Defender's Frozen Windows: Help for Heating Failures

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2014 Land Rover Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6. Last month at the garage, they found that the mirror heating wasn't working due to corroded wiring connections at the mirror base. The plug terminals had oxidized over time, and moisture had gotten into the connection housing. It's actually a common problem with these models, especially as they age. The fix involved cleaning the connectors, applying dielectric grease, and replacing one damaged wire that had corroded through. The heated rear window issue was related, turned out the main relay for the heating system was affected by the same moisture problem. It wasn't a serious mechanical issue, more of an electrical annoyance that needed proper attention. The whole job took about 2 hours. My advice would be to get it checked soon though, as moisture in electrical connections can lead to other problems if left unchecked. Really worth getting it sorted by someone who knows Land Rovers well, the wiring layout can be tricky in these models.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. The corrosion and moisture issues make total sense given the symptoms. Since you got it fixed last month, has everything been working properly? Also, would you mind sharing how much they charged you for the repair? I'm trying to get a rough idea of costs before I take it in. Cheers!

Hey again! Yes, I'm happy to report everything's working perfectly now since I got it fixed. The exterior mirror heating is working like a charm, no more foggy mirrors in cold weather! The total bill came to 155€ for fixing the cable connection and cleaning up those corroded plug connections on the mirror glass. Money well spent if you ask me. The mechanic showed me the oxidized parts they replaced, and wow, those connections were in rough shape! I know you were hesitant about mechanics after your last experience, but honestly, getting this fixed properly was the right call. These electrical gremlins can be really annoying if left untreated, and the price was reasonable for the work done. Just make sure you mention the symptoms I had when you take it in, it'll help them diagnose it faster. These Land Rovers tend to have similar issues, so a specialist should know exactly what to look for. Let me know how it goes when you get yours sorted!

Thanks everyone for the advice! Just wanted to update you on what happened. Finally took my Defender to a different mechanic who specializes in Land Rovers. Good news, it was exactly what you described, corroded wiring and moisture damage. The repair was straightforward and cost me about 200€, slightly more than expected but they did a thorough job. The mechanic was great, showed me all the damaged parts and explained everything. They cleaned up all the connections, replaced the worn-out wiring, and added some protective coating to prevent future moisture problems. Even found and fixed a few other minor electrical issues I hadn't noticed. Been a week now, and both the heated windows and mirrors are working perfectly! Really glad I didn't put this off any longer. And honestly, way less stressful than my last mechanic experience. Sometimes it's worth paying a bit more for someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction, saved me a lot of worry and probably some money too!