The offside tag has pulled off my heated rear window. I have read of electrically conducting glue which can be used on heated elements, is that the best way to fix it?
Is there a way to test if the window is heating either before or after using that? I have tried pushing the probe of a multimeter down the rubber surround in an attempt to measure the resistance but found nothing. I have confirmed that power is reaching the window.
Heated Rear Window
Moderator: martauto
From the lack of response it seems people do not have problems with the heated rear window, but just in case, what happened was that further investigation showed that the electrical tags on both ends of the screen were loose. The tags had originally been soldered to the vertical part of the element bonded to the screen but clearly it would not be possible to re-solder them without taking the screen out. I looked at the mating surface of each tag and saw that there was a film of oxidisation on the surface of the solder. I rubbed the tags with sandpaper to remove this film and get a good contact. I pushed the tag on the live side under the rubber seal as far as it would go. The rubber held it so tightly that I thought no glue was really needed. I reconnect the feed and used a circuit tester to confirm there was now a good contact. The tester lit up all the way across the window for each line of the element apart from the bottom two.
I then repeated the exercise on the earth side and confirmed that there was a good earth. Finally, I got a bowl of hot water and put it on the rear parcel shelf so that the window steamed up. I turned on the switch and was delighted to see the mist starting to clear very quickly and all the elements in the main part of the screen were working. I think the rubber of the window surround will be quite adequate to hold the tags in place permanently as it is very tight and there is nothing to disturb them. I would feel differently if this was a tailgate which would be opened and closed constantly and there might be a load inside, if that was the case I would try the conducting glue I mentioned. As it is, all I used was a small piece of sandpaper.
I then repeated the exercise on the earth side and confirmed that there was a good earth. Finally, I got a bowl of hot water and put it on the rear parcel shelf so that the window steamed up. I turned on the switch and was delighted to see the mist starting to clear very quickly and all the elements in the main part of the screen were working. I think the rubber of the window surround will be quite adequate to hold the tags in place permanently as it is very tight and there is nothing to disturb them. I would feel differently if this was a tailgate which would be opened and closed constantly and there might be a load inside, if that was the case I would try the conducting glue I mentioned. As it is, all I used was a small piece of sandpaper.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Missed this one somehow. Nothing very unusual about what happened to your screen, and your repairs and techniques are good as far as they go, but a bit of two pack conductive epoxy would be advisable for a permanent repair.
Make sure you buy the electrically conducting version, not the heat conducting stuff.
You can then repair the two bottom elements as well then, of course.
Make sure you buy the electrically conducting version, not the heat conducting stuff.
You can then repair the two bottom elements as well then, of course.