Ok, before I tear apart all the interior panels, where is the dang heater? I am checking the switch and relay but cannot find a diagram in my assembly manual that shows the location of the actual heater.

 

you mean the lines across the back glass?

 

umm...the black lines across your rear window is the rear window defoger. theres an electrical wire the connects to them somewhere, look for it. the lines are just resistor paint and elecricity is ran through them which creats heat; which defogs and/or removes ice from your window. its the same idea as a toaster or electrical oven. was that what you were wondering.....?

 

Yes, where is the wire that connects to all those lines to pass current through them? Without removing interior panels it is not obvious as in other vehicles. It is hidden quite well. My guess the wire would run up to roof level. I have not been able to find this detail in the assembly manual....odd. When I activate the switch, it's light does not come on. The contact in the rely does move but it resets. (clicks twice)....is that correct? Guess I got to wait till winter when my glass cools (even in the garage) to tell if the fogger lines heat up. At one time the light came on and it did work. Now I get no light. I suspect the relay.

 

unfortunatly i'm not familier with that style rear window, hope to be some day though if you know what i mean. 1980 is my birthday, it will be mine. anyway......i think i can still help. now...it may be possible that the wire connecting to the paint fell off, i've seen that happen before. is there a square shaped spot in the paint that looks like it had something glued to it? if not....do you have an electrometer? all you had to do is find a line of paint, and put both leads of the electometer on it. now....if you get current, move that electrometer around...the voltage should be getting stronger as you move closer to the contact wire. actually if its working....you really wouldnt need to know where it is unless you're curious. that should help you find out where it is, and/or if its working. if you get no voltage at all anywere....well something's wrong. tear out that relay and put a jumper wire in from power to the defogger, that should tell you if the relay is bad. it should be labled on the relay which lead is which, i'm not sure if they use the number system or not....you'll see numbers labled on a diagram on the side. unfortunatly....i cant remember which is the universal power one, maybe 81?? and if it dosnt work after you apply power....then you better start digging. hope i thought that out right.....


[Modified by RJR99SS, 5:02 PM 8/20/2001]

 

My light comes on and stays on for about 10 minutes.
Even when it's 110 degrees in Phoenix.

If it is shutting off, it sounds like a short or another problem with the switch/relay.