On my previous 2007 GS the windscreen would rapidly defrost from the bottom up. I believe the demist was supplemented by an electrical heater. It was very obvious. On my 2013 model with a heated windscreen there seems to be no indication that the screen ice has melted until you operate the wipers. Since we have had only one frost so far this year (since getting the car) I wonder if the heated screen is working. I know it depends on the outside temperature but how quick does the heated screen take to clear ice, is it seconds or minutes. Sorry if this is well known but this is the first car I have owned with a heated screen.

After about 30 seconds it should be obvious that the screen is working, certainly after a few minutes mine is totally clear.
In the car there are two methods to turn it on, the direct switch or using the PROG button, the lattter also turns on the electrical heater.

I use the PROG button - usually clears the screen and/or demists in a few seconds
 No Longer the owner of a 2013MY Fuji White GS

"Fiat Lux" a philosophy not a car

From my 57 plate to my 13 plate the heated screen seem slower to clear. MY13 HSE LUX Aintree Green
MY57 SE Stornoway Grey. Gone
Nissan X Trail
Discovery V8 LPG
Series II Land Rover

Only a 10" wide band defrosts on my screen. Typically it's also the passenger side too. Was looking forward to having this function as I was sick of scraping the screen on my Freelander 1 only for it to freeze up again after 100 yards driving. The asthmatic heater only got up to temperature after 20 minutes, by which time I'd already be at work.
Oh well. Just my bloody luck I bought it in the summer when the function wasn't needed . Bit of a to find it doesn't work the first time I need to use it.

Mine clears quite quickly but seems to work in vertical "bands" but..... these are not evenly spaced.

sounds strange

when i defrost, i see it melting in front of my eyes, with a line central screen about 10mm wide and at the edges were there are no elements Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I use the PROG button and it does the job very quickly but it leaves the rear screen demister on until I switch off the engine, so I usually switch the rear demist off as soon as it has demisted, which again is quite quick.

J

RealBeale wrote:

Only a 10" wide band defrosts on my screen. Typically it's also the passenger side too. Was looking forward to having this function as I was sick of scraping the screen on my Freelander 1 only for it to freeze up again after 100 yards driving. The asthmatic heater only got up to temperature after 20 minutes, by which time I'd already be at work.
Oh well. Just my bloody luck I bought it in the summer when the function wasn't needed . Bit of a to find it doesn't work the first time I need to use it.

Faulty or you don't have one fitted possibly. I think I read you can check on TOPIX to see the original build list but other will have more knowledge about that than me.

I am on my second screen after stones hitting it (glass insurance claim £75) and that new one is now damaged on the passenger side, I am ignoring as it is I think around £1,200 replacement cost for a LR heated screen and even though you don't get hammered for a glass claim you still have to declare it as a claim to a new insurance company.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Faulty or you don't have one fitted possibly.

Definitely faulty. It's an HSE.Like I said, one side works in a 10" strip. There is a stone chip in the bottom, a real bullseye that looks to have been repaired using one of those resin kits. Maybe that's why it doesn't work properly. The auto function clears it after a few minutes, but realistically looks like it needs a new screen.

npinks wrote:

sounds strange

when i defrost, i see it melting in front of my eyes, with a line central screen about 10mm wide and at the edges were there are no elements

Jimboland wrote:

I use the PROG button and it does the job very quickly but it leaves the rear screen demister on until I switch off the engine, so I usually switch the rear demist off as soon as it has demisted, which again is quite quick.

J

Wondered what that button did, hadn't looked it up, thought it might be an ingenious timer to start the demisting before I get in.  Common sense isn't very common.
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2007 Land Rover Freelander2 I6 hse Auto

There seem to be a big difference between MY13 heated screen from my old MY57 in performance. The other morning when it was frosty it just seem to take ages to clear where upon my old FL2 would of cleared it in less that 2 minutes. The screen is working as you can see it clearing once it starts. MY13 HSE LUX Aintree Green
MY57 SE Stornoway Grey. Gone
Nissan X Trail
Discovery V8 LPG
Series II Land Rover

I think my heated screen has given up - it used to defrost in lines quite quickly but now the "blower" does more of a job and I don't see the lines anymore.

I did try and test it on Saturday with just activating the front screen but there is always a little air coming through and it defrosted from the bottom up but no lines - what a pain!

I think my heated screen has given up

Time for a glass claim maybe, I am on my second screen and that now is damaged and needs at least a hole fill. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current