PSA - No Separate Switch to Heat Side Mirrors

[Patent1]

To heat the side mirrors you must turn on the rear window defroster, as discussed on page 3-135 of the owner's manual under "Rear Window Defroster". No mention of this under the "Side View Mirrors" discussion beginning at page 3-28. A bit frustrating...

 

[NLJ]

To heat the side mirrors you must turn on the rear window defroster, as discussed on page 3-135 of the owner's manual under "Rear Window Defroster". No mention of this under the "Side View Mirrors" discussion beginning at page 3-28. A bit frustrating...

This is how it has been on the last 4 cars I have owned. Never had a separate switch for sideview mirrors!

 

[Patent1]

Guess I'm behind the times. My 2006 Acura TL had a separate switch to heat the side mirrors; I drove that car until I purchased my G70. Still think Genesis could have mentioned it in their Side Mirror discussion...

 

[EdP]

Guess I'm behind the times. My 2006 Acura TL had a separate switch to heat the side mirrors; I drove that car until I purchased my G70. Still think Genesis could have mentioned it in their Side Mirror discussion...

Never dawned on me that they should mention it. Every car I've owned with electric mirrors had them with the rear defroster. Yours is the first I heard different.

 

[PD705]

Guess I'm behind the times. My 2006 Acura TL had a separate switch to heat the side mirrors; I drove that car until I purchased my G70. Still think Genesis could have mentioned it in their Side Mirror discussion...

That's a weird Honda quirk - I've never seen another brand with separate mirror heat switches.

 

[NLJ]

That's a weird Honda quirk - I've never seen another brand with separate mirror heat switches.

My 2012 TL didn't have it.

 

[Antimatter]

My GTI had a switch for the side mirror heating, it was on the switch to change which mirror you were adjusting. Was nice to have.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

have to agree with the others, all the cars I have had with heated mirrors have had the switch as part of the rear defrosters

 

[Speeder]

1985 Toyota Cressida had a seperate switch.

Thanks for stimulating the memory

 

[RJL24]

To heat the side mirrors you must turn on the rear window defroster, as discussed on page 3-135 of the owner's manual under "Rear Window Defroster". No mention of this under the "Side View Mirrors" discussion beginning at page 3-28. A bit frustrating...

Thank you for this excellent post.

I'm sorry I didn't look this up last night cuz I drove all day in freezing rain with Frozen door mirrors. I agree about the manual being a bit unclear. Thank goodness for forums.

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[16UltV6Guy]

I really wish Hyundai/Genesis had put a separate switch for the side mirror heaters. There are many times I would like to use them, but I don't because the rear window defroster turns on, which I don't like using because I feel it adversely affects the rear window tint. No real evidence detailing that.....it's just a feeling I have based on how hot those defroster lines actually get.

 

[EdP]

I really wish Hyundai/Genesis had put a separate switch for the side mirror heaters. There are many times I would like to use them, but I don't because the rear window defroster turns on, which I don't like using because I feel it adversely affects the rear window tint. No real evidence detailing that.....it's just a feeling I have based on how hot those defroster lines actually get.

I found this:
5 essential things to know about window tint over defroster lines

Does window film affects rear defrosters?
Yes! In fact it will improve the defroster lines performance by allowing the heat generated by the lines to be distributed throughout the glass more evenly. Ceramic and metal films will produce better results than dyed films.

 

[Mcc]

I found this:
5 essential things to know about window tint over defroster lines

Does window film affects rear defrosters?
Yes! In fact it will improve the defroster lines performance by allowing the heat generated by the lines to be distributed throughout the glass more evenly. Ceramic and metal films will produce better results than dyed films.

So no need for a switch after all.

 

[EdP]

So no need for a switch after all.

Right. I understand concern but there should be none considering the benefits. I should have copied this too:
What are the benefits to tint windows with defroster lines?
Well, in addition to help generating heat evenly to the window, defrosters and window film team up to melt the snowman on your back window quickly. Window film is a must-have, especially here in Minnesota… If you live in a snowy state, get it for this reason!

 

[Mr. Incredible]

I really wish Hyundai/Genesis had put a separate switch for the side mirror heaters. There are many times I would like to use them, but I don't because the rear window defroster turns on, which I don't like using because I feel it adversely affects the rear window tint. No real evidence detailing that.....it's just a feeling I have based on how hot those defroster lines actually get.

35+ years driving 100+ vehicles all with window tint and electric line defrosters and cannot recall any issue with the tint because of the defroster.


I have seen tint bubble around the defroster lines, but that is typically the result of cheap tint or bad application, has never happened to me.

 

[Trap]

To heat the side mirrors you must turn on the rear window defroster, as discussed on page 3-135 of the owner's manual under "Rear Window Defroster". No mention of this under the "Side View Mirrors" discussion beginning at page 3-28. A bit frustrating...

Is the indicator for side mirror heat supposed to light up when it’s active?

 

[Speeder]

Is the indicator for side mirror heat supposed to light up when it’s active?

Doesn't on my 2019 G80.

 

[scottdk]

My '09 also uses the rear defrost button to turn on the side mirror defrost. My 2018 Outback is the same. Previous to my 2018 Outback I had a 2003 Outback L.L. Bean that actually had a separate button located on the driver door near the window switches that would only operate the defrost for the side mirrors. It also had a separate button on the dash to turn on the wiper area defrost lines on the bottom of the windshield to keep the wipers from icing up during freezing rain or snowstorms.

 

[G-40870]

To heat the side mirrors you must turn on the rear window defroster, as discussed on page 3-135 of the owner's manual under "Rear Window Defroster". No mention of this under the "Side View Mirrors" discussion beginning at page 3-28. A bit frustrating...

Actually I wanted to know if the indicator on the mirror itself is suppose to light up when active just as the blind spot indicator on the mirror itself lights up...not looking for a separate switch or a light on the switch.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

Actually I wanted to know if the indicator on the mirror itself is suppose to light up when active just as the blind spot indicator on the mirror itself lights up...not looking for a separate switch or a light on the switch.

No the indicator on the mirror does not light.. only the one on the button on the dash that activates both the mirror and rear window elements.