Rear Defogger: Service and Repair
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER WIRE INSPECTION AND REPAIRINSPECTION
NOTE:
- When cleaning rear window glass, use a dry cloth to wipe it along wire direction.
- When cleaning glass, do not use detergent or abrasive-containing glass cleaner.
- When measuring wire voltage, use a tester with negative probe (3) wrapped with a tin foil (2) which should be held down on wire (1) by finger pressure.
1. Checking wire damage.
a. Turn ignition switch ON.
b. Turn defogger switch ON.
c. Use a voltmeter (1) to check voltage at the center of each heat wire, as shown. If measured voltage is 10 V, wire must be damaged between its center and positive end. If voltage is zero, wire must be damaged between its center and ground.
2. Locating damage in wire.
a. Touch voltmeter positive (+) lead to heat wire positive terminal end.
b. Touch voltmeter negative (-) lead with a foil strip to heat wire positive terminal end, then move it along wire to the negative terminal end.
c. The place where voltmeter fluctuates from zero to several volts is where there is damage.
NOTE: If heat wire is free from damage, voltmeter should indicate 12 V at heat wire positive terminal end and its indication should decrease gradually toward zero at the other terminal (ground).
REPAIR
1. Clean broken wire tips and its surrounding area with grease, wax and silicone remover.
2. Apply masking tape (1) at both upper and lower sides of heat wire to be repaired.
3. Apply commercially-available repair agent (4) with a fine-tip brush.
4. 2 to 3 minutes later, remove masking tapes (1) previously applied.
5. Leave repaired heat wire as it is for at least 24 hours before operating defogger again.