Heated Rear Screen

[morebeanz]

Amongst my list of things to fix, is the re-attachment of the electrical connection to the rear screen.

Can I just solder this (carefully), or is there another trick? Obviously I don't want to crack the window!

[Mark.]

Watching this with interest as I have the same problem. Not sure I'd be brave enough to solder it though.

I was advised to find 'something' that would stick it as it can be a right pain then paint it with conductive paint. I did also think about popping down to Autoglass to see what they say.

[CoolC]

Soldering is very difficult, and will often (usually) lead to shattering the toughened glass.

Search for Conductive Epoxy. I used to always have a pack of it from RS components back in my fitting days.

[morebeanz]

I haven't found a conductive epoxy that actually does the job. The wires that attach to it are very springy and seem to add to the issue of seperation from the screen.

They must have soldered the damn things in the first place surely?

[greenracing]

Same issue, going to try "silver glue" have a look on eBay, as you say though, scared to take a soldering iron to it, especially as I am in Australia and a new rear screen wouldn't be easy to get!

[morebeanz]

I have tried silver glue, but I suspect that I didn't let it cure enough.

If you have a go with it, make sure you detach the fitment that you are gluing from the wires first to relieve the tension, and give it a good two or three days to cure. If you're in Oz, then the heat may make that much shorter!!

I may get desperate and re-try this...

[ukkid35]

morebeanz said:

I have tried silver glue, but I suspect that I didn't let it cure enough.

Me too, and I didn't find an effective way to hold it in place while it cured.

[Mags]

I did this years ago successfully, I re-glued the connector tab back onto the screen on a BMW. I'm sure I've still got the stuff in my toolbox, I'm certain it was made by Granville but that only shows up a paint-on type stuff, this was more like an epoxy/Araldite type stuff.
I'll take a look at what it was called when I get a chance.
The trick, as said, is how to hold it in place whilst it hardens.

[GT6k]

I used this from Farnell
http://uk.farnell.com/circuitworks/cw2400/epoxy-si...
ridiculously expensive but I glued it three years ago and the screen works perfectly.

[CoolC]

GT6k said:

I used this from Farnell
http://uk.farnell.com/circuitworks/cw2400/epoxy-si...
ridiculously expensive but I glued it three years ago and the screen works perfectly.

this is the stuff I used all them years ago, wasn't anywhere near that expensive back then though.

[morebeanz]

To be frank, if the "right" stuff costs that much, I may as well take it to a specialist who will use a tenth that to do the job but charge me the same for his time!

Having said that, I'll probably be knocking the damn thing off again once fixed anyway...

[Onzlouk]

I had this job pending for a couple of months on my first cerb, I used the silver glue as above. The first day warming the car up in the work car park on a frosty evening and the screen shattered..... Just saying. Could have been a number of things but next time i'll just leave it

[ukkid35]

Onzlouk said:

I had this job pending for a couple of months on my first cerb, I used the silver glue as above. The first day warming the car up in the work car park on a frosty evening and the screen shattered..... Just saying. Could have been a number of things but next time i'll just leave it

After a snowfall had melted, I found the rear screen on my 928 had shattered, I never found out why, as there was no obvious point of impact. Scariest thing of all was the bill - £1600, fortunately the insurance co paid it, the £60 excess seemed like a bargain.

[gruffalo]

I had a Rover SD1 Vitesse that did this, thought it was just the snow laying on the glass had made it go brittle.

[morebeanz]

Well, I finally got hold of the cheapy silver epoxy from eBay that failed so miserbaly last time. This time I gave it a full three days to cure whilst wedged against the screen with a diabolical wooden stick contraption!

I'm happy to report that a couple of weeks of driving (and using the screen heater!) have shown that it is all working again.

Of course, I am just waiting for me to knock it off again...

[Mark.]

So does the epoxy conduct the electricity ok?

[morebeanz]

I haven't done any detailed testing - just switched the damn thing on, but it clears the screen promptly with no issues.

I should probably check just how hot the joint gets, but the epoxy has a high silver content so shouldn't cause issues.

[Mark.]

Sounds promising.
Does the thread mention the actual product you used? Can't see it but be interested to know exactly what you used.

[morebeanz]

Hopefully this works!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111120818601?ssPageName=...

eBay silver conductive compound from seller atelecs - I have no connection, for the record!

[Mark.]

morebeanz said:

Hopefully this works!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111120818601?ssPageName=...

eBay silver conductive compound from seller atelecs - I have no connection, for the record!

Top man.