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Rear Window Defroster RepairContributed By: Bill Kelsey Many FSJ owners have reported problems with the tailgate window defrosters. This is not surprising -- the combination of a movable window with a defroster is almost certain to eventually cause problems. Since I've had my Cherokee, I've had to repair at least 50 breaks in the defroster grid, most due to a bad inside tailgate weatherstrip rubbing against the glass too hard, some to scratches from items carried in the cargo area, and a few from the conductive paint just wearing down. The FSJ rear defroster is a simple system. A dash switch controls power to a circuit that runs through the defroster grid on the tailgate glass. The grid is entirely on the surface of the glass, and is made up of conductive paint over a thin metal grid bonded to the glass. The most common problems are due to something scratching the inside of the tailgate glass and creating breaks in the conductive paint and sometimes the underlying metal grid, or to the inside tailgate weatherstripping rubbing against the grid as the window is raised or lowered and wearing away the conductive paint. A grid element may fail even if the paint is not entirely worn away, but merely reduced to the point where it will not pass enough voltage to heat that grid element. If part of the defroster grid works, skip down to "Locating Breaks in the Defroster Grid ". Checking the system:
Locating Breaks in the Defroster Grid Items Required:
If some of the grid elements work but others don't, note which elements are not functioning. Obviously, this is easiest on those days when you can simply see which defroster elements aren't melting the frost. If you are uncertain which grid elements are working and which are not, test all of them. This is also useful for identifying grid elements which are functioning but damaged, allowing preventative repairs. Begin by visually inspecting the grid for any obvious breaks or damaged areas. Be sure your work area is well-lit. It helps to place the white cardboard or cloth below (but near or touching) the glass to provide a high contrast background. Mark the glass next to any suspicious areas with the marker or crayon. Breaks in the positive or negative (grounded) vertical grid elements are unusual, because these typically are overlaid with a heavy wire braid. However, sometime breaks or worn areas will occur at the junction of the horizontal and vertical grid elements. These can be easily missed, as can be areas where the original grid paint has been worn away but the underlying metal strip is intact (and often the same color as the paint). Turn on the defroster system (the ignition switch must be on, although the engine need not be running). Set the multitester to read DC voltage and to the 12 volt scale (if there is no 12 volt setting, use the first setting greater than 12 volts). Wrap aluminum foil around the negative probe of the multitester. Touch the positive probe of the multitester against the positive (probably the left) vertical grid element. Press the foil wrapped negative probe to the center of the first horizontal grid element to the tested. If the reading is 6 volts, the grid element is functioning correctly. If the reading is 12 volts, there is a break between the center of the element and the positive vertical grid element. If the reading is 0 volts, there is a break between the center and the negative (grounded) vertical grid element. If the reading is between 6 and 12 volts there is a damaged or worn (but not yet broken) area between the center of the grid element and the positive vertical element, and if the reading is between 0 and 6 volts, there is a damaged or worn area between the center of the grid element and the negative (grounded) vertical element. To locate the actual break (or damaged/worn area), slowly slide the foil covered negative lead from the positive vertical element towards the negative vertical element. The reading will jump from 0 volts to several volts when the negative lead passes beyond the break; the reading will suddenly increase when an unbroken but damaged/worn area is passed. If there is more than one break or damaged/worn area in a single horizontal element, the readings will change when the break or damaged area nearest the negative vertical element is encountered. The other breaks or damaged areas will show up after these are repaired. It is possible to find a second break by holding the negative lead to a point on the negative end of the horizontal element that you know is intact and slowly sliding the positive lead along the horizontal element from the positive vertical element. If the multitester reading suddenly drops or changes a second break or damaged area, nearest the positive vertical element, has been located. Mark the glass next to the broken or damaged areas with the marker or crayon. If the reading steadily increases from 0 volts to about 12 volts as the negative probe moves from the positive vertical element to the negative vertical element, the horizontal grid element is intact. Repeat this process for each horizontal element to be tested. Repairing the Grid Items Required:
Try timing your repair to occur at a time when you can leave the FSJ for about 23 hours. I find doing these repairs in my garage on a Friday afternoon or early evening works well -- the FSJ can be left at least overnight with the tailgate open to allow the paint to dry. While it is possible to repair the grid with the tailgate closed and window raised, this requires crouching in the cargo area. I find it better to open the tailgate and extend the window so that all of the horizontal grid elements are exposed. This also allows you to sit while working on the defroster. Be sure to support the glass (large cardboard boxes work well, and provide a place to lay the white cardboard or cloth) -- unsupported, the weight of the extended glass will break the window (in which case, ignore the rest of this and go buy another window with a functioning defroster grid!). Make sure the defroster grid is turned off and is cool. Following the directions on the defroster repair kit, carefully clean the broken or damaged areas of the defroster grid with alcohol to remove any dirt, oils, or other substances which may prevent the repair paint from adhering tightly. Carefully place a strip of masking tape along both sides of the broken or damaged grid, as close to the grid element as possible and extending left and right beyond the break about 1/2" to 1". Press the tape firmly to the glass to minimize the repair paint wicking under the tape. Repeat this until all the broken or damaged areas on the grid are masked with tape. Carefully brush the repair paint over the breaks or damaged areas, extending about 1/2" to the left and right of the breaks or damaged areas to ensure a good contact with the rest of the grid element. Following the directions on the repair kit, wait a few minutes until the surface of the paint has dried and repeat for the number of coats of paint desired (usually three or four). If the paint begins to dry out or thicken, add a little acetone to the paint jar and stir or shake it. Following the directions on the repair kit, carefully remove the tape and use the razor blade to trim the sides of the repaired areas, either by carefully cutting away excess paint that has wicked out, or by carefully pushing the excess paint to the grid element. Press the side of the razor blade against the repaired area to flatten any raised areas to minimize the repair catching on the tailgate weatherstripping. Leaving the tailgate open and window raised, wait about 24 hours to allow the epoxy paint to fully cure. (If the vehicle is outside and you don't want to leave it open, wait as long as possible before carefully lowering the window, closing the tailgate, and raising the window. You will want to minimize the possibility of the inside tailgate weatherstripping damaging the repaired areas.) After about 24 hours try the defroster, retesting the horizontal grid elements as necessary for further breaks or damaged areas. If everything is working, use the razor blade to carefully scrape away the marker or crayon marks. (Crayon marks may smear and have to be further wiped away with a towel.) It is not uncommon to have to repeat this process several times on a grid with a number of breaks. It is sometimes possible to hasten the process by temporarily bridging breaks with a piece of foil, allowing other breaks on the same horizontal grid element to be located. This works best with an assistant who can either hold the foil in place or hold the positive probe in place (allowing you to hold the foil); it is more difficult when working alone, although it is sometimes possible to get a good contact between the positive probe and the positive vertical element by wedging the probe into the tailgate where the positive vertical element emerges or even taping it to the glass (although it is difficult to maintain a good contact with tape). If the color of the repaired grid is noticably lighter than the original grid (which is often a dark bronze color), the Jeep TSM suggests it can be colored with tincture of iodine. Sources:
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