Defroster switch in dashboard

[bear7192]

Aloha. If I press down on one side or the other of my defroster switch in the dashboard, does the left or right side of the switch remain depressed indicating that the switch is pressed on or off? Mine just pops back to a neutral middle position, and the defroster does not seem to be working. I am trying to figure out if the switch is the culprit. Mahalo for your help!!!

[dan_189]

If your car is a later model it will go back to its normal position and glow brighter if its on

[tom_kauf]

I don't know about later model ones, but Dan is right. On my 1985, I press the side with the symbol (RH side), to turn the defroster on. And I press the other side, to turn it off. It's normal to jump back into the centre position, when released. It will stay on until the other side (LH) is pressed.
With the ignition on (engine doesn't have to be), the symbol lights up when pressed. It will flash, when the battery voltage gets too low (and de-activate itself). I had that on my car, when I first tried it (the battery was pretty old).

EDIT: Apart from checking if the light comes one, and checking the voltage at the rear screen, also have a look at the condition of the defroster wires in the window. Some of mine are in poor condition (almost corroded through). I can't actually feel it getting warmer, but when it fogs up they do work. But some rows work better (and get hotter) than others.

[dan_189]

Interesting about the flashing, mine has flashed a few times but I though it was because the window was defrostd and it was telling me to turn it off lol