My Windshield Has a Wire Attached?

[NewfieMZ3]

I pulled my windshield last night and was surprised to see two wires attached, one in each lower corner, which appeared to be attached to some sort of metallic tape on the edge of the glass. First instinct is that this is an antenna!!!! But my car has an external, fender-mounted, factory antenna. Any thoughts?........sorry in advance if this is a dumb one, but I don't recall anything in my research that refers to such wires.

[cgarr]

Heated windscreen maybe?

[NewfieMZ3]

Not sure, it is an 84 Coupe, never heard tell of that before.

[Kroggers]

+1 on the heated screen - look threw the glass against daylight and see if you can see small thin wires that run from one side to the the other.

As far as I know the early heated screens are NLA, so treat with care...

[cgarr]

I think the option code is M568,,, opps, could be 577 too?

[mlfox]

Originally Posted by NewfieMZ3

I pulled my windshield last night and was surprised to see two wires attached, one in each lower corner, which appeared to be attached to some sort of metallic tape on the edge of the glass. First instinct is that this is an antenna!!!! But my car has an external, fender-mounted, factory antenna. Any thoughts?........sorry in advance if this is a dumb one, but I don't recall anything in my research that refers to such wires.

Heated windshield in SC?

[NewfieMZ3]

My option codes don't specify either specific code. But, it has the code for "Canadian Package", which I would assume is cold weather options, Cat, etc. I need to do more research. I was going to replace the windscreen, because I had to take it out anyway to get the dash pad. No major damage, just looks peppered on a sunny day. I may keep it now as it is NLA, and just replace the seal. Should I keep it original?

[javadog]

If it's a heated windshield, there will be a series of very thin, zig-zag patterened wires embedded in the lower 5 or 6 inches of the glass. If it's an antenna, you'll see a slightly larger wire running around the outer perimeter, near the seal area. It's easy to figure out which one you have.

Whether you replace it or not is your choice. Want to see better, or do you need the ability to heat the lower part of the windshield?

JR

[JJ 911SC]

It's on mime and also listed on the COA as: Heated and Tinted Windshield along with Canadian Equipment

[NewfieMZ3]

No, there are no small wires running through the glass on the lower perimeter. The wire is connected to what looks to be a metallic tape on the lower edge of glass in both corners, inside the seal(as noted by javadog). That's why I assumed antenna. But seems redundant with the fender mount?

[javadog]

If you have a windshield with an embedded antenna wire , you are right in that it may be redundant with an antenna in the fender. A previous owner may have installed it; maybe simply because he ordered the wrong one, that one was cheaper, it was more readily avilable to him, or who knows what?

The wire on a windshield with the built in antenna is visible from the lower right corner of the windshield, up the right A pillar about 3/8ths of an inch from the inner edge of the rubber seal, to the top center of the windshield, then down vertically to the lower center of the glass, where the wire disappears behind the rubber seal again.

I've attached a photo of the lower right portion of a heated windshield, showing the defroster wires.

JR




JR

[BeyGon]

Could it be part of the alarm system?

[javadog]

Not the factory one...

I've never seen an aftermarket system that used anything other than an accoustic sensor to detect glass breakage, so I doubt that's what it is.

JR

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by NewfieMZ3

I pulled my windshield last night and was surprised to see two wires attached, one in each lower corner, which appeared to be attached to some sort of metallic tape on the edge of the glass. First instinct is that this is an antenna!!!! But my car has an external, fender-mounted, factory antenna. Any thoughts?........sorry in advance if this is a dumb one, but I don't recall anything in my research that refers to such wires.

Maybe someone put in an aftermarket windshield antenna at some point? (But then gave up b/c they don't work! lol).

It's not the factory windshield antenna setup, b/c that only has one wire, on the passenger side.

[NewfieMZ3]

It looks OE, SEKURIT...THERMOVIT...........anyway, its coming out regardless, can't stand to look through the "pepper" on a sunny day.

[NewfieMZ3]

I'll get some pics.....it's baffling. But it looks nothing like the heated windshield, with the wires in the glass. Wire attached both lower corners......nothing else visible, up the A Pillar.

[NewfieMZ3]

Some pics of both sides, inside and out.

[javadog]

Take the glass out and get a better look at the wires. They may have been added, for reasons unknown.

JR

[NoLift911]

That is a heated windshield - I can see the lines in the pic - I have an 84 Carrera as well with the same option - a new one goes for $1480 - ask me how I know. Shine a flashlight out of the car in a dark garage - the lines will shop up.

It is a valuable piece - certainly worth reconditioning the glass, you turn your defroster to the right to operate - in the pulled state.

Def a unique option.

[Head416]

Originally Posted by nolift911

It is a valuable piece - certainly worth reconditioning the glass, you turn your defroster to the right to operate - in the pulled state.

I've always wanted to know what that 'twist' was for!