Windshield Disconnected? T4R Limited 2014

Hey everyone! I recently checked my cabin air filter and found it was wet. I'd just got home from the carwash so i needed to check under the cowl. When I removed the cowl I found wires from my windshield disconnected!? And the connection from the harness had a connector in it. The wires were exposed so i taped up the exposed connections and left it as I found it. I didn't want to connect it as there must be an issue when connected normally. Does anyone know why the windshield would be disconnected and the harness terminated with s "dummy" connector? How to test if there's an electrical issue? Also, do you guys see anything missing on top the cabin air filter intake that may be allowing water into the compartment? (I cleaned out the a/c evaporator line but it wasn't obstructed)

 

Are you the original owner? If not, the previous owner might have disconnected the connector on purpose so that the heater can't be turned on. There is a school of thought that the heating element in the windshield can cause the windshield to crack. Just a thought about the "why."

 

11 year-old vehicle, the windshield was probably replaced at some point. Not sure why the installer didn't connect the heater wires.

Make sure the edge seal on the cowl cover is in good shape, nothing wrinkled or with chunks missing. Make sure the cowl drains are clear on both ends - if water pools past the lip height of the cabin air intake, it will get the filter wet.

 

Thanks Brad. Good one. I'm 2nd owner and the original is in Texas. Me being from Texas, yeah, it gets frigid. Here in San Diego where I'm at now so much.

 

Got it. I'm betting high that it was disconnected on purpose for the reason I mentioned above. You definitely don't need a heated windshield in San Diego. Spent a lot of time there back in the day. So, speaking from personal experience. And... now that you know it's disconnected you won't try to use it if you ever had a reason. Not a bad thing. At least there won't be a mystery when you hit the wiper de-ice switch and nothing happens.

@3JOH22A listed a good set of steps above to check to look for the water encroachment. If it were mine, I'd leave the windshield heater unplugged and forget about it (as long as I was in SD).

 

"dummy" connector? Maybe its hooked up to something else? Looks like it?

 

@sympley76 - windshield heater

 

I have a 2013 Limited. I don't know about a heated windshield, but is that involved with the wiper deicer? I was wondering how it heated them. It must be under the wiper rest on the windshield and those are the wires.

 

^There's no separate "heated windshield", just the wiper deicer.