Rear defroster not working on 98 Civic

I noticed on my way to work this morning that the rear-window defroster on my 1998 Civic wasn't clearing the window. I haven't had a moment to look yet, but wondering if (and hoping that) it's just a blown fuse. Does that seem like it might be a probable cause?

Thanks for any info....

Mike

Reply to
Mike
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Mike wrote in news:296dc1fa-95ce-42b6-a3d9- snipped-for-privacy@r39g2000yqm.googlegroups.com:

Could be. But neither you nor I have any clue until you do the bare minimum amount of work necessary and check the fuses.

Other than that...

If the car is a hatch, the wiring to the defroster might be broken where the harness goes into the hatch frame. Got a rear wiper? Does it work?

Problems have been known to happen concerning the Integrated Control Unit, which controls defroster timing. Any other strange electrical problems anywhere?

Reply to
Tegger

Thank you, Tegger. It's not a hatch. I will inspect the fuses this evening. With winter coming I'm going to need that rear defrost (though one could argue that I don't REALLY need it since I live in Georgia).

Mike

Reply to
Mike

Hello again -

I got in the 98 Civic again this morning and turned on the rear defroster and remembered that it wasn't working yesterday. I got in the back seat to check the connection of the wire to the window only to find the wire had been disconnected (no doubt due to the fact that my 2 year old son was crawling around in there over the weekend). Anyhow, I touched the little plate hanging off the wire to the spot on the window where it used to attach and there was a couple tiny sparks. Looks like I've found the problem.

Any advice on connecting the wire/small plate back to the window?

Thanks a lot!

Mike

Reply to
Mike

Mike wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@h13g2000yqk.googlegroups.com:

You're saying the tab has been knocked completely off the window?

If so, you can get defroster-tab repair kits at auto parts stores. These use a conductive adhesive to reattach the tab to the pad on the window.

Reply to
Tegger

snipped-for-privacy@h13g2000yqk.googlegroups.com:

Groovy....thanks for this handy info!

Mike

Reply to
Mike

snipped-for-privacy@h13g2000yqk.googlegroups.com:

I stopped by Auto Zone on lunch, they had a bunch of adhesives, but nothing that said it was conductive. I think I'm going to try some Elmer's spray adhesive that I have. Just a little. Think it'll work?

Thanks again....

Mike

Reply to
Mike

Mike wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@m11g2000yqf.googlegroups.com:

Not likely.

I wouldn't monkey with this sort of repair. Contaminate the area with the wrong adhesive and nothing may stick thereafter.

As I said, you're looking for a REPAIR KIT for rear window defrosters. The kit has what you need. Phone around or use the parts places' Web sites to find them.

Here's one:

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It didn't occur to me before, but an auto glass place should be able to fix this for a fairly reasonable cost. You might try calling one.

Reply to
Tegger

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