[Electrics] heated rear window problems

[dave9_3]

With the recent frosty mornings, I've noticed that the rear heated screen appears to not be clearing. The tell tale light on the switch illuminates, the wing mirrors which I believe are on the same circuit work normally. Ive checked fuse no 12 (30A) in the fuse box under the bonnet and its not blown.

Is there anything else to check before I book it in at the dealer?

[DeanFYoung]

Does it feel warm? You can check he circuit is on, as the heated windows come on with this switch as well (and those definitely will feel warmer).

Noticed this on mine the other day. Or rather its not heating the middle, but only the outer (just). I did clean the inside of the window the other week, so I hope I havent damaged anything....

[JoeyF]

Originally Posted by dave9_3

With the recent frosty mornings, I've noticed that the rear heated screen appears to not be clearing. The tell tale light on the switch illuminates, the wing mirrors which I believe are on the same circuit work normally. Ive checked fuse no 12 (30A) in the fuse box under the bonnet and its not blown.

Is there anything else to check before I book it in at the dealer?

Hi Dave 9_3,

If you are comparing the heated rear window to other cars you have had then that might be the problem. For some reaon the rear window heater on the Civic is rubbish especially when clearing frost, its very slow and does not clear as well as the other cars I have owned.

Also the top 4 or 5 lines are for the ariel for the radio so will not clear at all.

Joe

[dave9_3]

Joe, It was clearing just fine up until recently, hence my post.
Ive not noticed it being any slower to clear than my Audi. With heavy frost, I would expect to see some visible signs of defrosting within a few minutes

[666]

Originally Posted by JoeyF

Hi Dave 9_3,

If you are comparing the heated rear window to other cars you have had then that might be the problem. For some reaon the rear window heater on the Civic is rubbish especially when clearing frost, its very slow and does not clear as well as the other cars I have owned.

Also the top 4 or 5 lines are for the ariel for the radio so will not clear at all.

Joe

Joey, glad you posted that i thought the top 4 or 5 lines on my HRW were faulty, was going to go to my dealer, i wont make a fool of meself now!

[civicsport56]

Originally Posted by dave9_3

With the recent frosty mornings, I've noticed that the rear heated screen appears to not be clearing. The tell tale light on the switch illuminates, the wing mirrors which I believe are on the same circuit work normally. Ive checked fuse no 12 (30A) in the fuse box under the bonnet and its not blown.

Is there anything else to check before I book it in at the dealer?

My rear screen stays on permenently, its taken the dealer 4 months to find a fault and they say its a fault in the control module in the climate control system.Its going in on sat to be fixed you might want to check with the dealer in case yours is a similar fault.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by civicsport56

My rear screen stays on permenently, its taken the dealer 4 months to find a fault and they say its a fault in the control module in the climate control system.Its going in on sat to be fixed you might want to check with the dealer in case yours is a similar fault.

how could you tell it stayed on, just out of interest?

(though obviously glad you're getting it sorted )

[civicsport56]

Hi mate, just stick your hand on the back screen outside and it will feel warm. Found out mine was on because I did'nt have to press the button to demist the window.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by civicsport56

Hi mate, just stick your hand on the back screen outside and it will feel warm. Found out mine was on because I did'nt have to press the button to demist the window.

this is what is worrying me slightly (on your behalf )

It is a feature of the Civ that at outside temperatures below (we think) 10C, when you start the car, it automatically turns on the heated rear window - without the button lighting up.

If you (manually) turn on the heated rear window (hrw from here, too much typing!), then it stays turned on for ages - about 30mins from experience (unless you manually turn it off, obviously!)

what I haven't tried, and I don't think anyone else has mentioned, is working out how long the hrw stays on for if the Civic has turned it on automatically.


which is where my concern for you sets in.

the 'auto hrw' is a Honda "surprise and delight" feature - something which is not documented anywhere, so the owner is "surprised and delighted" when the rear screen starts to clear itself without the driver needing to do anything.
Unfortunately, it would appear that Honda either forgot to mention this to the dlrs, or the dlrs simply forgot about it...

I'm not saying for certain that your particular dlr is ignorant of the feature - but if they are, they might be ripping your car apart to fit the new control module when there is in fact no need to do so...

And I'm sure there is every chance that after doing so, they will put it all back together perfectly - but I don't want your next thread to be "dlr fixed my hrw, but now have squeaks and creaks "


hope that makes some sort of sense!

[DeanFYoung]

Learn something new everyday! I am surprised and delighted by it aswell!!

So basically we could be saying that the hrw is on pretty much all of the time during the winter months whether we press the button or not.

Have to do some tests later!

[HappyMan]

I have to say that I have often started off driving and have forgotten to turn on the HRW and watched as the rear window has cleared - I thought It was just not that cold

I too, am, surprised and delighted.

[woking_viking]

Could this be the reason my radio has such poor reception when it si cold outside???

I am going to pull the fuse and check it later

[Kremmen]

I was not aware either.

Mine sits in the garage overnight so I never have any frost to deal with. Also never noticed any telltale bands across the back window that you normally get when you turn them on.

[FWH]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

It is a feature of the Civ that at outside temperatures below (we think) 10C, when you start the car, it automatically turns on the heated rear window - without the button lighting up.

I am not too sure mine does this.
Been trying to test it.
Could it be 06 only?

[Dimplyred]

I'm sure mine doesn't do this either.

[TTDegs]

could be I guess FWH - as Honda never said it was there in the first place, I guess they wouldn't shout about it if they took it away...

should be easier for you to test it on yours than for us on ours now that the UK weather is warming back up a bit though!

[civicfan]

Originally Posted by FWH

I am not too sure mine does this.
Been trying to test it.
Could it be 06 only?

POssible - mine's a 06 and definitely does

[HappyMan]

well it is snowing here so I will let you know what happens. But I thought it worked on mine, but again I am not so confident.

[Kremmen]

It was -1°C here this morning.

I drove the 20 miles to the office with CC on Auto.

My rear screen does not switch on automatically as it was cold (inside and out) when I got to the office.

Must be specific to a particular range ?

That may explain why in the winter with headlights, heater, rear screen, some are having battery problems ?

[TTDegs]

cheers Kremmen - very peculiar...

Mine's and EX too (though with the right engine ), so it's probably not that - guess it could be an age thing, as mine if MY '06 and yours is MY '07...


might start up a quick poll