Welcome to another round of: What the hell is this?

I was washing my super bad ass pimped out 4Runner, you know, to keep it looking as new & cool as possible. When I saw this on the windshield.

I can't believe I never noticed it before. It looks like maybe it's some kind of temperature sensor? It's below the wipers and appears to be embedded into the window. The window is OEM, so I know it's not a weird aftermarket thing.

Does anyone know what it is or may be?

 

It's a heater to unfreeze/de-ice the wipers from the windshield.

 

Thanks. That makes perfect sense. I knew it was some kind of built in sensor or feature. But I wasn't sure.

 

I believe it’s the defroster element in the glass,rear windshield has it as well as the rear quarter windows. That’s how my 23’ is.

 

I love that button here in denver

 

Those lines in the rear quarter windows are not defrosters. Antennas.

 

So many people get this wrong. It’s simple really. They are a type of crop circle use by aliens tracking our movements and calling SOS when we’re stuck in the desert.

 

^ This. I was hoping to see comments like this. Thank you!

 

And... man... those work great!!!!! We don't get a lot of snow in these parts, but we get wicked ice sometimes and sleet.

Yeah I always tell my friends, hey I don't have a power lift gate, but I have heated windshield wipers and crawl control.

 

Breakfast burrito warmer.

 

Why oh why do I always get the blame?????
Doesn't Wiley Coyote have something for you to chase???

 

Dude, I'm not gonna lie... On SEVERAL occasions I have turned the passenger side heated seat on and put my food down on it, just to keep it hot or warm.

 

In advance, on the way to the pickup location. To make sure the seat is nice and toasty......

 

Exactly

 

Brother, if it is good enough to warm her muffin...

 

I'm not so dumb after all. I knew it was to keep your carry out pizza warm.