Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Rear Window Defogger Braided Lead Wire
- Use a solder containing 3 percent silver and a rosin flux paste in order to solder and attach the rear defogger bus bar lead wire and/or defogger terminal.
- Buff the repair area with a fine steel wool in order to remove the oxide coating that was formed during window manufacture.
- Use a brush in order to apply the paste-type rosin flux in small quantities to the appropriate area:
- The rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal repair area
CAUTION: Refer to WINDOW RETENTION CAUTION .Important:Β Do not hold the tool in one spot or operate the tool on the window for longer than 30-40 seconds.
If the window becomes hot to the touch, allow the window to air cool before proceeding further. Cooling with water may crack the heated window.
Fig 1: Attaching Rear Defogger Bus Bar Lead Wire & Defogger Terminal Using Solder Containing 3% Silver & Rosin Flux PasteCourtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Avoid excessive pressure in order to ensure that the window will not overheat.
- Coat the solder iron tip with solder. Apply only enough heat to melt the solder and only enough solder to ensure a complete repair.
- Apply the solder to the feed bus bar or the ground bus bar.
Draw the soldering iron tip across the fluxed area. Thinly coat the bus bar with solder.
- Apply a small amount of flux to the appropriate areas:
- The underside of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
- Align the spots with the flux to the appropriate areas:
- The underside of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
- Coat the tip of the soldering iron with solder.
- Solder the appropriate areas:
- The underside of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
- Draw the iron across the fluxed spot. Thinly coat the spot with solder.
- Solder the spot on the braid against the spot on the feed bus bar or the ground bus bar.
- Use pliers in order to hold the appropriate component:
- The rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
- Apply heat to the appropriate area in order to ensure the solder spot melts and fuses together:
- The top of the rear defogger bus bar lead wire
- The defogger terminal
Important:Β Do not remove the holding force until the solder has solidified.
- Remove the excess flux with the solvent.
- Connect the electrical connector.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.