Rear Defroster

[Jmartins]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone has had the issue I am currently having I press my defroster button and only the top portion of the rear defroster works. The bottom have does not. Can anyone advise what the issue is and how to correct it.

Thanks,
JM

 

[Jmartins]

I disassembled the rear tailgate from inside and I noticed that there are 2 wires going to the window just wondering how difficult it is to follow the entire Wire through the truck.

 

[TheDurk]

I disassembled the rear tailgate from inside and I noticed that there are 2 wires going to the window just wondering how difficult it is to follow the entire Wire through the truck.

Thing is, there is one wire on each side (left and right), right? But you have a problem top and bottom. I'm thinking you have a break in the vertical stripe at one edge, right between the working and non-working parts, breaking the circuit to half the grid. They sell a conducting repair paint which might work, although I've only seen it used on individual horizontal stripes.

http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-15067-Window-Defogger-Repair/dp/B000HBI9YQ

If half the grid works, I don't think the issue is in the truckside wires, but in the painted grid itself. The stripes are all in parallel, so if one works, the wires are providing full voltage. You can test that with a meter.

 

[Jmartins]

See currently the top portion of the defrosters works it's the bottom half of the window that doesn't work. I will check the window to see if there is an break anywhere.

I know if only half the window worked like right to left it would be a crack but it being separated from top and bottom I find odd and even more so how the top works that is what left me scratching my head.

 

[Jmartins]

I have checked the entire window for a break in the defroster lines and could not find any breaks. I have no idea. I am going to try flipping the wires over for the defrosters to see if it's the wire that's causing the issues.

 

[mountainbiker42]

Take the inside cover off the tailgate. Take a volt meter and do a voltage drop test across the two defroster terminals on each side of the window. While the defroster is turned on it should read 0V. If you have a break in the wire, it will read 12V (assuming there is not another break in the circuit which would prevent your negative lead from grounding). One thing I did when mine wasn't working is I started doing continuity tests until I found the break in the wire, this is an easier and more simple method.