Where is the rearview mirror heating switch on the Civic?
3 Answers
The rearview mirror heating button on the Civic is located below the central control screen. There are two knobs below the central control screen. In the middle of the knobs, there is a row of buttons, and the rearview mirror heating button is the rightmost one. Rearview mirror heating is generally suitable for rainy or snowy weather. When the rearview mirror is heated, the heater behind the mirror quickly warms the mirror surface, gradually removing rainwater or fog from the mirror, eliminating the need for the driver to frequently wipe the mirror manually, 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 function key—simply rotate the knob to activate it. The other is located on the air conditioning control panel—pressing the heating button will activate it. There is no need to adjust the angle manually, as there is an adjustment button on the driver's side. 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, usually between 35-60 degrees. The heat will dissipate from the left and right rearview mirrors. At the same time, as the temperature rises and evaporates, water droplets on the mirror surface will become smaller, and fog will gradually disappear, thereby heating the mirror and removing frost. If the rain is particularly heavy, its effect will 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 rearview mirror. These wires consume a significant amount of electricity. When using the rearview mirror heating function, ensure the car is in an active state. Avoid activating the rearview mirror heating function while the car is stationary to prevent draining the car battery, which could lead to insufficient power for starting the car. Other methods for defogging rearview mirrors include: Opening windows for convection: Crack open the windows on both sides to allow air convection between the inside and outside of the car, reducing the temperature difference and causing the fog to gradually disappear. Adjusting the car's air conditioning to the appropriate setting can also use warm air from the AC to defog the mirrors.
I've been driving the 10th-generation Civic for over three years. The rearview mirror heating switch is located on the center console's air conditioning control panel, just above the AC knob. It's a rectangular button with three wavy lines inside - when pressed, the indicator light turns on to show it's activated. This function works in tandem with the rear window defroster, so pressing it once activates both features. It's especially useful in rainy weather, as the water droplets on the mirrors typically evaporate within about ten minutes. Do note that it only works when the engine is running and automatically turns off after shutting down the vehicle. During winter frost, I usually turn it on five minutes in advance so the mirrors are ready when I leave. The button placement is slightly low - it took me a while to find it when I first got the car, but now I can locate it without even looking.
Last week, I just helped a friend adjust their Civic. The rearview mirror heating button is located in the middle left of the air conditioning panel. The icon is a rectangular block with curved lines, similar to most Japanese car designs. When pressed, an orange light will illuminate as a reminder, but the system will lock the function during high summer temperatures. It's recommended to turn it on in advance during rainy weather since the heating element needs time to warm up. This feature consumes a significant amount of power, and prolonged use can affect the audio system's performance. In the mid-to-high trim levels of the new Civic, it can also be controlled via the central touchscreen, but the physical button is actually more convenient for driving operations. Remember that the rearview mirror heating only works on the outer surface of the mirror; for fogging on the inner side, you'll need to use the air conditioning defogging function.
