Where is the rearview mirror heating button on the Malibu?
2 Answers
The rearview mirror heating function button of the Malibu is located at the lower right corner of the car's central control air conditioning operation area. The button with a rectangle and an upward airflow icon is the one. This button serves as both the rear window defroster and the rearview mirror heating button. Pressing it will activate the heating function for both the rear window and the rearview mirrors. The rearview mirror heating function is particularly useful during rainy or snowy weather. When activated, the heater behind the mirror quickly warms the surface, gradually removing rain or fog from the mirror, eliminating the need for the driver to manually wipe the mirrors frequently, thereby reducing driving hazards. How to use the rearview mirror heating function: There are generally two ways to activate the rearview mirror heating function. One is combined with the electric rearview mirror adjustment button—simply rotate the knob to turn it on. The other is located on the air conditioning control panel—press the heating button to activate it. There is no need to manually adjust the angle, as the driver's side has adjustment buttons. Principle of the rearview mirror heating function: After pressing the button, the electric heater behind the rearview mirror glass will rapidly heat up to a fixed temperature within a few minutes, typically between 35-60 degrees Celsius. The heat will dissipate from the left and right rearview mirrors. Simultaneously, as the temperature rises and evaporation occurs, water droplets on the mirror surface will gradually shrink, and fog will slowly disappear, thereby heating the mirror and removing frost. If the rain is particularly heavy, the effect may diminish and become less noticeable. Precautions for using the rearview mirror heating function: The principle of rearview mirror heating involves adding electric heating wires to the mirrors. These wires consume a significant amount of electricity. When using the rearview mirror heating function, ensure the car is in an ignited state. Avoid activating the function while the car is stationary to prevent draining the car battery, which could leave insufficient power to start the car. Other methods for defogging rearview mirrors include: Opening windows for convection: Slightly open the windows on both sides to allow air convection between the inside and outside of the car. As the temperature difference decreases, the fog will gradually disappear. Adjusting the car's air conditioning to the appropriate setting can also help defog the mirrors by blowing hot air.
When I first bought my Chevrolet Malibu, I was also confused about where the rearview mirror heating button was. Later, I found out it's actually integrated with the rear window defroster button on the central control panel near the air conditioning controls. There's an icon that looks like a small square with wavy lines—pressing it not only heats the rear window but also the rearview mirrors. It's super handy in rainy or snowy weather; just press it after getting in the car, and within about two minutes, the mirrors clear up, making driving much safer. I used to wonder why there wasn't a separate button, but this design saves space and makes operation more convenient. Remember to regularly check if the button's indicator light is on to avoid malfunctioning buttons affecting your drive. It's best to operate it after starting the engine to reduce battery load.
