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Heated Windshield? Really?
So since the switches by my left knee are generally hidden from view by the steering wheel in the MDX Sport Hybrid, I just realized purely by accident that a switch was on with an amber light and I did not remember turning it on. In fact I never bothered to figure out what that particular switch was. So I looked it up and discovered it is a heated windshield switch! Really???? Apparently it turns on automatically but I never knew it. Is this switch in the Advance model of the RLX Sport Hybrid? 7 months with the MDX SH and found something new tonight! Awesome!
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Another OEM reason to be able to only buy a replacement shield through Acura. Is there a defrost on the climate control?
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Originally Posted by RLX-Sport Hybrid
(Post 16157870)
Is this switch in the Advance model of the RLX Sport Hybrid?
I don't remember when the item showed up in the Advance Pkg, but I remember being jealous. :-) |
So exactly what does it warm? The defroster blows warm/hot air on the bottom of the window, but what does the de-icer do? Sorry for the stupid question. I wish we had heated wiper blades.
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ok - now you have me looking at those buttons down there.
I assume the lower right button is the heated windshield? Didn't know I had that either Top right turns on/off road departure mitigation. there is a message displayed in dash when goes On or Off What about the other 2 buttons - no light and no message that I can see when I hit either button top right looks like it may turn off traction control, but I see no confirmation of off or on |
Originally Posted by RLX-Sport Hybrid
(Post 16158204)
So exactly what does it warm?
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Wow. Don't any of you guys read the manuals cover to cover when you get a new car? ;)
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Wait there is a manual? I must have missed that item when I was reading it 3 years ago. Oh well.
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The MDX Hybrid manual is very weak. That said, the buttons are probably in there. I'll look.
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OK - the other 2 buttons are Traction control (or Stability Assist) On/Off and Collision Mitigation On/Off
You have to hold the button until beep is heard and then message will appear |
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Originally Posted by getakey
(Post 16158469)
OK - the other 2 buttons are Traction control (or Stability Assist) On/Off and Collision Mitigation On/Off
You have to hold the button until beep is heard and then message will appear |
if you are doing donuts only turn Stability off; keep CMBS on :)
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Originally Posted by RLX-Sport Hybrid
(Post 16158204)
So exactly what does it warm? The defroster blows warm/hot air on the bottom of the window, but what does the de-icer do? Sorry for the stupid question. I wish we had heated wiper blades.
I was so surprised to see they added this for the 2017 model year on the MDX because it’s typically only reserved for very very expensive vehicles. See those thick lines in your window that heat up when you turn on the rear defroster? Your front windshield also has those lines but you have to look really closely and focus on the glass in good lighting to see them because they are so thin. I bought a 2009 Touareg and found out it had a heated windshield after the fact, I thought the glass was dirty for the first 2 weeks until the sun hit it at the right angle and I seen the individual lines. It’s an amazing feature and you can say goodbye to frost ridden windshields! Sidenote: While this feature is lovely, the cost of a replacement windshield can be painful (think $900-$1500 on some vehicles with it). |
Originally Posted by RDX10
(Post 16158501)
It’s an amazing feature and you can say goodbye to frost ridden windshields!
:-) Love the idea. But, of course, having a 2014 KC2, I don't have it. |
Jalopnik had an article talking about what you dont do with an ice covered wind shield...
in the comments, someone showed a picture of, I think, it was a suburu with the defroster lines at the base of the windshield to heat up the wipers! i thought that was cool! |
Originally Posted by George Knighton
(Post 16158055)
It's called a "front windshield de-icer" for 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid.
I don't remember when the item showed up in the Advance Pkg, but I remember being jealous. :-) |
^^
Not offered on the 2016-2017 RLX :( 2018 gets it though, but its integrated on the same button as the rear window - mirrors defrost button. |
Originally Posted by George Knighton
(Post 16158375)
I'm assuming that this is identical to what happens on the Canadian market cars; namely, it activates tiny filaments that heat up the glass.
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Originally Posted by Limelight
(Post 16159067)
. . . . . But I do have headlight washers - whatever little value that offers... My car is rarely dirty enough to benefit from that feature.
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Originally Posted by moose66
(Post 16159128)
Huge value to me. Would love to have had them on my car yesterday when I was out tooling around in the aftermath of the storm here in NC. My car has never been this filthy. I cleaned the headlights and taillights when I stopped to fill up. Drove home less than 5 miles away and it looks like I did nothing. Yuck! Really could use those washers!
For example, if a bird poops on my windshield and I engage the windshield washer, the headlight washers automatically activate and spray fluid all over the front and hood of my car. Very frustrating when you've just recently detailed your car and only want to clean the windshield. I know, problems of the spoiled... |
Originally Posted by George Knighton
(Post 16158777)
I agree with you that being able to move this option down scale to more reasonably priced vehicles is one of the more useful developments in options that we've seen the past couple of years.
:-) Love the idea. But, of course, having a 2014 KC2, I don't have it. Kia and Hyundai have been including heated windshield wiper elements in their cars since 2007 (but they only hat the lower edge of the windshield where the wipers rest. They do nothing for ice buildup on the windshield though so a heated windshield is amazing. I usually park in the garage but I remember a few times last winter where I had to park my MDX outside and the next morning the windshield was absolutely caked in a thick sheet of ice and I was running late...literally drove for 10 minutes half blind!
Originally Posted by justnspace
(Post 16158829)
Jalopnik had an article talking about what you dont do with an ice covered wind shield...
in the comments, someone showed a picture of, I think, it was a suburu with the defroster lines at the base of the windshield to heat up the wipers! i thought that was cool!
Originally Posted by Limelight
(Post 16159208)
They do come in handy the few times per year when it's a bad storm at night and the headlights get covered in salt. What I dislike however, is how they will automatically engage when you clean your windshield (there is also a button on the dash to activate the just headlight washers).
For example, if a bird poops on my windshield and I engage the windshield washer, the headlight washers automatically activate and spray fluid all over the front and hood of my car. Very frustrating when you've just recently detailed your car and only want to clean the windshield. I know, problems of the spoiled... |
Here's my take on headlight washers...I think that the reason you are using the headlight washers is because you have been driving on wet, dirty roads and the dirt is actively building up on the headlights. If that is the case, the fact that a bit of washer fluid has sprayed on the hood or bumper is moot because most of the car is covered in the same dirty muck as the headlights.
This has been my experience driving in melting conditions when the road gravel and sand mixes with the melting ice and snow and makes a mess over everything. The headlight washers are meant to be a stop gap measure to get you safely where you need to go and to get by until you do a proper car wash to rinse off the salt and dirt from your car. Regarding the electric windshield defroster, I think that is a great idea for short term use while the engine warms and makes the traditional windshield defroster more effective. I hope to be buying an MDX Sport Hybrid for my wife very soon and I look forward to trying it out. |
Wow, I didn't have a heated windshield in my 2014 RLX.
Sorry for the long absence, folks! Real life has been interesting. |
Curious.. what is the cost to replace a heated windshield? Do aftermarket options exist, for those who don't want to get hosed by dealership prices?
People who rely on their defrost setting to keep the inside of the car warm, generally develop big cracks in their windshields... a chip in the glass, plus hot heat on the inside and cold weather on the outside cause the glass to fracture. I wonder how a heated windshield stands up to that scenario... like, do you risk rock chips turning into cracks if you use it? |
Speaking of long absences - anyone hear from Tampa?
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I don't recall the last time we heard from Tampa now that I think about it. It has been a while. I hope he is ok.
On a less important topic, after the Blackbird sat in the cold for days, I went to start it and it was dead as a door nail. After a jump start and driving it for a while, all was fine, however this is not the first time for this experience and with a new battery I assumed that would be in the past. I guess not. Hey its 11 degrees! We are having a heat wave! |
It's been between -5 and +10 degrees for the past few days here. I didn't drive the SH-AWD for two days and when I went to use it the battery was (surprisingly) fine. But I think I'm now pushing my luck with the original 3+ year old battery. Maybe time to get a new one, although I had the dealer test it when I was recently in for a broken window switch and they said it was still in normal range. At least I'm still carrying my DBPOWER battery starter (which, BTW, seems to have lost only a % or two of its charge every six months when I check it).
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Originally Posted by hondamore
(Post 16160159)
Here's my take on headlight washers...I think that the reason you are using the headlight washers is because you have been driving on wet, dirty roads and the dirt is actively building up on the headlights. If that is the case, the fact that a bit of washer fluid has sprayed on the hood or bumper is moot because most of the car is covered in the same dirty muck as the headlights.
This has been my experience driving in melting conditions when the road gravel and sand mixes with the melting ice and snow and makes a mess over everything. The headlight washers are meant to be a stop gap measure to get you safely where you need to go and to get by until you do a proper car wash to rinse off the salt and dirt from your car. Regarding the electric windshield defroster, I think that is a great idea for short term use while the engine warms and makes the traditional windshield defroster more effective. I hope to be buying an MDX Sport Hybrid for my wife very soon and I look forward to trying it out.
Originally Posted by TacoBello
(Post 16160208)
Curious.. what is the cost to replace a heated windshield? Do aftermarket options exist, for those who don't want to get hosed by dealership prices?
People who rely on their defrost setting to keep the inside of the car warm, generally develop big cracks in their windshields... a chip in the glass, plus hot heat on the inside and cold weather on the outside cause the glass to fracture. I wonder how a heated windshield stands up to that scenario... like, do you risk rock chips turning into cracks if you use it? |
Here is a Youtube video of the Heated Front Windshield for the 2018 TLX
Also, there are several other nice features the TLX has but the RLX doesn't have, such as, Automatic High Beam and Ambient Accent Lighting Here are the Acura Youtube videos for both: |
The MDX has auto high beam at least in the Advance
What am I missing in the heated windshield video? It showed nothing. Yesterday, it was raining and I backed out of parking spot. The rear wiper swiped a couple times. I don't think I accidentally hit the button. Did not do it today under similar circumstances. This is on my MDX |
Originally Posted by getakey
(Post 16173132)
Yesterday, it was raining and I backed out of parking spot. The rear wiper swiped a couple times. I don't think I accidentally hit the button. Did not do it today under similar circumstances. This is on my MDX
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^^
You need to have the windshield wiper lever to "Auto", or to "On", if you want the rear windshield wiper to go on automatically when you engage reverse..... At least that is how its on my 2014 MDX. |
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