Windscreen demist element repair

Windscreen demist element repair

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Discussion

dig123

Original Poster:

339 posts

115 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
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So some time ago I removed the tax disc and recall that the adhesive use by the garage was a bit stubborn. The other day I noticed that only half the screen demisted, I am guessing I have damaged the element I can find repair kits for the rear anyone know of a repair for the front?

Currently very p***off with my self.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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Interesting - only half of mine seems to demist so I figured the elements were broken but didn't connect it to tax disc removal. Might be the reason though I guess - and unfortunately, it's the passenger side of mine that clears.

I have a couple of sizeable chips in my windscreen though, one passenger side and one driver side - so I'm planning to ask my insurers to give me a new windscreen. Which should also solve the demisting.

Glassman

22,501 posts

214 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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Front windscreens have the heater elements within the sandwich construction; most rears are on the inside.


davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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Any idea how they break then? I was a bit surprised mine only half works - but I assume it must be the actual elements.

andysoblivion

16 posts

161 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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Happens a lot on focus's that share the same heating design. The problem is usually the flat copper cables at the bottom of the screen getting damaged so the power doesn't get through. The normal fault is the drivers side fails when the cable isn't secured properly and gets damaged by the wiper mechanism.

dig123

Original Poster:

339 posts

115 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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Picking up on what glassman said about the element being in in the glass, I am not sure how it has got damaged as the element should be quite safe. But have found the image below in the workshop manual which shows the multiplug for the windshield so I guess this will be the first point to look at. Has anyone taken this plate off before and knows if there are any seals etc to worry about the manual does not mention any so I guess not?


davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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I just did before seeing this update. But I couldn't remove the cover - it seemed like the connector was stuck to the cover, so although I could lift it I couldn't remove it.

Will try again when I have time to remove the wiper.

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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The cover comes off very easily.

Check the plug, (and where the wires are soldered to the bus bars within the glass) but also the fuses, as I'm 99% sure there is a separate fuse for each half of the screen.

Edited by CoolC on Friday 16th October 17:13

dig123

Original Poster:

339 posts

115 months

Friday 16th October 2015
quotequote all
CoolC said:
The cover comes off very easily.

Check the plug, (and where the wires are soldered to the bus bars within the glass) but also the fuses, as I'm 99% sure there is a separate fuse for each half of the screen.

Separate fuse thought of thant but thought no would be a cost saving to have one, back to the workshop manual.rolleyes

Edited by CoolC on Friday 16th October 17:13

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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My owners manual says engine bay fuses 21 and 31 - both were fine (although it told me the wrong fuse when my cabin lighter socket didn't work so who knows).

Just checked the cover again - the cover has a strip across it left to right (at right angles to the flat cover) and the connectors are pushed into holes in this strip with plastic grommets. So the cover definitely cannot be removed without getting the passenger wiper out of the way.

dig123

Original Poster:

339 posts

115 months

Friday 16th October 2015
quotequote all
davek_964 said:
My owners manual says engine bay fuses 21 and 31 - both were fine (although it told me the wrong fuse when my cabin lighter socket didn't work so who knows).

Just checked the cover again - the cover has a strip across it left to right (at right angles to the flat cover) and the connectors are pushed into holes in this strip with plastic grommets. So the cover definitely cannot be removed without getting the passenger wiper out of the way.
I had better check the fuse then, fingers crossed. I suppose it could also be the relay as there are 2 as well.



davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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For me, I think it will be a connector. I'd say I've lost quarter of the screen rather than half and there are 4 connectors.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Saturday 17th October 2015
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OK, I only had to remove one of the wiper arm nuts to swivel the arm out if the way.

But getting to the connector is a pain. It is attached to the cover plate as I said earlier, and the main connector block is big - only just fits in the hole length ways so getting it out wasn't easy. The main block then feeds two separate small black connectors, each of which feeds two windscreen connectors.

At that point, I thought : I can't be bothered! It was a stretch to reach across the car, and there isn't much free wire to mess about with the connectors so I gave up, even though I did have my multimeter ready. May simply drop it at the mechanics and let them sort it.

dig123

Original Poster:

339 posts

115 months

Saturday 17th October 2015
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Checked the element on the screen looks ok an the tax disc would not have been anywhere near it so must be a coincidence. The fuse is ok so may be the connector which is good as should be able to repair but sound like a real pain to access. The cover on mine could do with some paint, I had not realised how exposed the connections to the screen are either see photo below.


Edited by dig123 on Saturday 17th October 16:56

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Saturday 17th October 2015
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Yeah - mine needs paint now too.

The connectors are exposed, but seem to be coated with something since I couldn't get a reading on the multimeter from them.

I think my problem is on the windscreen side of the connector so I think a new windscreen will probably solve mine. And be nice to be chip free.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Friday 27th November 2015
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I had my windscreen replaced a couple of hours ago. There's good news and bad news.

I was nervous - it was an auto glass type outfit, but he has been doing the job for 16 years and was careful. I was happy with the job.

I also tried the heated screen after it was fitted which worked perfectly. But.....

I just drove home - which wasn't easy due to the ripple in the screen on the drivers side at eye level! Seems I got a defective screen. frown

It took an extra week from the original fitting date to get this one, so I suspect I've got at least a couple of weeks delay now. Unless I raise the seat, I'm not sure I can even use the car during that time.

Damn.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
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Seems I was wrong - inside of the screen was completely misted up this morning, passenger side cleared and entire driver side stayed totally misted up. I don't think it was quite that bad before - I thought only a quarter of the driver side wasn't working.

But since I need another screen anyway, we'll see. It seems likely it is the power to the connector now, despite what the mechanics told me so if the heated part doesn't work on my 3rd screen I'll have to re-check the power and fuse.

You can see the problem with my new screen even in a photo - look at the line where the drivers door meets the bottom of the drivers side window. Not a very straight line in one part!


dig123

Original Poster:

339 posts

115 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
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Did not quite understand the problem with your window until you posted the photo, I would have thought that could have been spotted before it was fitted. The last time I used autoglass on my Nissan, the chap damaged part of the plastic trim, wipers did not park correctly also the window rubber between glass roof and windscreen did not fit correctly as they used a non Nissan part. They had to come back and replace the screen, trims and rubber. Always a bit weary now.