Building off the precedent set by the 3rd generation, the 4th generation Land Rover Discovery stuck with the same basic body structure with some minor aesthetic modifications to make the edges rounder. More importantly, the mechanical changes to the vehicle gave it significantly greater power while also allowing it to function more adequately as an off-road vehicle. A not-uncommon problem owners experience lies with the heated windshield.
One of luxuries afforded by the Discovery 4 is the heated windshield that can remove ice and snow at a much greater speed than a traditional defroster. It sure beats climbing out with a scraper in below freezing weather to hack away at a thick scrim of winter—except, that is, when the heated windshield fails. The most common experience is that the whole system will not be affected, that the rear window will still work and even half of the front, but the other half, usually the passenger side, will be frozen blind.
Due to the spotty nature of the problem, it most likely lies in the electrical systems of the automobile. A bad or failing fuse could be the cause, and one that is not too pricy to fix. Another solution could be with the ground wire to the system. A faulty ground wire will often leave certain electrical components unable to perform adequately, resulting in malfunctions like the one occurring with the windshield.
A quick, simple, and inexpensive way to solve the issue is to bring your Discovery 4 down to an experienced Land Rover repair center. The men and women there will have tremendous experience with cars like the LR4 and with issues like an erratic windshield heater. You’ll likely find yourself shelling out far less cash than if you’d gone to a dealership.
Search for a local, independent Land Rover repair shop with Land Rover mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.