Windshield wiper de-icer?

[bnekic]

Ok so I called Butler Toyota in Indianapolis, IN and all of their 2011 SR5's with the Premium Package (PT) and Convenience Package (CP) have the de-icer. Another thing to mention none of their SR5's have 3rd row or cargo tray. My 4Runner is the same configuration so I'll let you guys know if it has de-icer once it arrives.

 

[bnekic]

I just bought a SR5 4x4 last weekend in Madison, WI and it comes with a windshield wiper deicer.

Does your SR5 have the Premium and Convenience Package without 3rd row or cargo tray?

 

[tjstevens5]

Does your SR5 have the Premium and Convenience Package without 3rd row or cargo tray?

My SR5 has the Premium and Convenience Packages. It does not have a 3rd row or cargo tray. I was planning on posting pics this weekend with what I paid for it. Love my T4R!

 

[bnekic]

My 2010 TE has it. At the dealership other TE's had it, LE's had it and SR5's with the premium package had it. Base SR5's didn't have it.

I figured it out! I got into one of our base SR5's with cloth and turned on the rear window/outside mirror defroster

waited a couple minutes and felt the outside mirror, it was hot. So I felt under the front wipers and it was hot! The rear window/outside mirror defroster button also turns on the windshield wiper de-icer! The 2011 Sienna has this same configuration

If you have an SR5 without a de-icer grid (physical lines showing) and no button as seen in the 4Runner manual

don't worry you still have a de-icer, it's standard on all 4Runner's. There are little holes in the black area of your windshield right where your wipers begin and end. The 2011 Sienna also has no physical grid but multiple little holes in that area. Maybe this is a new way Toyota is doing their windshield de-icer.

 

[wvanstone]

Can anyone confirm this?

Not to step on anyone's toes but I dont think the last post is correct.

I was playing around with my 2011 SR5's rear window and side mirror heaters. I can feel the heat on the rear window and side mirror but I do not feel any heat on the front windshield.

So to take this one step further I borrowed a Fluke thermal imager (Ti25) from work and confirmed the rear window and side mirrors are heating up but I see no heat change on the front window. I do not have the de-icer button or the lines in the front window so I am fairly confident if you don't have the lines in the front windshield you dont have the de-icer.

With that said anyone know if this can be added on to a SR5 that does not currently have the de-icer option? I know i would need a new windshield, button and fuse but i was wondering if the wiring would be in place?

 

[wvanstone]

Ok after looking into this it looks like my sr5 does not have the wiring in place to add this feature. The fuse and relay box location in the engine looks like it's missing the contacts/connectors. So even if I did add a fuse and relay into those locations I don't think there is any wiring behind there to make it work. As always if anyone can confirm or deny my findings please let me know.

 

[bradtopp]

Has anyone confirmed or denied this claim? I guess I'll go out and try it tomorrow morning.

I figured it out! I got into one of our base SR5's with cloth and turned on the rear window/outside mirror defroster

waited a couple minutes and felt the outside mirror, it was hot. So I felt under the front wipers and it was hot! The rear window/outside mirror defroster button also turns on the windshield wiper de-icer! The 2011 Sienna has this same configuration

If you have an SR5 without a de-icer grid (physical lines showing) and no button as seen in the 4Runner manual

don't worry you still have a de-icer, it's standard on all 4Runner's. There are little holes in the black area of your windshield right where your wipers begin and end. The 2011 Sienna also has no physical grid but multiple little holes in that area. Maybe this is a new way Toyota is doing their windshield de-icer.

 

[PGRunner]

I just took a look at a few 4R's on the Carmax.com website and they all seemed to have the windshield de-icer feature. Personally, I prefer NOT to have it just in case I need to ever replace my windhield.

 

[bradtopp]

I pay the same $50 to replace my windshield whether it has the wiper de-icer or not. Makes no difference in my case. I can see your point if your deductible is higher.

I just took a look at a few 4R's on the Carmax.com website and they all seemed to have the windshield de-icer feature. Personally, I prefer NOT to have it just in case I need to ever replace my windhield.

 

[jdtyper3196]

I have the de-icer on my Ltd. Haven't tried it yet. 4Runner was bought in NY and didn't have the de- icer listed on the sticker. Hope it doesn't have issues like the one on the Chevy Silverados where they could potentially burn up.

 

[Antman]

i figured it out! I got into one of our base sr5's with cloth and turned on the rear window/outside mirror defroster

waited a couple minutes and felt the outside mirror, it was hot. So i felt under the front wipers and it was hot! The rear window/outside mirror defroster button also turns on the windshield wiper de-icer! The 2011 sienna has this same configuration

if you have an sr5 without a de-icer grid (physical lines showing) and no button as seen in the 4runner manual

don't worry you still have a de-icer, it's standard on all 4runner's. There are little holes in the black area of your windshield right where your wipers begin and end. The 2011 sienna also has no physical grid but multiple little holes in that area. Maybe this is a new way toyota is doing their windshield de-icer.

wrong!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr.T]

I have the de-icer on my Ltd. Haven't tried it yet. 4Runner was bought in NY and didn't have the de- icer listed on the sticker. Hope it doesn't have issues like the one on the Chevy Silverados where they could potentially burn up.

We just had a wicked snow storm in NS and I could have used the wiper de-icer. I couldn't seem to get the button in the post above to light up. It looks like it should. Any tricks, or should I bring it in?

 

[Intruder]

We just had a wicked snow storm in NS and I could have used the wiper de-icer. I couldn't seem to get the button in the post above to light up. It looks like it should. Any tricks, or should I bring it in?

I used mine for the first time this morning after getting some freezing rain overnight in Calgary. The button does light up and the wipers were unstuck from the windshield in no time. If you aren't experiencing the same then you should probably have it looked at.