Defrost side mirrors / rear window? - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

avandale · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 11:21 AM

I've had my new Tacoma for about a month and heavy dew season is hitting my area (frost isn't too far away). Thus begins my morning ritual of wiping condensation off my windows and mirrors every morning. I'm left thinking, there's got to be a better way.

My Sienna has side mirror defrosters. Very cool. Any thoughts on being able to install some type of defroster in the side mirrors? These re-fog after I've wiped them and are pretty irritating. Plus I use my side mirrors a ton in the truck.

Rear window: I understand the sliding rear window poses some challenges due to its sliding nature. I vaguely remember seeing solutions for this previously, I'll go surf a bit. Anyone else have any luck with this in the past?

j4x4ar3 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 12:50 PM

RainX

I have the same situation. My Sienna has the feature and I never realized how valuable it was. Luckily my truck and van both fit in the garage now.

Plow78 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 08:19 AM

I totally agree with you guys. Pre 05 TACO I had a 2000 S-10 ZR2 which had mirror defrosters! It sucks not having mirror defrosters.

EngineerBoo · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 09:07 AM

Last winter, since my 05 Taco has the 110v outlet in the back, I have a long extension cord and an old hair dryer and, sometimes, used it to defrost the mirrors. (I can't turn the hair dryer on high, though, or it'll pop the breaker.) I do worry about the sudden heat breaking the glass, though. (An old girlfriend in high school in Massachussets borrowed her Dad's BMW one morning and threw a pot full of hot water on the windshield to defrost it....cracked it all over....and she actually told him what she did....boy was he pissed! Oh, she was a true blonde!)

Anyway, I park in the garage at home but I, also, work the mids shift here in Colorado so I only have to worry about frost when working mids.

This winter, I'm going to try putting some sort of covers over the mirrors at night when I work to see if that keeps the frost off. (Maybe plastic bags with the quick ties so it'll keep the moisture out.)

TacomaOffRoadGrl · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 11:43 AM

I'm suprised this feature isn't on the Tacoma too. I've had it on all my previous trucks..Chevy and Ford...

QuasiInsomniac · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 12:26 PM

You might be looking at this too hard. All you need is a heating element to go inside the mirror and a twelve volt source. I'm pretty sure that's all my 87 Supra had and it was factory. The hard part is figuring out what type of heat source. I'd almost think a small lightbulb would do the trick. And it wouldn't really melt anything inside.

OR

Just go grab some mirrors off of a Sienna or other Toyota (there are plenty of them) that have the defrosting mirrors, take them apart (junkyard), and figure out what heating element they used. Run a twelve volt source and you're set.

avandale · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 12:42 PM

Yea, I was thinking of pillaging from the Sienna junk yard or similar. Can't be too hard. I was just hoping someone already had a simple solution in the market. I'm surpised there isn't.

For the rear defroster, I saw some heater/blowers that install in the back. Don't know how effective they are.

I'm actually more interested in the side mirrors than the back. I use them alot more. I was stuck on the freeway the other day with the sides still fogged. I thought they would clear by the time I got there. I was surprised at how stuck I was trying to safely change lanes and such.

koam · #8 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 03:07 PM

It's not cold enough to try here but could you just run some small clear plastic tubing from the engine compartment out the back by the wipers and zip tie to the mirror to see if enough heat is generated to clear the mirrors? Remove it in the summer. Just leave enough slack for the doors to open.

Plow78 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koam

It's not cold enough to try here but could you just run some small clear plastic tubing from the engine compartment out the back by the wipers and zip tie to the mirror to see if enough heat is generated to clear the mirrors? Remove it in the summer. Just leave enough slack for the doors to open.

Why dont you just rub it in a little more that you live in Hawaii

jon_lozon · #10 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 04:47 PM

hmm couldnt you just route the windshield wipers to the side mirrors as well some how? i know that water will clear them up pretty quick...........would be nice and simple...

EngineerBoo · #11 (**permalink**) 10-06-2005, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon_lozon

hmm couldnt you just route the windshield wipers to the side mirrors as well some how? i know that water will clear them up pretty quick...........would be nice and simple...

Windshield washer would work on misted mirrors but not with ice...it would just add to it.