rear window defroster

[vital-transform]

my rear window defroster has stopped working although the mirrors work fine the elements at the rear window do not get hot at all??
anybody seen this before?

[ronin]

yes. check the wires running from the rear hatch struts to the element on the glass

[livewirevoodoo]

courtesy of clarks-garage.com:
Troubleshooting Rear Hatch Defroster

the haynes manual, if i recall, also had a page or two devoted to it..

[UconnTim97]

Mine does that from time to time. The wires along the struts come loose, just as Ronin said.

[vital-transform]

I'll have a look at those wires..I am assuming that the fuse will be for both the mirrors and the defroster?

[SoCal Driver]

A few things that Clarks does not cover:

All of the voltage for the rear window heating element comes in on the drivers side wire. The wire on the passenger side is for the interior cargo light.

The heating element is grounded through the passenger side gas spring strut where it connects to the body. This is why there are two different part numbers for the rear window/hatch struts.

The round thing at the car end on the car side of the passenger hatch strut is the contact switch for the rear cargo light.

If the bent copper contacts pull off of the heater grid you can solder them back on. Use a hot iron and do it quickly.

In most cases it's the slip on connector on the drivers side that you will have problems with. The wire breaks or pulls out of the connector. Sometimes the contact that rubs the strut rod on the passenger side is bent -- not making contact.

[vital-transform]

the pass side contact thing I can see visually is definately not making contact...I'll start there

come to think of It haven't seen the cargo light working lately I'll check that while I'm at it!
Thanks guys

[SoCal Driver]

Don't confuse the cargo light switch thing with the contact for the rear heater grid. The cargo light contact closes when the hatch is opened.

[vital-transform]

gracias

[TurboFoFo]

wonderful info, i've been having the same problem. thanks guys.