Unknown button??

There’s a little button below my proximity button that has a jagged line through a windshield icon. I’m very curious as to what it does?? I have a 11’ SR5

 

It's not unknown, it's the windshield defroster. The manual should talk about it and you can see the gridded area under the wipers.

 

Haha. True! I use it all the time. Works great!

 

That button (when pressed) gives you 10 more MPG's, and makes you look WAY cooler. We all have it, but none of us fucking press it.

 

Very interesting. I’ve never seen anything like it before. The defrost on the regular ac controls is different? I understand that it blows heat or cold to the windshield but it has a defroster same as the rear?

 

It's electronic like the rear but in the front.

 

I beleive the defroster is a small area where the wipers sit to keep them from freezing.

 

The heating element is Integrated into the lower portion of the windshield, separate from the heating/cooling system.

 

Thank you sir! No vehicle I’ve ever had has had one. I see a lot of these guys have a very good sense of humor

 

And if it's the same thing as my 2019 has, it's a wonderful thing. Just turn it on if you have snow/ice. You won't have it there for long.

 

Took me about 6 months before I knew what that was. Had a chance to use it lately -16F!

 

Party Mode button

 

Throw it away.

 

Beware you may crack your windshield if you use it, though with a 2011, a windshield replacement doesn't cost $1k...

 

Never heard of a windshield cracking from a factory installed option. Guys, is this accurate? Or is it a joke and I missed it?
Apologies if I’m not understanding correctly.

 

What is a 'proximity button'??

 

I cant tell you exactly but I can get you close

 

Well played, sir.

 

https://www.4runners.com/threads/windshield-replacement-best-plan-oem-vs-aftermarket.29423/

 

Close, apparently, is good enough. Based on post #20, it doesn't appear that I want to find either the proximity button, or the button below it. I'll just go on in ignorant bliss.

 

Not to be tough here, but one person once does not prove a case for millions of vehicles. I use it all the time in below 30 degree weather and zero issues. While I hope it never happens to anyone, it’s really non-logical to take one example (even two) and extrapolate a maxim out of that.
So I roll on with a nice clear windshield in cold winter weather.

 

^Did you read through the thread? Two other folks chimed in on similar experiences. On a factory windshield fresh off the assembly line it's fine. Get some stone chips on it in normal driving (and on the delivery transporter!) and the thermal shock can crack the glass. Feel free to do whatever. Make sure your insurance has adequate glass coverage or have $1-1.4k set aside for windshield replacement and TSS calibration.

Growing up in Canada I just fold the wiper arms up if the forecast calls for snow or freezing rain. Helps with brush and scraper access (since you need to scrape the rest of the windshield anyway).

 

Maybe it's less risky if it's turned on after the vehicle is warmed up. I don't think its purpose is to de-ice a frozen windshield, but rather to keep the wipers from crusting up while driving. Not certain of that, though.

 

A proximity sensor is the little things in your bumper that tell you when your getting near things and it beeps faster the closer you get. I only have them in the rear and can turn them on or off

 

If you have a 2011 with that feature, it must be a Limited. A lot of members lately don't list what year and model they drive, so it's a guess on my part.

First I've heard of this feature.

 

I've got a 2011 Limited. Mine does not have ANY sensors. Either it was an optional item, or they were added aftermarket items. I'm going with optional due to the dummy plug on mine.

And, this is exactly what the intended use is. I can't tell you how many times I've been driving in a blizzard, with full windshield defrost blowing and slush building up under the wipers at the bottom of the windshield. Push the magic button and it doesn't build up! FWIW, it took me a long time to figure this out, but it's a great thing to have.

 

The wiper deice is yet another feature that makes the 4Runner cool. I’ll take it over a panel mounted big screen TV anytime.

 

My 2010 SR5 has the beeping parking sensors in the rear bumper cover, but there's no backup camera.

 

Again, two out of 5,000,000 is not sufficient data. Statistically it is insignificant.