Where is the rearview mirror heating button on the Malibu?
2 Answers
The rearview mirror heating function button on the Malibu is located at the lower right corner of the car's central control air conditioning operation area. The button with a rectangle icon showing upward airflow 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 the rear window and rearview mirrors. The rearview mirror heating 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 frequent manual wiping by the driver and thus reducing driving hazards. The rearview mirror heating function can be activated in two common ways: one is combined with the electric rearview mirror adjustment function button, where simply rotating the knob can turn it on; the other is located on the air conditioning control panel, where pressing the heating button activates the function. There is no need to manually adjust the angle, as the driver's side has adjustment buttons. When the button is pressed, the electric heater behind the rearview mirror glass rapidly heats up to a fixed temperature within a few minutes, typically between 35-60 degrees, and the heat is emitted from the left and right rearview mirrors. Simultaneously, as the temperature rises and evaporation occurs, water droplets on the mirror surface become smaller, and fog gradually disappears, thereby heating the mirror and removing frost. If the rain is particularly heavy, the effect may diminish and become less noticeable. The principle of rearview mirror heating involves adding electric heating wires to the rearview mirror, which consume a significant amount of power. 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 for starting the vehicle. Other methods for defogging rearview mirrors include: Opening windows for convection: Slightly opening the windows on both sides creates air convection between the inside and outside of the car, reducing the temperature difference and causing the fog to disappear gradually. Adjusting the car's air conditioning to the appropriate setting can utilize the hot air blown by the AC to defog the mirrors.
As a Malibu owner who has driven this car for several years, the rearview mirror heating button is actually located in the air conditioning control area, usually sharing the same button with the rear window defrost function. Look for an icon on the center console, resembling a rear window with lines or a button marked with a snowflake symbol—pressing it activates the heating function. On foggy winter mornings or during rainy days when the rearview mirror gets too blurry to see clearly, this feature is particularly useful. The built-in heating wires will evaporate the moisture, and after a while, the mirror will become clear. Regularly check if the button is in good condition, and avoid pressing it too frequently to prevent circuit overload issues. Try using this feature more often in bad weather while driving—it's both safe and convenient.
