I was just wondering if anybody else's side mirror defrosters take forever to defrost like mine. The mirror defrosters in my '89 Acura Legend were faster than these ****'s. I'm practically to work by the time I'm able to see anything.

Any suggestions or is this just another demerit for Max and a plus for Acura?

 

Do you use the AUTO climate control? If you have manual climate control, make sure you run the A/C compressor to dehumidify the air. Usually clears things up in a minute or two. Just blowing air onto your windows will not yeild good results. Condition it first (dehumidify) by running your A/C compressor.

 

My mirror def works right away. Are your working at all? They shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to work.

 

My outside mirror defoggers work nearly instantly. But then, mine are retrofits. But this shouldn't make a difference. If I remember correctly, I bought the proper Nissan relay and mounted it at the normal spot (passenger footwell?) and then ran the wires to each mirror location. The heated mirrors weren't too expensive also. What I do remember is that the factory uses some sticky putty substance to hod the mirrors in place in addition to the snaps. I bought some other stuff andit was a challenge to get the new heated mirrors to lie flat.

 

Seems like there might be something wrong with yours or maybe you're not doing it right ...because mine work pretty quick also, even in heavy rain/snow they work real good.

 

A very basic question: Heated outside mirror is an option in Cold Weather Package on GLE. Are you sure you have that package, or an added one after delivery?

 

Yes, I do use AUTO climate control.

I checked my paperwork and "side window defoggers" came standard on the GLE. So, I don't think they were added by the dealer.

Could it be a faulty relay or fuse? If that were the case, wouldn't the rear defroster not work too, which it does?

It's just so frustrating that they aren't working properly!

Thanks for your ideas.

 

i don't have heated mirrors GXEs suck

 

No, not all GLEs have them. You need the cold weather package (heated seats, low washer fluid warning, heated side view mirrors). Also, AUTO isn't what you would want to use anyway. You need to use the rear window defoger. That turns on the heated mirrors at the same time.

Gosh, it's rough living in San Diego and never needing this feature.

 

You should also make sure that you are using outside air (not recirculate) because you breathing increases the humidity of the car. Helps alot. My Escort does not have A/C, but switching to outside air clears it up great.



Or you could just not breathe?

 

i feel for ya bro

 

I was just wondering about this, because I have a 97 Maxima and the other day I was in the garage and hit my passenger side mirror. Now, I have the task of looking for a new mirror at the junkyards. But they are telling me that the harness (wiring) between the non heated and heated mirrors are different. So I am wondering--I have a GLE, with heated seats, would that automatically mean that I have the heated mirrors?

 

 

i guess that means that i do? I have the heated seats and I think the low washer light--
but my mirrors are never hot when I touch them, even when I have the
rear defogger on...hmmm

 

Yes you have them if you have the cold package. Shoot, that sucks. So not only do you have to find a GLE mirroe but you have to find one with heated mirrors. Good luck.

 

the heated mirrors are normally an underappreciated feature.

 

My rear view mirrors still don't work as well. Even if they were installed outside of the cold weather package, that's no excuse for them not to be working as well.

On a side note, I have to say that as far as features and overall satisfaction, I'm not too thrilled with the whole Nissan Maxima situation. I think I'm gonna have to go the Acura route next time. The damn car runs GREAT, but all this other little crap is buggin'! Between the POS BOSE, the defrosters, and the electrical, it's ridiculous! I certainly hope one would not have as many problem when they bought an overpriced Infiniti!

Yeah, I think I'm all about the Acura next time.

 

Yeah,
it is quite hard to find one, especially if I don't want to repaint that mirror which costs about $80 (hour of labor, with paint). I found one--it wasn't easy, but luckily the pebble beige color is somewhat of a common color out there.
thanks for the confirmation on the heated mirrors. I always thought the GLE had the standard heated mirrors.

You know what else is funny--in all the other car manufacturer's their heated side mirrors have that little logo (like steam--same one as the rear defroster)--but the maxima's mirrors don't have that on them...so it was a bit confusing.

 

Honestly, nothing is perfect out there. Perhaps we have some expectation that needs to be met. Of course, the car, overall is pretty good. It is unfortunate that there are times that things break. I should hear myself say this instead of cursing next time something doesn't work. hahah.
But serious, Honda's and Acuras have a big problem with their power windows dying--mine died on me years ago and it was expensive as heckl to fix. Oh, I hope they fixed that. But I like my 4th gen max--the new ones look so big, and I often wonder if I can turn that thing in a tight corner.
Else, maybe it is time for me to buy a station wagon and live a quiant life.

 

He was talking about the side mirror defoggers. The OUTSIDE rear view mirrors.

 

please read the first post entirely before replying. actually, on this one all you needed to read was the first sentence to know that he was talking about his side mirrors, not the windows. Dehumidifying the air in the cabin doesn't exactly help the side mirrors, unless you got them all tricked out and mounted on the inside of the pillar.

 

ohh yeah, mine defrost pretty quickly.

 

I think you answered your question with this post. I think all of the Maximas came with "side window defoggers" as this is the small vent on both sides of the dash that blow on the "side windows" when the defroster is on. The heated mirror business is another option altogether.

 

i have a GLE with heated seats andlow washer fluid warning light, but i have yet to find a swith that activates the side mirror defroster... can anyone help me out????

 

they switch on with the rear window defogger. Same button.