Greetings:

Lately I have a couple of snow storm in NJ and get a chance to test my 04 4Runner Sport edition during the snow. I am surprise that the rear defogger is so inefficient. With the rear defogger button on and with the ventilation on defogger position, the snow keeps sticking into the rear window and doesn't completely melt away in comparison to my 99 Camry. Is this normal? If so, Toyota must defenitely build a more efficient rear defogger. I would prefer the old style defogger button where the driver turns it off manually.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

The rear defogger sucks for snow. We've discussed it here before. Forget the defogger with snow. It's useless. We all have the same problem. Many have complained here on the forum.

 

Takes a while to warm up but it eventually melts the stuff

 

correct me if i am wrong but isn't the job of the rear defogger to DEFOG? not to melt snow and ice?

 

my '01 defogger annoys the heck out of me.

it doesnt defog for like 15 minutes. then when it just starts to work, it turns off automatically.

the hell is that? what makes it think it should turn off??

 

It is on a timer.

 

well, i figured that.. but why?

its not like it pulls a lot of power or is a nuisance to the overall performance of the car.

 

i am guessing it is a safety measure...hmmmm. good question. I will agree with you, it is annoying sometimes!

 

If the heating element was not on a timer, the heat buildup would damage the element in the glass.
If the defroster were to be accidentally turned on on a hot day, it would be totally fried if it were not on a timer.
I think all rear defrosters have some type of auto shutoff.

 

stupid logical reasoning... :pat:

 

Thank you all for your input.

Have a happy and healthy hollidays everyone.

 

I would have to disagree with you on that. Acording to my manual, they refer that 'useless' thing on the rear glass as a defroster. This is the first vehicle I have owned that didn't have the ability to melt even a light coating of snow in 20 mins time. I have two older Honda Accords and either one will melt a light coating of snow or ice within 10-15 min. And their rear glass is not anywhere near as vertical as the 4Runners is. Even the rear defroster on my old S10 worked twice as good as this one. This thing can barely defog by it self. I like this ride, but this rear defog/defrost issue is a big miss for Toyota, IMHO.

 

i agree, but in the long run, its best to have this to complain about than the car not starting, for example (::cough chevy / ford cough::)

 

The rear defroster does suck and I have had many cars in the past that worked alot better. I even had a 97 heep wranglar with a hard top and that thing worked great. I dont have many complaints about my new runner since the dunlops are gone but this is one.