My Yeti has just had it's first service. I asked for the heated mirrors to be checked as they didn't seem to be working but I was told that they don't work until the outside temperature goes below 4degrees C. This is the third Yeti I have had and previously I have used the heated mirrors to clear rain on the glass and they have worked.

Does anyone know if there has been a change or are they trying it on?

Fred 

7 minutes ago, g6zru said:

they don't work until the outside temperature goes below 4degrees C. 

Does anyone know if there has been a change or are they trying it on?

 

almost always the case if their lips are moving .......

 

as long as the dial on the drivers door is set at heat and the rear screen heater is switched on, they work

Listen for a (relay) click coming from under the dash when you switch between on and off (engine will probably have to be running, and rear screen heater may have to be on). If you hear the click and the temperature is above 4°C, you'll have demonstrated that they are supposed to work at any temp.  Have you checked the relevant fuse?

 

Edit: having looked at a current flow diagram to try to find which fuse, and failing, this whole approach might be flawed.  It may not be relay switched.

Edited 9 October, 20178 yr by Wino

Did they tell you the wipers only work if it’s raining and the lights only come on in the dark..?

5 minutes ago, Sad555 said:

Did they tell you the wipers only work if it’s raining and the lights only come on in the dark..?

They probably only say that if you ask

On my new Yeti, the heated mirrors only need to be switched on for them to heat up and clear rain / mist etc. Rear Screen heater does not need to be on either. Only used the mirror heaters once so far and it was definately above 4 degrees.

 

Station Garage????

2 hours ago, Halford said:

 

almost always the case if their lips are moving .......

 

as long as the dial on the drivers door is set at heat and the rear screen heater is switched on, they work

 

The heated rear screen does NOT need to be turned on for them to work.

 

Fred, they're talking rubbish!

Edited 9 October, 20178 yr by Llanigraham

mine are on permanently then 

 

will have to remember to switch them off

37 minutes ago, Smokeyjoe said:

Station Garage????

Not this time, been there, done that!!!

 

Fred

Thanks all

As I expected.....

I've just read the section of manual that, according to the index, under Heating> Mirrors,P69. Only reference I can find is a note at the bottom of that page that says

"! WARNING. Do not touch the exterior mirror surfaces, if the exterior mirror heating is switched on.hazard of burning."  

I've always told myself not to read the manual as it's a waste of time. I should have remembered!!!

 

Fred

 

PS the STOP/START doesn't work now either and no it's not switched OFF.

 

Fred

 

Mirrors should work at any time, they may have been confused with the heated windscreen washer jets only heat if outside temperature goes below 4 degrees C.

I think as per the rear screen, there is a timer somewhere which automatically shuts 'em down after a preset time - may be adjustable with VCDS  don't know!

4 hours ago, g6zru said:

....but I was told that  they don't work until the outside temperature goes below 4degrees C.

 

 my Handbook (for the pre face-lift) quotes a somewhat higher figure:

 

Quote

The exterior mirror heater only operates when the engine is running and up to an
outside temperature of +20 °C.

 

Jim

G6zru.          You are of an age where you have respect for yourself and others and I’m sure you MUST recognise b******** when you hear it but time and VAG have changed and bu****it is now the name of the VW game,and I think you felt that at the time but just wanted to double check.

3 hours ago, Frenchtone said:

I think as per the rear screen, there is a timer somewhere which automatically shuts 'em down after a preset time - may be adjustable with VCDS  don't know!

No, the rotary mirror heater switch is either on or off for the mirror heaters.
And with no indicator light it's easy to leave them on.

I think your right URREL mine were on for quite a while before I read a similar post on here now the heaters are always off ........unless I forget.

11 minutes ago, Urrell said:

No, the rotary mirror heater switch is either on or off for the mirror heaters.

 

Wot 'e said

 

12 minutes ago, Urrell said:

And with no indicator light it's easy to leave them on.

 

Been there, done that...

We have heated mirrors? I always wipe mine or spray with de-icer.

My immediate problem is someone nudged the car in a carpark and

the rear skirt is "grinning" where it has become detached.

20 minutes ago, gumdrop said:

We have heated mirrors?

 

The heated mirror switch on is at about 10 o'clock position.
 

Out of curiosity about how these are powered, can any of you hear an audible (relay) click when these are switched on? 

28 minutes ago, Wino said:

Out of curiosity about how these are powered, can any of you hear an audible (relay) click when these are switched on? 

Theye are powered by pumping on the brake and clutch rapidly before you start the trip (well that is what Skoda may fob you off with)

I leave my heated mirrors on all year round as they are so useful when it is raining plus they seem to have positive temperature coefficient device in circuit.

During warm weather the glass is barely warm but as the outside temperature falls, so the glass gets hotter.

In winter, soon after starting, the glass is too hot to touch.

I guess the designers thought that a ptc thermistor was cheaper than adding a relay and timer, and that the power consumption is only high when the heated mirror is really needed.

The heater material may actually be the ptc component.

 

73

9 minutes ago, pikpilot said:

I leave my heated mirrors on all year round as they are so useful when it is raining plus they seem to have positive temperature coefficient device in circuit.

Is that not a waste of energy when not needed?

Just now, Urrell said:

Is that not a waste of energy when not needed?

 

No, because there is almost no heating when it is warm outside. I also noticed that in cold weather, once the mirrors have melted the ice, the amount of heat is reduced. Again pointing the to a ptc effect in circuit. 

In real terms, I doubt that the current is much more than 1 or 2 amps when on max heat and less than 2 Watts in summer. That is less than a single small bulb. Even on full power, the power is insignificant compared with almost every other load and you certainly won't see an affect on fuel consumption.

49 minutes ago, Wino said:

Out of curiosity about how these are powered, can any of you hear an audible (relay) click when these are switched on? 

 

Pretty sure they are powered directly by the door controllers. No relays needed, it'll be solid state electronics