Figure 13.57. Rear window defroster elements: a – sedan body; b – coupe body; c – hatchback body; 1 – heater switch; 2 – interference suppression element
The rear window defroster consists of horizontally positioned heating elements sprayed onto the glass surface during its manufacture (figure 13.57).
Minor breaks in the heating elements can be repaired without removing the rear window.
To check the operation of the heater, start the engine and turn on the rear window defroster.
Connect one probe of the test lamp to the vehicle ground, and carefully touch each heating element with the second probe.
The brightness of the test lamp should increase as the probe moves from the right edge of the heating element to the left. If the indicator light glows brightly at both ends of the heating element, check that the ground wire is securely connected. All heating elements should be checked in at least two places.
To repair a broken heating element, it is recommended to purchase a repair kit designed specifically for this purpose.
To fix the break, first turn off the heating system and wait a few minutes.
Clean the repair area thoroughly with alcohol or solvent.
Place strips of masking tape on both sides of the repair area. The distance between the strips should be the same as between the heating elements. This can be checked from outside the vehicle.
Using a small brush, apply a small amount of silver paint between the strips of tape, overlapping the undamaged area on both sides.
Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours and treat the repair area with a stream of hot air. At an air temperature of 60°C the paint will dry in 30 minutes.
Even though the heater is now fully operational, it is not recommended to touch the repair area for 24 hours.
Article is based on website data MazBook