Rear Side Window Defroster

[PNW Avant]

Are the rear side window defrosters supposed to come on when you have the rear defroster activated from the climate control? My windows were fogged up on my car today for the first time so I hit the rear defroster. The rear window worked fine but the two side cargo area windows didn't look like they were doing anything.

Is there another button, is this a typical avant problem area, or am I just straight up broken?

thanks!

[j_sonel]

Are the rear side window defrosters supposed to come on when you have the rear defroster activated from the climate control? My windows were fogged up on my car today for the first time so I hit the rear defroster. The rear window worked fine but the two side cargo area windows didn't look like they were doing anything.

Is there another button, is this a typical avant problem area, or am I just straight up broken?

thanks!

Mine don't work either, and my guess is that they're supposed to come on with the rear defroster. I can see visible breaks in the defrost lines, probably due to the previous owner having tint and then removing it.

[PNW Avant]

Thanks for the response. I'll inspect mine for breaks tonight

[SoCalS4Avant]

I'm thinking you have a broken line. Mine work fine - come on when the rear is on.

[MYDWAGON]

That's an antenna

[j_sonel]

That's an antenna

For what? The radio antenna is on the roof.

[AvanTTix]

That's an antenna

Correct. The only window w/ defrost is the tailgate window.

As an FYI, not all B6s have a roof antenna. The earlier years didn't come w/ one. They came out in '04 when satellite radio became an option. They would all get the roof antenna regardless whether or not the car was equipped w/ satellite radio.

[PNW Avant]

Haha, ok, I'm thoroughly confused now.

I have a roof antenna, and I also have defroster looking things on the rear windows. If I don't have Sat radio, is the roof antenna functional, or even connected to anything?

Pretty peculiar looking antennas on the windows if you ask me. But, I'm hoping that's the case cause that would mean I wouldn't have to fix anything. I'll have to more closely inspect them tonight I guess!

SoCal...you must be on crack!

[SoCalS4Avant]

Apparently. I'll take pictures when I get home.

[tankdeer]

As far as I know, the sharkfin antenna on the roof is SAT only. Even if you don't have the satellite module, most of our cars are prewired for it.

There is in fact radio antennae in the side windows, however I was under the impression that there was also a defroster. So I'm not entirely sure on that aspect of it.

[PNW Avant]

There is in fact radio antennae in the side windows, however I was under the impression that there was also a defroster. So I'm not entirely sure on that aspect of it.

I can't imagine why they would put antenna in the middle of the windows when they could just wire them around the perimeter to be out of sight.

My intuition says there are both. I've seen the same thing on other makes/models of wagons. Looking forward to finding out later!

SoCal...maybe you are clean afterall...

[PNW Avant]

Just got done workin on the car for a bit. I checked out the lines in the back windows briefly. They looked like defrosters to me!

[SoCalS4Avant]

Mine are defrosters too...didn't take a pic, but I will if people MUST have them! lol

There's no way that Audi would put antenna on both sides - both windows - and my radio reception could still be so crappy!

Apparently, I'm not on too much crack after all, PNW!

[Subyroo651]

Mine are defrosters too...didn't take a pic, but I will if people MUST have them! lol

There's no way that Audi would put antenna on both sides - both windows - and my radio reception could still be so crappy!

Apparently, I'm not on too much crack after all, PNW!

I say post pics just to silence any skeptics...

[SoCalS4Avant]

I say post pics just to silence any skeptics...

LOL - fair enough.

Here you guys go. This is the same on both sides. Definitely not antennas.

[Subyroo651]

Hahah That was dumb, I though you meant you actually had pics showing the frost being melted. I could've looked at my car for those shots


for the Recaros though

[AvanTTix]

That pattern is kind of interesting for a defrost... don't you think?

Until I see pics of the defrosted side windows, to me these are antennas. As for your crappy FM/AM reception, your AM/FM reception module mighty be cracked. Apparently it's a common feature on these...

[PNW Avant]

I dont see why the antenna would be different for avants. There's no antenna in the sedan's rear quarter window...

The lines are the same material and same thickness as the rear defroster. The pattern would be to get the most area defrosted as possible in the window.

[AvanTTix]

So then I guess your side windows defrosters are broken then.

[Subyroo651]

Could we maybe find something in the Bentley manual that can possibly prove or dis prove this idea?

[PNW Avant]

So then I guess your side windows defrosters are broken then.

Dang.

I checked the manual last night to see if there were seperate fuses but it looks like they run on the same one. Then again, the manual isn't always avant specific.

[Mezzer]

I think that maybe the car has to be equipped with the cold weather package in order to have the side window defrosters hooked up. I know my car doesn't have the c/w package and they don't work.

Not fact but just a thought.

[Capt. Obvious]

I dont see why the antenna would be different for avants. There's no antenna in the sedan's rear quarter window...

That's beacause it's on the rear window instead on a sedan.

They are not defrosters kids. That's why not a single person in this thread has ever seen them "work".

[MikeWire]

I think that maybe the car has to be equipped with the cold weather package in order to have the side window defrosters hooked up. I know my car doesn't have the c/w package and they don't work.

Not fact but just a thought.

Not defrosters - they are terrestrial AM/FM radio antenna. The only thing your roof antenna is good for is nav and satellite radio (OEM).

FTR, the cold weather package is heated driver and passenger seat and the rear seat center armrest with a ski bag.

[tankdeer]

FTR, the cold weather package is heated driver and passenger seat and the rear seat center armrest with a ski bag.

I think that's only true on the B6. For the B7, front heated seats come as part of the premium package, and the cold weather package adds heated rears and the ski bag.

[AvanTTix]

They are not defrosters kids. That's why not a single person in this thread has ever seen them "work".

Well some of us never expected to see "them" work either...

[MikeWire]

I think that's only true on the B6. For the B7, front heated seats come as part of the premium package, and the cold weather package adds heated rears and the ski bag.

Correct. I was speaking of the B6, not the B7.

To add to the mix, the B6 2002 had heated rear seats, but no other year did.

+rep for good info.

[PNW Avant]

What an ugly set of antennae! My intuition fails me again. AvanTTix, I should have listened to you in the first place!

At least now I know they ain't broke!

[Greyhound Guy]

Speaking for the B5, the rear window is an antenna and there is an antenna on the roof. The car uses both to get a better signal.

[bblume]

That's an antenna

this^^^