Rear window defroster repair

[ClarkB]

The rear window of my Civic has about 5 "lines" of the defroster that don't work. In a little Civic this is substantial and I would like to fix it. I've come across Frost Fighter and they offer a kit that seems to address my problem.

On my rear window I've found two areas in separate lines that looked burnt and I assume that these are problem areas causing the line to not work.

Has anyone repaired their rear window defroster? Are these burnt areas the problem spots that Frost Fighter's kit would repair? $20 for the kit is fine, but I hate to buy only to find I was barking up the wrong tree.

Clark

 

[rg200amp]

I would think that this kit will work.

Its worth a try.

 

[moribundman]

I can't believe they want $20 for that. You don't need more than a trivial amount of electrically conductive silver paint. You can get a small vial for under $14 shipped from the UK on Ebay. Every decent electronics supply shop sells it also, but probably in a larger quantity and overpriced.

You can use Scotch/Sello/Tesa tape to mask the glass.

 

[Kestas]

I have a similar kit and have made a number of successful repairs. Sometimes the breaks are no wider than a hair. I use a backlight and my microscope eyes to find the breaks.

When cleaning the rear glass, always try yo wipe in the direction of the grid lines to avoid scratching the grid lines.

 

[ClarkB]

mori - Thanks for the suggestion but from what a quick search reveals, it will cost me about the same either way and either way I go I think you are right: I probably only need a trivial amount but they will charge me like it's more.

Kestas - Thanks for the suggestion on the light, I was beginning to scratch my head trying to figure out why some of those lines weren't working.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I think I'll order the kit and get to repairing when we get a mid-winter heat wave.

Clark

 

[mechtech2]

You need it working, and the easiest thing to do is go to an auto parts store and gt the fix it kit.
Proper substrate cleaning, and proper application according to instructions will make it work again. You can use tape to get nice straight lines, when you apply the sauce.