As winter is approaching I have started to notice my rear demister does not work. The light comes on when I press the button but nothing happens. Ive even put my hand on the glass and it just stays cold. 

 

Ive checked the fuse but that is fine. Ive looked at all the heating element lines in the glass they seem ok. What would the next step be to do? 

 

Thanks!

The rear heated window on the MkII Octavia (hatchback) has been reported on here as being pretty poor, taking ages to work.

 

Could it just be getting slow?

Hi. Thanks for your reply. I forgot to mention mine was a estate. Is it common on that aswell?

Thanks

Hmm, I don't think so. I've owned both, a hatch and estate. The hatch was pretty slow (larger area of glass?) and at the time there were lots of threads on how poor they were.

 

I still own the estate (2008) and it works just fine, although it has to be said we don't use it very often.

 

That said there are always threads at this time of the year that start cropping up about how damp the MkII Octavia can be inside. Some cars suffer worse than others.

 

The heating elements will clear a light layer of condensation pretty quickly but if there is a thick layer of moisture I'd imagine it will take longer?

Interesting in some advice as well. Mine works fine but only the upper half of the screen, the lower half is dead.

mine just dosent work at all no matter how long it has been on. Would there be anything under the boot trim that could be disconnected?

If it's the same as mine, when you press the button you should hear a click from somewhere near your right knee - never checked but assume the relay for it is somewhere behind the dash there? If you're not getting the click then checking the relay and the switch wiring would be a good place to start.

It could be as simple as a fuse. Have you looked for it in the fuse box?

Ok will check if im getting a click. Yep checked the fuse numerous times. Its definatly not that

I have the same issue as dara: top half works, lower half is dead... Will be interesting to see if there is a simple fix...

No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy

Quick Update

 

Never got round to really have a look at the problem but while I was doing something else I came along this snapped wire behind the passenger side windscreen pillar. It goes towards the rear end of the car through the roof lining. Cant seem to see where it was connected to. 

 

Does anyone know if this is a wire for rear demister? 

Thank you. 

Quick Update

 

Never got round to really have a look at the problem but while I was doing something else I came along this snapped wire behind the passenger side windscreen pillar. It goes towards the rear end of the car through the roof lining. Cant seem to see where it was connected to. 

 

Does anyone know if this is a wire for rear demister? 

Thank you. 

Could have come loose from the rest of the loom.  If you can, trace the cables back and look for any empty connectors. There'll be a wiring diagram around somewhere, or if you have access to the octavia haynes (diesel only, but I'd assume the wiring at this level is identical) it'll have it in there.

Quick Update

 

Never got round to really have a look at the problem but while I was doing something else I came along this snapped wire behind the passenger side windscreen pillar. It goes towards the rear end of the car through the roof lining. Cant seem to see where it was connected to. 

 

Does anyone know if this is a wire for rear demister? 

Thank you.

That wire looks a coaxial cable as used for a microphone. Is it a black covering over a copper braid over a white foam plastic with a wire in the centre?

If so the previous owner probably just cut or pulled out the rest of the cable with the microphone when taking out his hands free system.

Likely it went up the pillar and then across to the interior lights area.