My rear windshield problem was screwy

[mspa]

It was wierd. My rear window worked just fine until one day it decided it was only going down halfway. It would make a thud sound. Well, today I was determined to find out what was going on.

I took apart the interior pieces on the tailgate so I could get a good look. I took the opportunity to clean everything while in there. Had my wife come out to run the window, up-down-up-down-up-down-up-down . . . until I figured out what the problem was.

There was a screw coming in from the other side that the window was stopping on. Do you know what that screw was attached to?

My license plate!!!! :bash:

I pulled both license plate screws out, cut off about 1/16", put them back in, and now it works perfectly!

Now just to figure out why the window defrost isn't working.

 

[the_dingman]

lol, nice.

For the defroster, there are two different designs for wiring.

The original design had a solid piece of metal along the entire bottom of the window. On one side (driver's I think) there is a power lead from the wiring harness to the metal rail, on the other side is a wire from the metal rail to the window. There is also a negative wire right off the window, check all of them.

The newer version has two separate pieces of metal to support the window with a positive wire right to the window on one side, and negative right to the window on the other.

I believe the original style was 85-87, and the newer is 88+. My original window was the older type, and now I need to figure out how to hook up my new window to my defroster. :bash:

Good luck!

 

[mspa]

Mine has the solid metal rail along the bottom of the window. The connectors seem fine at both ends. I figured I'd check tomorrow to see if the defrost has a fuse in the fuse box just for that?

Thanks for the detail. I would like to figure out.

 

[the_dingman]

I think the rear defrost shares the fuse with the rear window. Does the light in the button even come on?

 

[mspa]

yeah. the light on the switch in the dash works fine. so maybe it's in the wiring.

there's not an inline fuse back there is there?

 

[zombie]

One thing to remember when trying to repair the defroster, in mine it will only work when the window is up all the way and the tailgate is closed and locked. Checking for power with the window down does not work.
Does anyone know what the resistance should be in the window? I think mine measured at about 4 ohms and I don't think all the lines are working.

 

[sixonthefloor]

there is also a relay on the drivers side right next to the rear seat behind the trim that may be the problem. Not sure if I explaned that well at all. lol

 

[mspa]

I remember seeing something about that control box . . . worth a look at I suppose. I might as well rule that out, if it's working.

Thanks! I'll let you know what I turn up next week.

 

[sixonthefloor]

oh wait that "relay" or whatever it is is for the rear defroster. Anyway the square box right next to it controls the up and down movemnt of the rear window. Make sure it's connected correctly