Rear defroster wire has broken loose - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

RoadHazard · 01-07-2021, 02:58 PM

One of the two wires that power the glass rear window defroster has come loose. Trouble is, the connector didn't just slide off its metal tab. The tab itself has broken off from the glass, leaving the wire to dangle free and nothing solid to connect it to.

I don't want to solder a new tab directly onto the glass, so I'm thinking of using some sort of conductive adhesive to repair it. Does anyone have any better ideas before I do something irreversible?

PaulE · 01-07-2021, 03:04 PM

That used to happen on my 1981 Mazda RX-7. I used to carefully solder it back on and put a bead of super glue around the edge. Of course that was a solid piece of glass I could remove and work on with the glass flat and the inside facing up. If there are conductive adhesives, I would try that, I didn't know about them or they weren't available back then. Good luck.

BruceH · 01-08-2021, 06:53 AM

I have an after market top and the same thing happened to mine. So far I have not tried to fix it since I rarely ever even have the top up. I’ll be interested to see what you or others come up with. It sure seems to be a very delicate tab.

particlewave · 01-08-2021, 07:16 AM

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-21351-Electrically-Conductive-Defogger/dp/B000HBGKWE

BruceH · 01-08-2021, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-21351-Electrically-Conductive-Defogger/dp/B000HBGKWE

Thanks Charles, looks like a possibility with mixed reviews but many times negative reviews seem to be user error.

particlewave · 01-08-2021, 07:27 AM

It’s hit and miss with this repair. Difficult to do.

BruceH · 01-08-2021, 07:30 AM

I will probably just leave it be. Rear defrost is something I rarely use even in my DD’s here in Texas and like I mentioned, I almost always drive top down, unless it’s really cold. Mostly a fair weather vehicle for me.

Rob175 · 01-08-2021, 08:37 AM

I'd give it a try with the adhesive. Tape off the area, just in case you get messy and apply the adhesive using an artist paint brush to keep it neat....but for a few bucks I see nothing to lose. The worst case would be that it doesn't work and you'll be back where you are now.