Help, rear defrost tab broke off
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 60
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Help, rear defrost tab broke off
Does anyone know if the tab on the rear derfroster can be soldered or repaired? The metal L bracket is broken and the dealer says the only fix is to replace the $2700 Z06 glass. Yikes! Any help or advice greatly appreciated Thanks, Rusty
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
$2700!!!!!!!!
You need to shop around for sure. If the glass was damaged, the first obvious choice would be used glass out of a wrecked car.
Check out the products in your local car parts store. I've used heater trace repair kits with great success, I'm sure they have something similar for this. Also call around to your local glass repair shops.
You need to shop around for sure. If the glass was damaged, the first obvious choice would be used glass out of a wrecked car.Check out the products in your local car parts store. I've used heater trace repair kits with great success, I'm sure they have something similar for this. Also call around to your local glass repair shops.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 257
From: Lake Tapps WA.
Originally Posted by 01Redzo6
Does anyone know if the tab on the rear derfroster can be soldered or repaired? The metal L bracket is broken and the dealer says the only fix is to replace the $2700 Z06 glass. Yikes! Any help or advice greatly appreciated Thanks, Rusty
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
you can have that repaired. i have a glass business and have had to do it plenty of times. just make sure that whoever does it doesn't get the glass too hot or POP. oh, and don't pay that rediculous insurance mark-up from the dealer for the backlite. shouldn't be more than a few hundred dollars for the glass, unless you have to have oem. ppg, lof, temperlite etc. make perfect glass.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
Originally Posted by 01Redzo6
Does anyone know if the tab on the rear derfroster can be soldered or repaired? The metal L bracket is broken and the dealer says the only fix is to replace the $2700 Z06 glass. Yikes! Any help or advice greatly appreciated Thanks, Rusty
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
One could definetely solder it back together! Just take your time and be careful. Go to Radio Shack or somewhere comprable and see what solder will be best for your application and then proceed to the repair!
Thanks,Matt
Thanks,Matt
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Clean both surfaces real good with steel wool, use lots of flux and DON’T leave the iron on long. I wouldn’t imagine that you would need special solder a quality 60/40 should be fine. Make sure you clean ALL of the flux off after you’re done!
Like red88L98convert said, you’ll crack the glass with too much heat, I know I do stained glass.
Good Luck!
Like red88L98convert said, you’ll crack the glass with too much heat, I know I do stained glass.
Good Luck!
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That's what the glass shops use.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
The tab is broken from the RH side of my hatch but couldn't find the OEM tab.
I just bought a Cold Heat battery operated soldering gun from Radio Shack. It worked well to construct a new "tab" from desoldering ribbon and a crimp connector.
No rain tomorrow so I'll try and tack solder the ribbon onto the defroster strip w/o breaking the hatch glass. If I can get good contact I intend on going over it with JB Quick.
I'll post up the results of the effort.
BTW, here's some repair kit info from C4 Tech:
I just bought a Cold Heat battery operated soldering gun from Radio Shack. It worked well to construct a new "tab" from desoldering ribbon and a crimp connector.
No rain tomorrow so I'll try and tack solder the ribbon onto the defroster strip w/o breaking the hatch glass. If I can get good contact I intend on going over it with JB Quick.
I'll post up the results of the effort.
BTW, here's some repair kit info from C4 Tech:
BOTH REPARS IN ONE KIT
Most auto parts stores stock rear window defogger repair kits. The two most popular are the Permatex Complete Rear Window Defogger Repair Kit No. 09117 and the Syon Rear Defogger Repair Kit No. 38-8434.
If you only need to repair the tabs, buy the Loctite Rear Window Defogger Tab Adheasive No. 21351.
Most auto parts stores stock rear window defogger repair kits. The two most popular are the Permatex Complete Rear Window Defogger Repair Kit No. 09117 and the Syon Rear Defogger Repair Kit No. 38-8434.
If you only need to repair the tabs, buy the Loctite Rear Window Defogger Tab Adheasive No. 21351.
Last edited by 65Z01; Dec 13, 2006 at 10:32 PM. Reason: added info
