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for Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar, Mercedes,
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One cold day you’re running late for work. You hop into your Jaguar and the windshield is fogged up. If your Jaguar’s defroster doesn’t do the job, you’ll be anxiously sitting in your garage or driveway, waiting and waiting for your windshield to clear. The defroster on your vehicle is essential to safety, because if you can’t see clearly through your windshield, you could wind up in an accident. However, a malfunctioning defroster may actually be a sign that other issues are brewing under the hood. In this article, we will discuss the signs and symptoms related to defroster failures and what you can do to deal with them so you can get back on the road.
Hot, dry air is what does the job when you turn on your car’s defroster. The system works with your vehicle’s cooling and air conditioning systems to blow this air onto your windshield. The cooling system absorbs heat from the running engine, transferring it to the heating element in your dashboard. The air conditioner keeps the air inside the car’s cabin dry and useful for defrosting. Cold, humid air doesn’t help a whole lot for our purposes, so the proper functioning of both these systems is vital to the success of your vehicle’s defroster.
There are two kinds of climate control systems in an automobile, either manual or automatic. All this means is that newer vehicles have computers which are able to monitor the functioning of all the systems that play into successful cooling, heating, and defrosting. If you have an automatic climate control system in your car, and your defroster is working properly, simply turn the dial to max defrost and slightly open the windows. By opening the windows, you allow the moisture in the air to escape as the defroster blows hot, dry air onto the windshield. If your car has a manual system, there’s only a couple extra steps. Turn the heat and the blower fan up to maximum levels, turn on the air conditioner, and don’t forget to open the windows.
A problem with the defroster could be due to a number of related issues. It could be caused by a fault in the cooling system, heater, air intake, or vents. It could also be due to low antifreeze or a malfunctioning blower.
Your car’s cooling system has multiple interconnected parts including hoses, pumps, and fans. If the radiator or hoses are leaking coolant, then it can’t be properly circulated through the engine. Alternatively, if the water pump is malfunctioning, the coolant isn’t going anywhere.
The heart of the heating system in a vehicle is the heater core. This component can become clogged with contaminants, inhibiting its function. Alternatively, hoses can leak or break, and valves that regulate the flow of fluids can get jammed.
There are vents at the base of your windshield that bring fresh air into the car for circulation. If these vents are clogged with debris, such as leaves or pollen, then air cannot get into the circulation system and your car’s defroster will be affected.
The heater depends on there being sufficient antifreeze to circulate through the system.
If your car is low on this vital fluid, it won’t only affect the heating system, but your defroster will be impacted as well.
If the blower fan isn’t working, the heated air won’t make it to your windshield to perform its intended defrosting function. This could be as simple as a blown fuse, but the fan itself may need to be replaced.
Finally, let’s talk about how to deal with a defroster malfunction. As we have said, the defrosting system relies on multiple other systems with interconnected parts. Unfortunately, unless you are an experienced mechanic, this means that defroster problems are difficult to diagnose and fix. Thankfully, there are seasoned professionals available to fix these malfunctions and have you safely back on the road in no time.
Here at European Service Center, we always do things right the first time. Our certified master technicians have years of experience servicing Jaguar, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Porsche, Sprinter, Mini, Aston Martin, Maserati, and Ferrari. Assisting drivers from throughout Alpharetta, Chamblee, Cumming, Norcross, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Roswell, and Atlanta, GA, since 1979, we offer a 3-year/36,000-mile nationwide limited warranty on all our quality service work. For a fix of your defroster, or to learn about our top-notch repairs, give us a call today.
