Sorry to be NEGATIVE…

Just frustrating to buy a new car and have the defroster not work well In weather barely below freezing.

I am well aware of how heaters and coolant systems work, and have never had this issue with any other modern car I’ve owned.

Don’t people usually get on forums because of problems?

Do you have any suggestions about anything I might do differently that would actually help the problem?

I’m hoping someone might be able to help solve the problem.

Obviously it has to be up to temp to blow hot air, which it is doing.

It just seems that the tiny defroster strip only located in the very center of the windshield may be inadequate.

 

Ok so now I am confused is it he outside glass or inside? lol
Inside is easy get a simple temperature measuring device and see what the air temperature is coming out the vents are? Then report back here with the reading and take the reading after the coolant light goes off. You vent temperature should be at least 90-130F .You coolant will be 130F+ after the coolant light goes off.

You temperatures are equal and actually slightly warmer then Truckee Ca. We went several times in November December and even this month. -19f all times. While there I placed a towel covering my front and rear glass. Obvious reason there is no external deicers on the glass. And I hate to poor water on the glass mainly because getting wet is ridiculous when a towel works better. LOL

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Yes people join here for problem help but they don't start by repeating 3 times not to buy a MAZDA. in their first response. ... LOL How did you expect member to react to that?
Also frankly it show you did not even read the new member agreement and new member information?
You just joined for free help and expecting it!


Oh and NO it just not the center defroster vent which also indicates you have no clue how the defrosting system works!

 

I think this gets glossed over really easy. You also need to drive the car to get it fully heated with the air temperature.

 

Bingo. Bad design. Had the same exact issue on an older Subaru Legacy - small center defrost vent only warmed up the middle of the windshield. You need to try and maximize heat output - try the following:
1. Warm up the engine.
2. Set temp to Max.
3. Set vent selector to Front Defrost.
4. Set airflow to RECIRC (to minimize drawing cold air from the outside).
5. Set A/C ON (to prevent interior fogging because of RECIRC).
6. Set fan to HIGH.

This is the maximum heat you can possibly get to the windshield. If this is not enough, I don't know what else to suggest.

 

Ok, I edited my original post, sorry

On my car there is a single vent centered but no additional vents and no indication (visual) of the windshield wiper defroster feature (the dark lines you are supposed to see at the bottom of the windshield according to an internet video I watched)

Please inform me what other vent there is supposed to be for defrosting the FRONT windshield (not the vents for the side windows) because my car doesn’t have it/them!

I didn’t read the agreement Bad member. Scolding taken.

aargh, it’s frustrating though.

I will let y’all know what the dealer says when I take it next Tuesday.

It is as I mentioned an issue that seems to occur in cold climates for some folks, though apparently not in Maine

I’ve also asked the person who started this thread if they ever resolved the issue.

other than this issue we love the car!

 

Thanks! Yes I checked that.

 

There are always some other cause and effects... yes in some cold environment operating conditions we must remember when the defrost is being used the AC must cycle the air to dry it but when the AC is on so are the radiator fans(low speed). LOL so yes sometimes you need to drive to even get the coolant temperature up. Many auto manufactures years ago use a bypass system, so the coolant comes directly off the engine block before circulating through the radiator and the thermostat controlling the coolant temperatures.

 

Thanks again, great step by step guide. Our CX-5 won’t allow you to have both front defroster and recirculating on at the same time though.

 

Go look again! Its a defrost system!
You and a couple other keep thinking it all about the center vent.... ??? Ok owners often don't know how things are designed but please don't say a bad design without first knowing and understanding how the Defrost and ventilation system completely works. LOL
And really people should not show wisdom (or lack of) by comparing a Mazda to other platforms. Last time I looked auto manufacture don't really share engineering designs with each other ? LOL

 

Thats right and there is a technical reason for this, and it is basically called thermal dynamics.