Rear Window Defroster Cords
 

2001 Chevy Blazer, 250,000 miles

Replacing the electrical cords to the rear window defroster. Winter is coming.

"Clamshell" rear: the window hinges up, and the tailgate hinges down, like a clam. Look! You can see the Eiffel Tower's reflection in the window! Viva la France! Actually, that's a cell phone tower. And the bottom right corner of the window is not curled up, that's a reflection of the corner of the building. The license plate number is photo-edited to be fake.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...9e3e1a7672.jpg

The window has a wire grid embedded in the glass, and wires running to both sides to make them heat up to eliminate fog and ice.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...7a7885b50d.jpg

The power cords are coiled to allow them to flex as the window lifts up and down. One electrical connector to the glass wire grid, and another underneath the headliner.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...716ac16e2e.jpg

After 20 years in the Texas heat, the wire insulation has become brittle and is crumbling into pieces as it flexes, exposing the bare copper wire on the inside. That can't be good. Short circuits, sparks, fire? Nah, I don't think there's that much voltage here. But it ain't right.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...457131288c.jpg

You have to remove some interior molding to get to the electrical connectors under the headliner, starting with this corner post. It's easy spring clips which fit into a slot, pull off and snap back on.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...a2657bd32b.jpg

Replacement parts were hard to find. I had to order them from Canada, eh. And they were proud of them, which means expensive. But one end came bare, without the clip I needed. So soldering was involved to attach the old clips to the new cords.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...92e0311b61.jpg

Heat shrink tubing is fun. If only the camera could figure out to focus on the wire instead of my belly.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...d5ccb4552b.jpg

The new wires are now ready. They're installed by clipping one end into the plug under the headliner, and the other end to the stud on the window grid. .

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...729b01a9db.jpg

Tested by pushing the rear window defogger button. And they work!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...178e53c7c9.jpg

Finish the job by reinstalling the molding, which snaps back into place. And you're done. Bring on the frost and ice!

Ready for another trip to the moon. That's how many miles this car has on it.

- John Rich