Who here has defrosting wires in BOTH rear quarter windows?

Who has defrosting wires in ANY rear quarter window?

I think I have an in-glass radio antenna in one of those windows. But regardless, a defroster is not useful in the other window because I can't see it from the driver's seat.

 

Here in the US, the first two years of Gen 3 (2010 and 2011) did not have the diversity FM antenna in the right quarter window glass, but the 2012 refresh added it. It's only on that side.

-Chap

 

Mine is only on the right side quarter window, but I figured that's just because it's impossible for the driver to see through the left window.

 

I assumed it was a window defroster element - I have a normal FM antenna on the roof.

But if it is a defroster, it's completely useless to me - I have a RHD car and it's on the driver's side! There is nothing on the other side.

I must check if JDM models are the same, there are a few around here (mainly taxis). I know they have the indicator stalk on the traditional RHD side (right side, as opposed to left on mine), so maybe there are other differences that make for sense for RHD.

 

Diversity systems use more than one antenna:
Antenna diversity - Wikipedia
What is FM diversity? | PriusChat

 

I had briefly wondered about upgrading my 2010 for better reception (Gen 3 didn't get the diversity antenna until the 2012 refresh). Even the 2010 nav headunit has a second, unused, moto-style antenna jack in the back. But it would be a lot of fussing; 2010 hasn't got the extra coax cable under the dash or above the headliner, or the separate antenna amp next to the quarter window, and the window's not an easy replacement (it is urethaned in place).

If you look closely at the traces on the quarter window, you'll see a lot of them are dead ends. Would not work to pass current for a defroster. Normal for an antenna.

-Chap

 

Mine is also on the wrong side for vision but it does have two connections in a circuit that would work for defrosting, I also have a FM ariel on the roof. I must say radio reception is much better than my old gen2

 

The antenna on the roof and the one in the quarter window are both parts of the diversity system.

Is it possible that in Norway or UK, they omit the diversity antenna to install a single-quarter-window defroster instead? Hmm, maybe, but it won't surprise me if you can pop the interior trim off and see the antenna amplifier.

-Chap