Testing Heated screen elements

ardy89

ardy89

ardy89

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6 Dec 2005
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I'm going to look at a Ford Focus tommorow, I would like to test whether both the front and rear heated screen elements are working, obviously the current weather means its unlikely the cars windows will get misted up. Will they be hot to touch when they get going.

Can anyone think of a better testing method?
 
are you going for a test drive? if so

1: stick AC on max on the window
2: once nice and cold, switch AC off and turn heaters on (i would stop driving at this point).
3: windscreen should instantly mist up, rear less so. To help mist the whole car up put the heaters on with recirc too. Moist warm air + cold windows = mist :D (could also take the GF/Wife for some fun, that steams things up nicely)
4: stick on heated windscreen.
 
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or you could just fog up the window with your breath while it's on and see if it disappears along the elements
 
Both excellent replies, cheers guys.

I think I'll go with your idea initially mjt!

I am test driving it I'm currently coming up with a list of things to check, It's huge!

Cheers

Rob
 
Does on my mondeo. Not enough to fry an egg on or anything and if the screen's not really cold to start with you might need to keep it on for a while but it definitely gets warmer to the touch.

It wont tell you if all the elements are working, its quite common with the quick clear screens for some rows not to work
 
iaind said:
Does on my mondeo. Not enough to fry an egg on or anything and if the screen's not really cold to start with you might need to keep it on for a while but it definitely gets warmer to the touch.

It wont tell you if all the elements are working, its quite common with the quick clear screens for some rows not to work
Click to expand...

Not able to tell enough in my car to be honest.

Some rows or half of it in my windscreens case! :(
 
I only noticed after I got the car and wasnt sure which button was which - was trying to defrost the rear screen and ended up keeping on the wrong (front) one for a little while on a freezing morning, was fairly obvious when I touched it that it was the front that was on :)

Mine's not too bad, only about an inch wide strip on the passenger side doesnt work. Apparently theres a fix though, something to do with loose connections under the scuttle cover
 
iaind said:
I only noticed after I got the car and wasnt sure which button was which - was trying to defrost the rear screen and ended up keeping on the wrong (front) one for a little while on a freezing morning, was fairly obvious when I touched it that it was the front that was on :)

Mine's not too bad, only about an inch wide strip on the passenger side doesnt work. Apparently theres a fix though, something to do with loose connections under the scuttle cover
Click to expand...

Whole of the drivers side on mine doesnt work good fuse and everything, passenger side would have been much better, I think its due a crack before this winter.
 
Check for any actual damage along the contacts, you would be surprised how obvious a break in the contact can be if someone has closed the rear hatch and touched something in the back with the glass. I had one broken element in my Focus because of this.

They sometimes can be easily repaired however.
 
I'm fairly sure its under the plastic. Never had to do it myself but from what i've read its pretty common, especially if its a whole side that doesnt work
 
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