front defrost

bobkat21 · 12-09-2005, 04:40 AM

I am having trouble turning on my front defroster. I puch the button on the streering wheel and the light lights up but the defrost des not work. I tulk it to the dealer 3 times and now they are going to replace the button in the steering wheel. I was just wondering if anyone else is having this problem?

Bill Merchant · 12-09-2005, 05:12 AM

I've had no trouble at all. Now that it's colder, I'm actually turning it and the rear defogger on when necessary, and it takes very little time to clear. Sorry you had the problem. BTW, you can turn on "Recirc" for the front defrost, as well as the regular AC mode.

afternoonnap · 12-10-2005, 12:43 AM

Try pressing the Auto A/C button, and setting a desired temperature, before pressing the front defrost button. That will let the system control all aspects, whereas otherwise defrost will not override fan speed.

BTW, you can turn on front defrost on the Climate screen of the MFD as well as from the steering wheel button. It's at the bottom left.

DanMan32 · 12-14-2005, 01:20 PM

If the light turned on, nothing is wrong with the steering wheel button.

Are we talking about front defrost, or rear defrost? The former will have a curved top edge, the latter will be almost rectangle.

paprius4030 · 12-14-2005, 08:13 PM

Yeah, Dan is on to something LOL. I don't think anything lights up when you turn on the front defroster. Are you sure your hitting the right button?

jeromep · 12-14-2005, 08:24 PM

Put the system into full auto by pressing the auto a/c button on the wheel until the AUTO A/C light on the dash is on.
Set temp to a temp you want to be at, something comfortable, but not too cold.
Press the front defrost button on the wheel. That is the one with the curved shape on it, not the oblong shape. The oblong shape is rear/mirror defrost.
If having the system in full auto and then pressing the correct defrost button doesn't work, then you have a problem, however if the defrost light is iluminating on the dash then the button isn't the problem. Why would the dash light come on if there were a problem with the switch.

Sure you might have a problem, but I'd start with the suggestions of this group before having the dealer do surgery. I would strongly advise you to run your climate control system in auto all year long and let the car take care of itself. Set it and forget it.

hdrygas · 12-14-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeromep@Dec 14 2005, 05:24 PM
Put the system into full auto by pressing the auto a/c button on the wheel until the AUTO A/C light on the dash is on.

Set temp to a temp you want to be at, something comfortable, but not too cold.

Press the front defrost button on the wheel. That is the one with the curved shape on it, not the oblong shape. The oblong shape is rear/mirror defrost.

If having the system in full auto and then pressing the correct defrost button doesn't work, then you have a problem, however if the defrost light is iluminating on the dash then the button isn't the problem. Why would the dash light come on if there were a problem with the switch.

Sure you might have a problem, but I'd start with the suggestions of this group before having the dealer do surgery. I would strongly advise you to run your climate control system in auto all year long and let the car take care of itself. Set it and forget it.

[snapback]173716[/snapback]

And then no crying when your M.P.G. goes down because the ICE is running all the time.

engunneer · 12-14-2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bobkat21@Dec 9 2005, 01:40 AM
I am having trouble turning on my front defroster. I puch the button on the streering wheel and the light lights up but the defrost des not work. I tulk it to the dealer 3 times and now they are going to replace the button in the steering wheel. I was just wondering if anyone else is having this problem?

[snapback]170663[/snapback]

If the light lights up, then the button isn't broken! Does the indicater also come on on the MFD in the climate screen? it says front with the curved window logo.

Also, you can set the temp even with the defroster on. The higher the temp, the harder the fan will blow.

Press Auto/AC on the steering wheel twice when in defrost to turn the climate control off.

When you say "Doesn't work" what exactly do you mean? No heat? No fan? are you set at "max cold"?

DanMan32 · 12-18-2005, 01:30 AM

Exactly, if you see a light in the dash, then obviously the steering wheel button (or MFD) has told the AC Amplifier (ECU) that you desired defrost, and the amplifier told the dash to turn on the light. Now that doesn't mean there isn't something wrong with the amplifier, or its ability to control the defrost, though it is unlikely there's something wrong with the front defroster if everything else works, since the front defrost uses the same fan, heat and AC that plain old heat and AC would use. However, the rear defroster has window resistive heating that is independent of the AC system itself.

Mojo40 · 12-18-2005, 02:15 AM

I keep my 05 in the garage. In the morning, I keep the climate control off for the first 5-10 minutes. No problem even at 28 degrees F. The ICE runs a bit at first, then shuts off to give me the pleasure of stealth mode until I leave the neighborhood. Later, after the engine runs a bit (to support higher speeds), I turn on climate control. I'm not sure if this helps MPG much, but I noted the engine runs a lot more if climate control (and especially defrost) is on. Truth be told, I'm just an engineer looking for any excuse to screw with all the fun controls and hack my Prius.

12-14-2005, 08:24 PM	#6
jeromep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 821 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Put the system into full auto by pressing the auto a/c button on the wheel until the AUTO A/C light on the dash is on. Set temp to a temp you want to be at, something comfortable, but not too cold. Press the front defrost button on the wheel. That is the one with the curved shape on it, not the oblong shape. The oblong shape is rear/mirror defrost. If having the system in full auto and then pressing the correct defrost button doesn't work, then you have a problem, however if the defrost light is iluminating on the dash then the button isn't the problem. Why would the dash light come on if there were a problem with the switch. Sure you might have a problem, but I'd start with the suggestions of this group before having the dealer do surgery. I would strongly advise you to run your climate control system in auto all year long and let the car take care of itself. Set it and forget it. __________________ It has been said: Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2. 2005 Prius, Millenium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)

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12-09-2005, 04:40 AM	#1
bobkat21 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Elwood IL Posts: 99 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I am having trouble turning on my front defroster. I puch the button on the streering wheel and the light lights up but the defrost des not work. I tulk it to the dealer 3 times and now they are going to replace the button in the steering wheel. I was just wondering if anyone else is having this problem?

12-09-2005, 05:12 AM	#2
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 4,100 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 18 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 60	I've had no trouble at all. Now that it's colder, I'm actually turning it and the rear defogger on when necessary, and it takes very little time to clear. Sorry you had the problem. BTW, you can turn on "Recirc" for the front defrost, as well as the regular AC mode.

12-10-2005, 12:43 AM	#3
afternoonnap Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 33 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Try pressing the Auto A/C button, and setting a desired temperature, before pressing the front defrost button. That will let the system control all aspects, whereas otherwise defrost will not override fan speed. BTW, you can turn on front defrost on the Climate screen of the MFD as well as from the steering wheel button. It's at the bottom left.

12-14-2005, 01:20 PM	#4
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If the light turned on, nothing is wrong with the steering wheel button. Are we talking about front defrost, or rear defrost? The former will have a curved top edge, the latter will be almost rectangle.

12-14-2005, 08:13 PM	#5
paprius4030 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pocono's, Pa. Posts: 1,297 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 1	Yeah, Dan is on to something LOL. I don't think anything lights up when you turn on the front defroster. Are you sure your hitting the right button?

12-18-2005, 01:30 AM	#9
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Exactly, if you see a light in the dash, then obviously the steering wheel button (or MFD) has told the AC Amplifier (ECU) that you desired defrost, and the amplifier told the dash to turn on the light. Now that doesn't mean there isn't something wrong with the amplifier, or its ability to control the defrost, though it is unlikely there's something wrong with the front defroster if everything else works, since the front defrost uses the same fan, heat and AC that plain old heat and AC would use. However, the rear defroster has window resistive heating that is independent of the AC system itself.

12-18-2005, 02:15 AM	#10
Mojo40 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Issaquah, Washington Posts: 61 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I keep my 05 in the garage. In the morning, I keep the climate control off for the first 5-10 minutes. No problem even at 28 degrees F. The ICE runs a bit at first, then shuts off to give me the pleasure of stealth mode until I leave the neighborhood. Later, after the engine runs a bit (to support higher speeds), I turn on climate control. I'm not sure if this helps MPG much, but I noted the engine runs a lot more if climate control (and especially defrost) is on. Truth be told, I'm just an engineer looking for any excuse to screw with all the fun controls and hack my Prius.