Rear window defog wires
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 149
Likes: 28
From: Belle Isle Florida
Rear window defog wires
Previous owner of my 2000 coupe cut off the wires where they attach to the window for some reason. Trying to figure out how to reconnect them. The little piece is still attached to the window and I am wondering if i can solder the wires to them without damaging anything. Fuse is not blown, it is a 40 amp fuse so I need to have a good connection with the wires if I solder them. I live in Florida and I doubt if I would ever need to need rear window defog but would like to have it put back like its supposed to be. Any ideas?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 594
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From: Back in North Central OH
Without more detail, I would suggest you acquire another harness that plugs onto the clip soldered on the busbar of the grid. The defroster grid is made up of silver paste silkscreened on to the glass and "fired" into the surface during the molding/tempering process. If you are going to solder anything to the painted surface, be careful you don't burn the silver paint or you will lose adhesion. You can also break through the paint and lose all continuity. I spent a good portion of my working career screening, tempering, and soldering automotive glass.
.
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Oregon
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
If it is like mine then something like these should work
https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneo...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneo...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
You live in Florida and don't need rear defog? Have you not met our every-day-2:30pm rain storms? I use my defroster daily. lol
Got a pic of the damage? Are you talking about the wires from the struts to the glass or the main one from the halo/roof of the car to the window?
Got a pic of the damage? Are you talking about the wires from the struts to the glass or the main one from the halo/roof of the car to the window?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 149
Likes: 28
From: Belle Isle Florida
The wires from the struts to the little silver clip that is soldered to the defroster grid were cut off right at the clip. I attempted to solder the the wires back on to the clip and the clip came off grid. Ended up just soldering the wires to the grid where the clips came off. It seemed to work. Like I said earlier I live in Florida and don't take the Vette out of the garage if it even looks like rain so I doubt if I would need the rear defrosters but you never know.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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The wires from the struts to the little silver clip that is soldered to the defroster grid were cut off right at the clip. I attempted to solder the the wires back on to the clip and the clip came off grid. Ended up just soldering the wires to the grid where the clips came off. It seemed to work. Like I said earlier I live in Florida and don't take the Vette out of the garage if it even looks like rain so I doubt if I would need the rear defrosters but you never know.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 149
Likes: 28
From: Belle Isle Florida
I don't understand why the previous owner would do that but he did a lot of things to the car that I don't understand. No way to put it back to new unless I find those little clips with the wires attached. If I could find a wrecked Corvette with a broken back widow with the clips and wires I could solder the clips back on to my window.
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I don't understand why the previous owner would do that but he did a lot of things to the car that I don't understand. No way to put it back to new unless I find those little clips with the wires attached. If I could find a wrecked Corvette with a broken back widow with the clips and wires I could solder the clips back on to my window.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
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From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Be very careful if soldering to the glass. I've done it before on other cars to repair broken off defroster wiring tabs. The chance of the window exploding is always there.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 149
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From: Belle Isle Florida
Just talked to a corvette salvage yard not to far from me and he has several busted back windows but he can't check until Monday if the clips and wires are on them. He stated that the reason is a common problem that the rear window defrost has does not turn off when its supposed to and the window shatters. According to the owners manual when you press the rear defrost button it it supposed to shut off after 15 minutes and if you press the button again it will shut off after 7 and 1/2 minutes. That could be why the previous owner cut the wires. Just a guess at this time.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 717
Likes: 80
From: Michigan
It’s been awhile since it looked at mine, but one of the wires came off the clip years ago. Soldering it never seemed to work. I tried using that special adhesive to glue the wire back, but the last time I tried using the defroster it didn’t work.
If someone has a tried and true method of getting it to work, I’m all ears. IIRC the wire broke (I assume from flexing when the deck lid was opened over the years) right at the attachment point.
If someone has a tried and true method of getting it to work, I’m all ears. IIRC the wire broke (I assume from flexing when the deck lid was opened over the years) right at the attachment point.
Last edited by jjaaam; Nov 21, 2020 at 08:59 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 149
Likes: 28
From: Belle Isle Florida
I removed the clips that are attached to the window and soldered the wires directly to the window where the clips were attached. Seemed to work OK as far as I can tell just does not look as neat as the way it was.
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