Rear window defogger

[JohnnyFlame]

Fart yet another thing dies on me. My rear window defogger is now confirmed dead. I replaced the fuse and checked the wiring and whatever the dumb thing has given up the ghost.

Anybody know of a good after market replacement I can buy?

[burn_this_city]

You might have to replace the rear window.. Most defoggers work through the orange brown lines through the glass... Sometimes thats where the problem lies, other times its in the wiring inside the car. It takes quite a bit of power to get those defoggers to work. Could be the switch also, sometimes those go especially if the hot wire runs through it.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

You might have to replace the rear window.. Most defoggers work through the orange brown lines through the glass... Sometimes thats where the problem lies, other times its in the wiring inside the car. It takes quite a bit of power to get those defoggers to work. Could be the switch also, sometimes those go especially if the hot wire runs through it.

Yeah I'm hoping to avoid any window replacement by just finding a more mickey mouse solution.

[redforever]

There is a thread in the off topic forum with a car salesman who says to ask him anything, see what he says.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Yeah I'm hoping to avoid any window replacement by just finding a more mickey mouse solution.

Just roll down the window when it fogs up. That should clear it up, but will make your car substantially colder.

[BlackArcher101]

I've fixed quite a few rear window defrosters with a soldering gun. Look for small cracks in the wire that is on the window. Since they are so thin, they tend to crack easily and fail since there is no current flow. All you then need to do is drop some solder on the crack to bridge the gap. Inspect it thoroughly because these windows aren't cheap to replace.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Yeah I'm hoping to avoid any window replacement by just finding a more mickey mouse solution.

I bought this little heat fan from Canadian tire for in my old truck. You just plug it into the cigarette lighter and point it at what you want defrosted. I guess you could mount it in your back seat pointing towards the window and just plug it in when you need it.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I bought this little heat fan from Canadian tire for in my old truck. You just plug it into the cigarette lighter and point it at what you want defrosted. I guess you could mount it in your back seat pointing towards the window and just plug it in when you need it.

Sounds like just the thing. Thanks.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I've fixed quite a few rear window defrosters with a soldering gun. Look for small cracks in the wire that is on the window. Since they are so thin, they tend to crack easily and fail since there is no current flow. All you then need to do is drop some solder on the crack to bridge the gap. Inspect it thoroughly because these windows aren't cheap to replace.

On top of that, their is a glue out there that conducts a current used to fix exactly this type of problem. Just dab it on the broken area and presto! Fixt.

[Bobblehead]

I've used that type of application - find the break, clean the contact surface, paint on and 30 minutes later it is good to go.

But on my car it was obvious which lines where broke - it wouldn't work while all the rest would work. If your entire grid isn't working then I'm not sure where you would begin to look, unless it is one of the main lines in.

[Bean]

I'm not sure if it'll work for you but RainX makes an anti-fog wipe that I use for my front windshield. Works pretty good and it's cheap.

I do remember hearing that you're never supposed to apply anything on the rear but I'm not sure why.

[4X4]

Sometimes the issue is the connection point where the wire meets the lines. It might be pretty obvious if you look closely at it.

I would say that one of the indicators is that the entire defogger doesn't work. If it were just the bottom or just the top, I'd guess a broken line.

The wire comes out of the upholstered beam and connects to the lines on the window. Those things get roughed up from people putting backpacks or something on the back "shelf". Check it out. It may be easier than you think.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Sometimes the issue is the connection point where the wire meets the lines. It might be pretty obvious if you look closely at it.

I would say that one of the indicators is that the entire defogger doesn't work. If it were just the bottom or just the top, I'd guess a broken line.

The wire comes out of the upholstered beam and connects to the lines on the window. Those things get roughed up from people putting backpacks or something on the back "shelf". Check it out. It may be easier than you think.

My problem isn't the lines as it does not work at all. I changed the fuse and checked the connection to the lines. Looks fine. Might be the switch but by the time I get one of those and replace it I think the $29 it will cost me to grab that heater at Crappy Tire is going to be the way to go. Though I am going to give the connections one more looksee after work.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

My problem isn't the lines as it does not work at all. I changed the fuse and checked the connection to the lines. Looks fine. Might be the switch but by the time I get one of those and replace it I think the $29 it will cost me to grab that heater at Crappy Tire is going to be the way to go. Though I am going to give the connections one more looksee after work.

Exactly my point... It's not the lines. Check the connection from the wire to the lines. And I don't mean tear the car apart... The wire will come out of the supporting beam and plug in to the lines. That connection is what I'm talking about. Good chance that your problem lies there.

[gottabekd]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I bought this little heat fan from Canadian tire for in my old truck. You just plug it into the cigarette lighter and point it at what you want defrosted. I guess you could mount it in your back seat pointing towards the window and just plug it in when you need it.

I bought one of those last year. It was absolutely useless. Maybe some work better than others. I paid about $15-20.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by gottabekd

I bought one of those last year. It was absolutely useless. Maybe some work better than others. I paid about $15-20.

I had one as well. Mine mounted under the dash and it barely did anything to the interior temperature. One week later it started on fire after I pluged it in. I ripped it out the of the dash so it didn't start the entire vehicle on fire. Nice product .

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Yeah I'm hoping to avoid any window replacement by just finding a more mickey mouse solution.

Mickey Mouse you want, Mickey Mouse you get. Install a 12v fan
adjacent to the back window and let er rip. Should be able to pull the power from the wires there. I did see a heated fan in a flier recently...
Wish I could remember where.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by gottabekd

I bought one of those last year. It was absolutely useless. Maybe some work better than others. I paid about $15-20.

I paid about the same and it did absolutely nothing for the interior temperature. All it did was defrost the window that you had it directly pointed at. It also never caught fire but, like I said, I only had it on when I needed the window defrosted and then it was unplugged.