rear defroster

[Juice]

https://www.amazon.com/Window-Defogger-Electrically-Conductive-Repair/dp/B09XJ1WV7Z

There is a product for that.

 

[pass1over]

tried it, 3 times ... the soldering iron works better

 

[pass1over]

Contributing to this thread as it's still a rear defroster issue.

I found a much better product to reattach the tabs with, it's a two-part heat activated epoxy. Have to keep it above 100° for half an hour. Luckily it's been crazy hot down here so just leaving the car out in the sun was hot enough to cure it.

Having a new issue. I have power to the tabs, and power to the large copper spots on the rear window, however none of the defroster lines work. I did just have window tint installed, so I know it's because of this. However I don't see any broken grid lines. And I find it strange that absolutely none of them work, but I'm still getting power to the window.

 

[DieHarder]

Contributing to this thread as it's still a rear defroster issue.

I found a much better product to reattach the tabs with, it's a two-part heat activated epoxy. Have to keep it above 100° for half an hour. Luckily it's been crazy hot down here so just leaving the car out in the sun was hot enough to cure it.

Having a new issue. I have power to the tabs, and power to the large copper spots on the rear window, however none of the defroster lines work. I did just have window tint installed, so I know it's because of this. However I don't see any broken grid lines. And I find it strange that absolutely none of them work, but I'm still getting power to the window.

If you have power but the defroster lines don't work you have lost conductivity. The grid is simply a conductive surface that heats up when voltage is applied. If you can't Ohm it from end to end you have an open circuit. Likely the tint monkey cut one or more of the defroster lines during installation. Take it back and have them fix it.

 

[pass1over]

I haven't ohm'd it yet, gotta find the time. But yea, I know how they work. I find it hard to believe that ALL the grid lines would be inoperable though. IF I have power to the pads on the sides, I would imagine some of them should work.

I've inspected the grid and don't see any spots where it's broken.

 

[pass1over]

Are the grid lines sandwiched between the pieces of glass or are they on the inside?

There's nothing there that my nail catches on.

 

[Juice]

I suspect the repair has lost continuity. I have never seen ALL grid lines stop working if its a grid issue. Maybe the tint guy knocked off the contact and 'fixed', but not repair it?

 

[pass1over]

I get continuity down each side, from the pad to each grid line. But nothing across the grid.

No continuity at all across it, I touched each grid line.

They did knock the passenger side tab off again, but I reattached it, not them. I get power to the tabs and power to each of the big copper pads, but nothing's making it across.

Like I said, I find it really strange that ALL The grid lines don't work as well. I let him know that if I have to peel the tint off to get it fixed, he's going to have to redo it again.

 

[pass1over]

If the lines are sandwiched between the two pieces of laminated glass, there's got to be some way for the copper connection to get from the inside so to speak to middle. So for each grid line there should be a small connection from the innermost piece of glass that goes to the middle of the glass sandwich.

Sorry if that's really wordy.

I'm wondering if they may be scraped all of those off.

 

[pass1over]

peeled the tint back near the passenger attachment point so I could probe the grid lines. There are tiny breaks and/or scratches in all of them. The grid lines are on the inside of the glass, not sandwiched. There appears to be a protective film or coating on them and it's been scratched through in a lot of places. It's real faint color difference, hard to see at least to me, but it's there.

I see 2 options,

1) replace back glass
2) peel tint, mask off all the lines and repaint them on

I'm not sure if it would just be quicker to repaint them all instead of finding each small break point and only doing that spot. I've also though about doing every other line ...

I think replacing the back glass and having the tint place pay for it is the way to go.

 

[pass1over]

I've never used the grid line repair kits. How does it look when the repairs are completed? Can you tell on the inside that it's been touched up?

Is trying to repaint most of the lines even possible with these kits? Or is that a pipe dream