Hello Guys!
I have still difficulties to understand clearly how works the windshield defrost.
It seems that on my GLS there is an electric defrost under the wiper.
As far as I understood the user manuel (poorly translated in french) I need to do:
1) push the button for windshield only
2) fan at max speed
3) heat at max
4) et voilą

Could you please confirm that this is the correct procedure?
Thanks a lot
Stef

 

Not exactly. You are actually talking about two different things, not one. There is a (1) windshield defrost/defog and a (2) wiper defrost. The manual is not very clear on the wiper defroster and what it really does.

(1) The windshield defrost/defog is a setting on the HVAC controls (the red circles with a 6):



Selecting either of the 2 buttons turns on the windshield defrost/defog and it will blow air onto the inside of the windshield. The temperature of that air depends on the temp dial setting (back circle 1 above), but the A/C compressor is always turned on to de-humidify the air. The speed of the air depends on the fan speed dial setting (black circle 2 above).


(2) The electric wire at the base of the windshield is the wiper defroster and it turns on with a button on the left side of the dash (see area in red box):



This does not defrost the whole windshield, only the area under the wiper blades and the wiper blades themselves. There is no temp setting or air speed setting for this feature because it does not blow air. It works similar to the rear window defroster. Electricity heats the metal wire and defrosts the area near the wire. It goes off after a few minutes or can be manually turned off.


The 2 systems I described work independently of each other. Turning one on does not turn on the other. You can use either feature alone or together.

 

Hello Nova

Thanks for your comment «The manual is not very clear on the wiper defroster and what it really does.» I though I was dumb...
Regarding the button for the front deicer is it possible that this is the button that enable the miror deicer?
Stef

 

No. If you look at the bottom of the middle column on page 4-65 (second page above) you will read:

So you need to turn on the rear window defroster (black circle 7 on page 4-66 above) to turn on the heated mirrors to defrost them.

 

Ok I will check this evening this button.

 

"Outside rearview mirror defroster (if equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with the outside rearview mirror defrosters, they will operate at the same time you turn on the rear window defroster."

Mine is an 09...without being in a situation necessitating to try it out by pushing the rear defrost button, is there away to tell if the mirrors are equipped?

 

If I remember correctly, heated side mirrors were standard in the 2009 and 2010 Touring (at least in the US).

 

Correct Nova. I have the 2010 GLS and the heated mirrors are indeed standard.