Hi,

I've been reading this forum since before July when I ordered my new car, and thought it was about time I now became a member and added to the pool of white Zetec-S's!

So, straight into a question; rather than go into extensive detail at this stage, should the heated windscreen, rear window and door mirrors turn themself on when the blower is set to the screen and it's below a certain temperature outside? For the past few days in the morning I've turned the heated windscreen on, and noticed the mirrors (and rear screen I believe) heat up without me pressing the rear screen button. I thought it may simply be an automatic feature not mentioned in the handbook, so this morning I put it to the test by not turning the windscreen on and only using the blower. In the time it took to scrape the side windows all the ice on the windscreen had melted, and the mirrors were warm to the touch. So obviously they all came on without me having to press either of the buttons, though the lights on the buttons didn't illuminate (unlike the air cons one which does).

I had a new windscreen fitted 3 weeks ago as it had a manufacturing fault (stray heating strand curling round inside the screen), and don't remember that turning itself on (maybe not cold enough?).

Is this normal, or is something wrong with my wiring? Seems a bit odd that the lights aren't on to indicate heating, and there's no way of turning them off. It's pointless having the rear on as it's never frosted up yet; just wasting my petrol!

Cheers

Hi Martyn, it is a feature of Fiesta, when it is below 4°C the rear window and mirrors are heated automatically for 7-10 minutes and then turned off, without any button pressed or light showing operation status. But if you press heating button after start and than turn it off the heating will also stop. (just for this one start)

Thanks for the reply, didn't think about pressing the button twice to stop it. You only mention the rear window and mirrors; is it also meant to happen for the windscreen (I assume it is)?

Hi Martyn, it is a feature of Fiesta, when it is below 4°C the rear window and mirrors are heated automatically for 7-10 minutes and then turned off, without any button pressed or light showing operation status. But if you press heating button after start and than turn it off the heating will also stop. (just for this one start)

Is that true?

Is that true?

I thought it was only on the Titanium and possibly the Zetec S that the heated front/rear windows and the wing mirrors came on automatically, but the other day when it was -2 I started my 1.25 Zetec and I noticed steam rising off the iced up wing mirrors. They were warm to the touch, without me having pressed the heated windows buttons. Not noticed the rear window, but will have a look when I start it up tomorrow - it's bound to be icy in the morning!

OK - Just tested this as I am not at work till later so, I turned the car on, its -3, i didnt press anything and left it.

Came back to find the rear screen and mirrors clear so must have worked automatically but front screen hadnt come on.

Hi Martyn, it is a feature of Fiesta, when it is below 4°C the rear window and mirrors are heated automatically for 7-10 minutes and then turned off, without any button pressed or light showing operation status. But if you press heating button after start and than turn it off the heating will also stop. (just for this one start)

I had noticed this too... and was going to take it to the dealer to ask, but thanks for the explanation harweyko.

My car is kept in a garage, and I only do a 7 minute journey to work, so I have no real need of this... is it possible to disable the feature (other than manual turn on/off)?

I don't like using up all that leccy ;-)

As far as I'm aware, the front screen doesn't come on automatically, but saying that, it was the first thing I pressed when I got in it this morning so wouldn't know either way to be honest.

Hi, is this feature exclusive to the Titanium model?

I'm pretty sure my 59 plate Zetec S doesn't do this...

I can confirm on my Titanuim the rear and front window heating elements come on + the wing mirrors :)

Doesnt help the leak tho lol

Well it's good to know that it doesn't only happen to me! Really seems like a waste of petrol though; pressing the front screen button when I got home the other night and seeing the instant fuel consumption (in g/h as I was stationary) go up from 0.1 to 0.2 shows it must use a fair bit. Looking at the comments the front screen coming on seems quite rare, maybe it's on a lower threshold to the others? It's bound to ice up tonight so I'll test pressing the button twice tomorrow morning and see if that turns them off or not.

On a side note, is 36-37 mpg (real, not car calculated) normal when still very new? Got 38.8 out of it once before hitting the 1000 mile run-in period, seems to have dropped off a bit since then, wonder why

seeing the instant fuel consumption (in g/h as I was stationary) go up from 0.1 to 0.2 shows it must use a fair bit.

Trying seeing mine rocket to 0.5g/h when pressing all the buttons on a cold winters morn!

I can confirm on my Titanuim the rear and front window heating elements come on + the wing mirrors :)

Doesnt help the leak tho lol

Front as well? Interesting, my ZS just mirrors and rear come on without pressing buttons

My front screen (Titanium) definitely comes on without touching the buttons - you can see the non-cleared strips down the side, and one thin strip down the centre of the screen.

I usually notice this about 200 yards before I reach work....

Tried it this morning but wasn't prepared to wait any longer. I've a feeling the windscreen came on on it's own but I had to wipe the snow eventually and get on my way. The ease at which the snow dispersed suggests it did come on. Wouldn't you think they would activate the LED on the buttons so you knew one way or the other.