How effective is the heated front screen (HFS)?

Not been cold enough for frost here yet, but on a couple of instances where we have had the screen misting up before the engine has had a chance to warm through have switched the HFS on but not sure if it has done anything. Neither side really (and no "bands") seemed to clear at all.

Now this means, to me, it is either completely broken, or just not very effective.

Have done some rudimentary trouble shooting:

Relay clicks when switch is pressed, both screen elements have conductivity, relay has a permanent live feed etc etc.

Starting to believe that maybe it is just a little less effective than I was expecting (and not as good as the P38a version I had before.

Comments?

David

Mine clears (in vertical bands) a misted up screen within a minute or so (using the Prog button to get full screen ventilation plus front & rear heated screens) and it has been fast with frost & snow at low temperatures.

+1 Mine had a band about 4" wide right in the centre of the drivers FOV so they swapped the screen under warranty and it's now perfect and will melt ice reasonably quickly.

Demist is very quick especially when aided by the Max aircon button.

As above, the few times i have used mine it seems to clear a misted screen within a minute or two.

very effective for mist on the inside, ice and snow on the outside...

Hi - sorry to hijack the thread op but I have same concern with mine - it does clear but not that quick and it is vertical bands - is this normal or should it not be in bands?

Never have any mist as Air Con is always on Seriously, use the air con to remove condensation from the car, you won't get anything on the insides in the morning.

Had first frost on Thursday this week (only a light one) so got a chance to test my new screen that was fitted back in the summer. I had a couple of bands one dead centre the other in front of the driver but it cleared all the frost pdq with some help from the wipers .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Just remember - A/C only works above 4 degrees ext. temp.

Only one side on mine works. I'm told it may be a fuse. Are there two fuses then? 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded

Thrasher wrote:

Just remember - A/C only works above 4 degrees ext. temp.

@simon1233 .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Noddy,

From what I have found so far, there are not 2 fuses for the actual elements.

Actually, I don't think there are any actual fuses for the elements. There is a fuse (34) for the relay, and a fuse (53) for the ignition switch which is in the circuit, but the actual elements are protected by a single 80Amp fusible link.

If only half of your screen is working, it may be the element has gone, or the screen is unplugged on that side.

David

How effective is the heated front screen?

Answer, Very, when working.

Changed the relay last night, and this morning was delighted to find a bit of condensation and a tiny bit of frost on the screen which proceeded to clear almost instantly.

Funny thing was, the old relay seemed to check out - clicked when switched on and when I applied 12v across the two coil terminals, the switch terminals did go from O/C to closed.

Only thing I can think of is maybe the relay switch terminals were failing, high resistance under high current.

Thanks for all the input.

David

used mine for the first time this winter today
cleared it in under a minute and we had quite a thick frost.
beats getting the ice scraper out  FFRR TD6 HSE
Adriatic Blue with Parchment leather.

Just remember to not use your wiper blades until clear guys!

Next time there is ice on the screen rub your knuckles up and down the windscreen and see what ice will do to your skin, then imagine how quickly it wears out your wiper blades!
Not much better in the summer with insects!

Craig