there were three extra wires which aren't shown on GSIC. They were all different colors and heat shrinked together, but didn't seem like they were crimped or connected (just capped off). Any idea what those are for? The owner said the previous models only had two wires. I should have take a picture, but didn't think about it.
Sounds like he's on the right track. If the glass is getting hot even if it's in one little spot then it obviously has power. The fact it's only getting hot in one spot would seem to indicate that the element is somehow shorted inside the glass.
I need to check my windshield as well but I wasn't sure where the plug was. All I have to do is pull the cowling and the plug is right there?
I need to check my windshield as well but I wasn't sure where the plug was. All I have to do is pull the cowling and the plug is right there?
The long black plastic piece running under the windshield. You have remove both wipers (each held down by one bolt) and then lift the hood and the cowling is held down on the ends. It has to be pried loose on either end and then it pulls out.
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I just removed my cowling and found my de-icer problem. The wires are broken right at the glass edge. There isn't enough wire sticking out to reconnect to so it looks like I need a new windshield if I want my de-icer. It appears the reason the wires broke was due to the plug not being connected to it's strain relief clip. This caused the plug and the wiring harness going to the windshield to be able to bounce around eventually causing the wires to snap off.
Anyone have any reason why I should avoid safelite? They will replace the windshield for $358.
Anyone have any reason why I should avoid safelite? They will replace the windshield for $358.
Man, that stinks that you don't have enough to solder or crimp back together. Is that the original glass? If not, it was probably not installed correctly when replaced.
My local Toyota dealer actually outsources to Safelite, so I would assume they're ok.
I had a horrible experience with safelite. Had me waiting 3 hrs after apt time only to tell me (after I called several times) that they forgot to put the glass in their truck for my apt. During installation He broke both moldings that are on the top corners of glass on the roof and glued it without telling me. And for a real kick in the a$$ he forgot to tightened down my windshield wipers, which was awesome when it started to rain, Horrible experience. Could of been an isolated incident because I've used them in the passed and they were fine but my lord this one was a beaut. My dealer uses champion glass and they were good.
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
Dude! Yea safelite is terrible. I just sold my brothers Tacoma and we put new glass in for the buyer, the first windshield, the guy sprayed the adhesive right next the garage door, so I had to repaint the garage.
Then that glass got a chip, so got another glass, guy put it in fine, but the glass had a huge cut across the center, then had to wait 2 days before it could be pealed off, got safelite to put in another but the girl put so much extra adhesive that it covered the a pillar, thank god it didn't damage the paint, and it still needs to get another glass, because she set it in too far out.
I've never used safelite, but everyone I know has had issues also.