Technical Is my heated windscreen screen working?

[Bamboo Shoots]

I've recently bought a 2013 Panda 4x4 with the winter pack, which is about to come into it's own.
I've tried the heated screen on a couple of frosty mornings and I can't see any sign that it's working.
The second time I've left the blower off so I'm just looking for the heating element to have an affect and can't see anything. From what I've read elsewhere on the forum there are two distinct heated patches and I'm not seeing that.
The light on the switch comes on and the element in the rear screen is clearly working.
I wonder whether there is a more certain way to test it and perhaps whether the front screen has a fuse separate to the rear screen? It's a tricky thing to take to the garage and say, "keep it until we get a frost"!
I'd welcome any thoughts or even a photo of what a properly working screen looks like.

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

Both the fuses and how the function works should be described in the owners' handbook. Check in the download section of the forum if you haven't got one.

 

[jrkitching]

I've had one of these heated front screens in a previous car; they're very effective and will clear both frost and condensation in seconds.

If you don't think it's working, it probably isn't.

 

[the green vanper]

I got the heated windscreen in a 2004 Focus years ago, no idea if the FIAT system is the same, but the wires in the Ford were visible only under a specific angle looking at the sun / light source. Getting rid of condensation was very quick indeed, it was taking a little bit longer for frost, but yes, it was obvious that the system is working.

There's a video on YT showing how it works in a Panda:

 

[Bamboo Shoots]

I got the heated windscreen in a 2004 Focus years ago, no idea if the FIAT system is the same, but the wires in the Ford were visible only under a specific angle looking at the sun / light source. Getting rid of condensation was very quick indeed, it was taking a little bit longer for frost, but yes, it was obvious that the system is working.

There's a video on YT showing how it works in a Panda:

That's really helpful to see, thank you. I sat in the car for longer than that video without obvious improvement, so I need to investigate further, as per your first reply. Much appreciated!

 

[trevorwat]

I've got a heated windscreen in my 2016 Panda Cross. You would know very quickly if it was working when steamed or frozen - easily within a minute. Plus if you were driving into bright sunshine then I think you would easily see the elements in the screen. So my question is - do you have a heated screen that doesn't work or has the windscreen been changed for a non-heated one...?

 

[Eltezz]

My thoughts exactly. Heated screens are expensive to replace and given the age of the car it’s quite possible the original has been replaced with a standard screen. Get up close to the screen and see if you can see vertical rows of fine filaments. If not, then you no longer have the full winter pack…
.

 

[JayAre]

I've recently bought a 2013 Panda 4x4 with the winter pack

Was this stated in the listing?
- if @Eltezz is correct (replaced) then this is a clear breach of contract and the seller (dealer or private) must pay for a heated replacement screen
Was it a dealer purchase?
- if the heated screen has broken then the dealer must, again, replace or repair
- if a private purchase then you may have recourse against the seller (but it’s less clear cut)
Good luck!

 

[the green vanper]

I'd start by checking the 'pattern' on the windscreen and side / rear windows. They are marked, should be same producer and production date if the windscreen is still original.

Here's a description about the markings:

Automotive glass marking

carglass.ee

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

If you turn it on too soon after starting the engine, it doesn’t work…. There’s a voltage sensing relay that only lets the heated screen turn on once the alternator is supplying enough power (waiting just a second or two after starting the engine before pressing the switch is usually enough but if the battery’s a bit low then it takes a moment longer to click. Press too soon and the front screen doesn’t come on, but the back one does)

Also, if I can find it I’ll post a link to a thread where I show what happens if it’s not working properly. Cautionary note: the connections to it are very fragile, and easily damaged if the scuttle panel (the plastic panel between the screen and the bonnet) is removed. They are also easily damaged if a pressure washer jet is blasted at them through the vents in that panel.

As to whether it’s the right or original glass… mine was replaced under Fiat’s three year warranty as it was faulty, so any date codes will be different. In fact mines been replaced a second time as it cracked during the summer. You can see the heating elements more clearly if you put a sheet of white paper behind the glass - very fine, wiggly wires thinner than a hair. Also, if heated it has this symbol on it… the bottom right one of a screen with wiggly arrows (photo of my screen)

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

As promised, the earlier post that shows what they tend to look like when not working… the heating elements are in two parts (driver side and passenger side, with a small gap down the centre). Sometimes a whole side doesn’t work, usually if the connector is damaged or loose. More normally, just some parts fail, like in this photo of my original screen….

https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/is-my-heated-screen-damaged-faulty.484260/

A later update to that thread showed that the dealer did have the screen replaced at no charge to me.

Sadly, if not within the factory warranty, if you need a new screen it costs plenty…. When mine was replaced this summer after being cracked by a flying stone, Autoglass told me it would have been several hundred pounds… (I only had to pay the ‘windscreen excess’ as it was replaced under my insurance)

 

[Salboms]

I've recently bought a 2013 Panda 4x4 with the winter pack, which is about to come into it's own.
I've tried the heated screen on a couple of frosty mornings and I can't see any sign that it's working.
The second time I've left the blower off so I'm just looking for the heating element to have an affect and can't see anything. From what I've read elsewhere on the forum there are two distinct heated patches and I'm not seeing that.
The light on the switch comes on and the element in the rear screen is clearly working.
I wonder whether there is a more certain way to test it and perhaps whether the front screen has a fuse separate to the rear screen? It's a tricky thing to take to the garage and say, "keep it until we get a frost"!
I'd welcome any thoughts or even a photo of what a properly working screen looks like.

Hello from Norway!
Same problem on my 2013 TwinAir 4X4. Only parts of the right side (partially) work.
The heated windshield has a separate fuse, 60 Amps, since it is a major power drain: If the RPM´s do not drop at idle, when you switch it on, something is amiss; it is either the fuse, the wiring outside or inside of the windshield. The main dealer here, could not even tell me where the fault was!!??
I could not get far enough under the car at the dealer, so try to check the skid-plate under the engine. NOT galvanized like the rest of the car, plus flimsy paint & quite expensive, 500 € over here, and they salt the roads.
Fiat-Alfa parts-pricing in Norway is typically 3 times higher than in the Euro-zone.
The easy solution will give you problems with your insurance company, and quite probably the police.
Happy New Year!

 

[Bamboo Shoots]

Was this stated in the listing?
- if @Eltezz is correct (replaced) then this is a clear breach of contract and the seller (dealer or private) must pay for a heated replacement screen
Was it a dealer purchase?
- if the heated screen has broken then the dealer must, again, replace or repair
- if a private purchase then you may have recourse against the seller (but it’s less clear cut)
Good lu

If you turn it on too soon after starting the engine, it doesn’t work…. There’s a voltage sensing relay that only lets the heated screen turn on once the alternator is supplying enough power (waiting just a second or two after starting the engine before pressing the switch is usually enough but if the battery’s a bit low then it takes a moment longer to click. Press too soon and the front screen doesn’t come on, but the back one does)

Also, if I can find it I’ll post a link to a thread where I show what happens if it’s not working properly. Cautionary note: the connections to it are very fragile, and easily damaged if the scuttle panel (the plastic panel between the screen and the bonnet) is removed. They are also easily damaged if a pressure washer jet is blasted at them through the vents in that panel.

As to whether it’s the right or original glass… mine was replaced under Fiat’s three year warranty as it was faulty, so any date codes will be different. In fact mines been replaced a second time as it cracked during the summer. You can see the heating elements more clearly if you put a sheet of white paper behind the glass - very fine, wiggly wires thinner than a hair. Also, if heated it has this symbol on it… the bottom right one of a screen with wiggly arrows (photo of my screen)

View attachment 457868

Ah, fascinating and very helpful. I'll take a closer look. Thank you for this and the subsequent post.

 

[Bamboo Shoots]

Hello from Norway!
Same problem on my 2013 TwinAir 4X4. Only parts of the right side (partially) work.
The heated windshield has a separate fuse, 60 Amps, since it is a major power drain: If the RPM´s do not drop at idle, when you switch it on, something is amiss; it is either the fuse, the wiring outside or inside of the windshield. The main dealer here, could not even tell me where the fault was!!??
I could not get far enough under the car at the dealer, so try to check the skid-plate under the engine. NOT galvanized like the rest of the car, plus flimsy paint & quite expensive, 500 € over here, and they salt the roads.
Fiat-Alfa parts-pricing in Norway is typically 3 times higher than in the Euro-zone.
The easy solution will give you problems with your insurance company, and quite probably the police.
Happy New Year!

That's very interesting and helpful to know too. Thank you!

 

[Bamboo Shoots]

If you turn it on too soon after starting the engine, it doesn’t work…. There’s a voltage sensing relay that only lets the heated screen turn on once the alternator is supplying enough power (waiting just a second or two after starting the engine before pressing the switch is usually enough but if the battery’s a bit low then it takes a moment longer to click. Press too soon and the front screen doesn’t come on, but the back one does)

Also, if I can find it I’ll post a link to a thread where I show what happens if it’s not working properly. Cautionary note: the connections to it are very fragile, and easily damaged if the scuttle panel (the plastic panel between the screen and the bonnet) is removed. They are also easily damaged if a pressure washer jet is blasted at them through the vents in that panel.

As to whether it’s the right or original glass… mine was replaced under Fiat’s three year warranty as it was faulty, so any date codes will be different. In fact mines been replaced a second time as it cracked during the summer. You can see the heating elements more clearly if you put a sheet of white paper behind the glass - very fine, wiggly wires thinner than a hair. Also, if heated it has this symbol on it… the bottom right one of a screen with wiggly arrows (photo of my screen)

View attachment 457868

That's really helpful. Here's a snap of mine confirming that I do have the right screen. (It's a two owner car with a decent history, so I would have been surprised if it hadn't.) So now I need to do a bit more experimenting based on the advice from you and others. Thanks very much!