Heated Front Screen

How quickly should the windscreen demist (just a light fog of condensation, not thick ice!) using only the screen heater?
Is there a method for testing them? are there common problems?

if its just a light fog, mine seems to clear in about 2 minutes. this is using the 'prog' button on the heater controls which also diverts full air blast to the screen.

Works within 2 to 3 minutes with heated screen only. One of the car's best features IMHO.

If you need to test the screen heater one of those stick on thermometers for fish tanks does the job great
There are two heating elements - left/right sides so test both halves of the screen

v8kenny said:

If you need to test the screen heater one of those stick on thermometers for fish tanks does the job great
There are two heating elements - left/right sides so test both halves of the screen

Click to expand...

sorry to hijack this thread, where is the joint where the two half's meet! mine works on the passenger side but not drivers (typical) but the point where it stops in about 6 inches drivers side of rear view mirror! not in the middle! im guessing it should be the middle and the screen is buggered but not sure?
knowing my luck il have the screen changed and it still wont work as the wirring is defective but if the joint is dead centre the drivers side must be getting power to work a little, im not sure?

I'm not convinced that there are two parts to the heated windscreen element, as there is no visible gap in the element at the center of the screen.

However, if this is the case, then it is hard to understand how only part of it would work????

I stand to be corrected.

I had this problem on me transit. aparantly the only way to fix it is to replace the screen....check your insurance for glass cover

Both halves of the screen have separate fuses so that's the first place to look - could the partial clearing of the r/h side be down to heat transfer from the working half ?
As mentioned, best cure is for he screen to have an accident if you have windscreen cover

v8kenny said:

Both halves of the screen have separate fuses so that's the first place to look - could the partial clearing of the r/h side be down to heat transfer from the working half ?
As mentioned, best cure is for he screen to have an accident if you have windscreen cover

Click to expand...

i got screen cover so its not a problem, where are the fuses for this?
lazy or what! i could look for myself realy!

Nos 30 & 32 in the fuse box under the bonnet (30 amp)

If you suspect the elements are shot, why not get it replaced under your insurance cover for the £50 excess (No loss of no claims) if a stone has badly damaged it. Windscreen companies will not repair the crack and offer a guarantee because it may affect the operation of the heated elements. Better than paying out £200+ out of your own pocket simply because the screen doesn't demist properly

Must add that a hammer jumped up from the road and cracked mine a couple of years ago and I had to get it replaced.

The heating elements that run up and down the screen vertically are in parallel and connected to the two strips that run horizontally at the top and bottom of the screen - therefore if one wire breaks the others will keep on working. This is more obvious on the rear screen, if one horizontal wire is broken that 2 inches of the screen will not demist but the others work okay.

On my car most of the passengers side is broken but luckily the drivers side is all working. Only option is to hope for a catastrophic bird strike on the windscreen one day!

i have actually had a screen replaced on insurance that wasnt "broken" the guy who came out mentionerd that its looked ok i asked him if he would prefure to remove it in one piece or hoover it out? it was changed!

i have a £60 excess for screen replacement, and no it dont affect the no claims