Rear defroster question

[dude8383]

Stupid question, but did you check the bulb in the switch? Could it be the bulb just happened to burn out at the same time?

haha you know, i will give this a shot today if i get the chance!

[LovableSheep]

i have an odd problem that just occured with my defroster...

when i turn on the headlights the switch would light up, and when i would hit the switch to turn on the defroster the switch would glow a bit brighter.

i was installed my HVAC panel yesterday and now that everything is installed the switch doesn't come on in any instance.

The fuse looks good btw...how do I check for voltage on the window?

Stupid question, but did you check the bulb in the switch? Could it be the bulb just happened to burn out at the same time?

[dude8383]

i have an odd problem that just occured with my defroster...

when i turn on the headlights the switch would light up, and when i would hit the switch to turn on the defroster the switch would glow a bit brighter.

i was installed my HVAC panel yesterday and now that everything is installed the switch doesn't come on in any instance.

The fuse looks good btw...how do I check for voltage on the window?

[Jean]

Remove the back seat, pull the speaker shelf up and towards you. You don't really HAVE to disconnect the speakers, but it would make the job easier otherwise you can only move the shelf so far before pulling on speaker wires.

[dannyg]

Doh.
Any tips on that?

[Jean]

You have to remove the rear speaker shelf to get at them.

[dannyg]

Jean, how did you get the connections on the rear glass? On a car I just picked up the two wires are sticking out of the parcel shelf unconnected to the glass. I am guessing it just runs up the side of the pillars? I think the rear window in this car was replaced and the wires were never connected...

[Jean]

I'll look for it, I was thinking this would be a good reason to get new black oem headliner lol

[E30nate]

napa sells a defroster repair kit. maybe that will wok to fix it.

[Jean]

Figured it out, the connections (tabs) on the glass were/are bad. Looks like age did it's number and there were no longer attached or soldered (if they are supposed to be) to the grid element on the glass to make good electric contact.

[Alkasquawlik]

^^If he isn't getting any voltage at the glass, that won't help at all.

Which is why I said "if the problem turns out to be the grid". It most likely isn't, but you never know. I was just trying to help.

[gearheadE30]

^^If he isn't getting any voltage at the glass, that won't help at all.

[Alkasquawlik]

Jean,
If the problem turns out to be the grid on the back window is shot, I have a spare rear window that I'll let go for really cheap. The grid on that should work fine.

[Jean]

I don't know. Does the defroster wiring go towards the front of the car on the drivers or passenger side?

I think it could still be the defroster switch though, there are couple different ones (green/yellow/early/late), and possibly it has to be the right one in order to send the voltage to the grid... just a guess though.

If someone has an early car like an 84 318i or maybe even 325e, I wouldn't mind knowing what Color your rear defroster button is and if possible what the PN is on it...

[gearheadE30]

Sounds like a break in the harness somewhere. That really sucks. Does the rear defrost have its own ground? That may be the issue.