Does anyone know how to repair and then test a heated rear screen?

I have discovered some 3 months after purchasing my car that almost every element in the rear screen has a break in it, it seems the previous owner must have let things rub up against the rear window. I have used some electroconductive paint to repair the gaps but still have no joy with the screen. The light comes on on the switch. All the fuses look ok but nothing happens with the screen. I have tried checking for current with my multimeter but there seems to be nothing going into the rear elements.

Anyone got any suggestions on how to chase this fault down?

i would have done exactly what you have simon, multimeter on the ends of the wires to see if there's a current...i cant see how you would repair a break like that, probably a new window replacement...


as for the heating elements ,i thought they were in the glass but just having had a look at mine ,they are on the surface.. ..............................




this is handy

Thanks Stan

When there is a break you can add some conductive paint, nickel seems best as it is a darker colour than the stuff with a higher silver content. The heater elements are silk-screened onto the glass at the factory so you are applying a similar material. I used a paint this time but you can get it in a pen dispenser as well which would be considerably easier to apply.

The lack of current anywhere on the rear screen is concerning me a little as I should be able to pick up something (?)

Does anyone know how to go about removing the interior trim panels by the rear window (tailgate) so I can check that the connection from the power loom to the screen is still good - before I use the traditional standby of brute force...