Rear Window Heater

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 6 other vehicles, including the 2015 Jaguar XFR, 2015 Jaguar XF, 2014 Jaguar XFR, 2014 Jaguar XF, and 2013 Jaguar XFR. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Rear window heater operation is only enabled when the engine is running. The ATC module controls operation of the rear window heater using a relay in the RJB. When rear window heater operation is required, the ATC module broadcasts a message to the RJB on the medium speed CAN bus. On receipt of the message, the RJB energizes the relay by providing a ground path for the relay coil. This allows a battery feed to flow across the relay to power the rear window heater element.

There are two modes of rear window heater operation; manual and automatic.

Manual operation is activated by pressing the rear window heater switch on the integrated control panel. When the switch is pressed, the status LED (light emitting diode) in the switch illuminates and the rear window heater element is energized. Manual operation is discontinued when the rear window heater switch is pressed a second time, 21 minutes have elapsed (the heating phase), or the engine stops. If manual operation is discontinued by the engine stopping, the previous heating phase is resumed if the engine is re-started within 30 seconds.

There are two variants of automatic operation; automatic operation at the start of a journey and automatic operation during a journey.

Automatic operation at the start of a journey is initiated for a period of time dependent on the ambient air temperature. The warmer the ambient air temperature, the shorter the deployment time is. In this instance, the switch LED is illuminated and the heater element is energized. In addition to shorter rear window heater operation times in temperate winter conditions, there are condition qualifiers to prevent subsequent operations once the cabin or engine is warm or there is a significant sunload. Automatic operation is discontinued if the rear window heater switch is pressed or the engine stops.

Automatic operation during a journey is initiated when low ambient air temperatures are experienced and the vehicle has been travelling for a set period of time above a threshold speed. In this instance, no feedback is given to the driver to inform him the rear window heater is operational (the switch LED is not illuminated). The duration of heater operation is variable depending on the ambient air temperature, vehicle speed and the amount of time the vehicle has been travelling.