Rear defroster not working all the way to top of the glass? Problem or normal? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

slov22 · 07-30-2008, 06:48 PM

Hey all,

I am confused at a possible issue I have noticed with my new Corolla. It has been foggy out the past 2 mornings and I have had a lot of haze on my back window, so I kick the rear defrogger on and let it run for a while. The top ~4 inches of the rear window does NOT defrost. I am unsure if the elements are in the glass there just for looks to match the rest of the windshield or if they are supposed to be functional. My concern is that there is a faulty connector or the element is defective in the glass itself.

Can someone please try theirs and see if it defrosts at the top? I tried to search also but had no results.

Thanks,
Seth

LeanBurn · 07-30-2008, 07:28 PM

From what the salesman said the top portion you mentioned is the integrated radio antenna. He could be wrong, as he didn't even know that all corollas come with auto headlights...in Canada anyhow.

The roofmount fin was for SAT-radio, at least that is what he said.

eddie1687 · 07-30-2008, 07:32 PM

I have a sharkfin antenna on mine, so I don't think thats it, and I think mine defrosted all the way, but im not sure

gizzer777 · 07-30-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeanBurn

From what the salesman said the top portion you mentioned is the integrated radio antenna. He could be wrong, as he didn't even know that all corollas come with auto headlights...in Canada anyhow.

The roofmount fin was for SAT-radio, at least that is what he said.

The shark fin IS the SAT antenna on every auto I have owned or seen. The defroster I am not sure about since it is 95 deg here and I have yet to try mine. TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT AND COMPLAIN TO THEM...WARRANTY! Sounds like it could be a safety hazzard though

slov22 · 07-30-2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gizzer777

The shark fin IS the SAT antenna on every auto I have owned or seen. The defroster I am not sure about since it is 95 deg here and I have yet to try mine. TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT AND COMPLAIN TO THEM...WARRANTY! Sounds like it could be a safety hazzard though

Yeah, I will if it is a problem but I don't know if it is or not though. Plus, if they change the back windshield I am afraid it won't look the same/fit the same/leak/rattle etc. then I'll be pissed.

slov22 · 07-30-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddie1687

I have a sharkfin antenna on mine, so I don't think thats it, and I think mine defrosted all the way, but im not sure

Can you confirm this for me? This is really important to me as I've only had the car about 3 weeks. Thanks.

rolla-XRS · 07-30-2008, 09:48 PM

Most cars don't defrost the entire rear window. Gen 9 rolla was like that too where the top 4" there were no lines and thus no defrost. That space is unusable anyways - unless you're looking for UFO's in the rear window.

That said, the lines in the top of the window are (I believe) for the radio. I believe it's in-glass. U might wanna call Toyota Customer service and ask the question before dropping your car at the dealership and blowing a whole day just to diagnose a feature.

wth · 07-31-2008, 09:41 AM

If you look closely, you'll see the top 20% of the grid is for the am-fm antenna, as the grid wires are different from the bottom 80%. And the left side of the upper antenna grid are different than the right upper side also. In answer to your question, the top 4" of the grid are not part of the rear defrost.

joeylgarcia · 07-31-2008, 09:53 AM

i got my 09 corolla S on the first week of May 2008. since then it has been raining here in vancouver from time to time and i had to use the rear window defroster especially at night. i would turn on the defroster and the rear window would clear up all the way in no time. the defroster worked all the way up and down left to right.

go see your dealer. IMO that problem of yours is not normal for new cars like the 09 corolla.

Momaru · 07-31-2008, 10:40 AM

On the Canadian website and brochure (sorry, didn't loook at the USA one yet) it does say, in the features, that there is a "Glass Imprinted Antenna". The antenna to my knowledge is not in the front windshield. Majority of cars that I have seen, with an antenna in the glass, the antenna is clearly visible by just looking, so I would assume that one set of the lines on the rear window is the antenna.

Jeff Lange · 07-31-2008, 01:25 PM

Top wires on the glass are for the radio, the sharkfin antenna on the roof is for satellite radio (yes, even if you don't have sat radio).

No, it won't defrost all the way to the top.

Yes, it's normal.

Jeff