Broken element on rear window demister - repair?

[aclivity]

Over the holiday I have noticed that one of the elements on the heated rear window of my wife's car isn't working. It's not earth shatteringly important, but I'd like to repair it if possible - having had a look at the screen, you can see where the break is.

Has anyone tried to do this? I've found This kit on the Halfords website, but also seen this recommended.

Or is this something that is best left to a professional window repairer (e.g. autoglass? Do they do this kind of repair?).

TIA

Andy

[jamiebae]

Option 2 should work fine.

Sadly it doesn't fix terminals back on to the glass so I now have the unenviable task of trying to solder the connectors back onto the element/glass on my MX5!

[AcidReflux]

aclivity, did you get anywhere with this? One of the strips has stopped working in my wife's car so I'd like to fix it if I can. Is that Maplin paint any good?

[lordlee]

Its an easy repair with that kit. You are in effect joining the wires back together.

[AcidReflux]

lordlee said:

Its an easy repair with that kit. You are in effect joining the wires back together.

Do you mean the Halfords kit or the Maplin paint?

[Dave 500]

I got a kit from here a few years back

http://www.frostfighter.com/

Only took a week to turn up

[AcidReflux]

Dave 500 said:

I got a kit from here a few years back

http://www.frostfighter.com/

Only took a week to turn up

Thanks for the link. Did the kit work?

[Dave 500]

Yep really well

I needed it to attach a tab back on.

[AcidReflux]

Thank you Mr 500.

[mcford]

I repaired a couple in mine 3 years ago using the conductive paint and they are still working. I found that if you put a bit of masking tape either side of the break then use the paint, carefully remove the tape a day later and carefully tidy up with a razor blade the end result doesn't look too bad.

With the tab, can't you glue it on and then use the paint to bridge the gap?

Edited by mcford on Monday 5th September 06:35

[AcidReflux]

Thanks for your story, mcford. Sounds like the paint is definitely worth a go then.

[TheEnd]

It's £16.99 on that link.

Maplin has it at £9.99 here
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/electrically-conductive-...

[Mojocvh]

Got a steady hand?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radioshack-2760037-CAIG-Co...

[sonarbell]

I tried to do a repair once using some pcb conductive paint..The rear window exploded cos it caused a hot spot

[Terzo123]

sonarbell said:

I tried to do a repair once using some pcb conductive paint..The rear window exploded cos it caused a hot spot

This made me laugh.

I need to do mine shortly, only two lines from the 10 or so work.

[wal 45]

Dave 500 said:

I got a kit from here a few years back

http://www.frostfighter.com/

Only took a week to turn up

Bit of a thread resurrection but just fixed a couple of elements on the rear screen on my Alfa 159 using this stuff after finding this thread. I'd really recommend this stuff as it leaves a nearly invisible repair and works first time.

Well chuffed to say the least and only took 7 days to get here from the States, thanks Dave 500 for highlighting the product!

[Tankrizzo]

Another resurrection!

Is the Maplins paint still good, or has anything else come out in the last couple of years which is better? Three element strips are broken right in the middle of my rear screen which is a right pain in the arse.