Defogger woes

[glaso81]

When I purchased my car two years ago the defogger worked now nothing, the switch does not light, the wiring looks ok and I would just replace the switch but I haven't been able to find one. I've also gotten a mysterious battery drain-even with the new battery and alt and reg check out OK. Could these be related? Can the switch be repaired? PS I'm electrically challenged.

 

[mikejpss]

glaso81-
I am not too famaliar with the defog switch, but to check it for a battery drain try removing the fuse and checking after a few days for a dead or weak battery. If the battery is good after the fuze removal, it's probably the defog switch.
I recently found another battery drain that may apply to you also. My interior courtesy lights were coming on at random and at times not going off. I found this by removing the interior bulbs and when the battery would still drain, I found one more light that I was unaware existed- which was the walk-around light mounted between the spare tire and rear bumper. After removing that bulb too, my battery drain problem was over-but I now need to replace the timer located behind the glove box.
I would try removing the defog fuse first then checking the battery after a few days (make sure the battery is fully charged beforehand).
If that doesn't solve the problem, try the light bulb method I described above.
I do not know where to purchase a new defog switch, but hang on and keep reading the updates- someone will post where to find them.
Mike J.

 

[Yoda]

Andy,

Do you have a test light? A volt / ohm meter would be better. I'll try to keep this simple too...

Insure the fuse's are good.
Disconnect the wire to the rear defog at the back window. Take a test light hook the lead end of the test light to a good ground, e.g. negative side of the battery since it is close by, then with the light probe to the wire that you disconnected from the window.

Now turn the defog switch on, the light should come on. If it doesn't then the problem is most likely the switch. It could also be a bad wire from the switch or a bad ground at the switch.

You can check the switch by taking the side panels off the center console, then remove the wire that goes to the back window, leave the other wire on that comes to the switch from the fuse panel, now ground the probe lead and hold the probe to the side of the switch you just took the wire off, turn the switch on, the probe light should illuminate as well as the switch light., If not, then touch the probe to the wire still on the switch from the fuse box to make sure power is getting to the switch, by doing this the probe light should illuminate. If it does, that will confirm a bad defog switch.

If the proble light does not illuminate when put on the "hot lead" from the fuse panel, then you have a bad circuit from the fuse panel to the switch

If you are somewhat familar with a volt ohm meter, I can walk you through a test using one

 

[glaso81]

Fixed!

Thank you very much I found a dead wire to the switch from the fuse panel, the plug had separated from the wire internally at the panel,but the panel had power to the plug very confusing as there are 4 wires going to the switch so it had some power but not on the BIG wire into the switch. but by starting at the window and working back it was easy to fing & now I don't need to find a switch!!

Andy,

Do you have a test light? A volt / ohm meter would be better. I'll try to keep this simple too...

Insure the fuse's are good.
Disconnect the wire to the rear defog at the back window. Take a test light hook the lead end of the test light to a good ground, e.g. negative side of the battery since it is close by, then with the light probe to the wire that you disconnected from the window.

Now turn the defog switch on, the light should come on. If it doesn't then the problem is most likely the switch. It could also be a bad wire from the switch or a bad ground at the switch.

You can check the switch by taking the side panels off the center console, then remove the wire that goes to the back window, leave the other wire on that comes to the switch from the fuse panel, now ground the probe lead and hold the probe to the side of the switch you just took the wire off, turn the switch on, the probe light should illuminate as well as the switch light., If not, then touch the probe to the wire still on the switch from the fuse box to make sure power is getting to the switch, by doing this the probe light should illuminate. If it does, that will confirm a bad defog switch.

If the proble light does not illuminate when put on the "hot lead" from the fuse panel, then you have a bad circuit from the fuse panel to the switch

If you are somewhat familar with a volt ohm meter, I can walk you through a test using one

 

[Yoda]

:cool

Bud

 

[22229stingray81]

switch

I have been looking for that switch since '99. They stopped making replacements years ago, and I have no junkyards around here so I'm up a creek. Anyone know of where to get one or how to fix? Mine not only doesn't light up and turn the defogger on, but also wont keep the position I put it in. Thanks for any info.

-Tatortot

 

[Yoda]

-Tatortot,

Check out Gruhala Enterprises in Missouri. Gary may have your switch, he has lot's of hard to find parts

Bud

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for the link Rare, I emailed him right away.


-Tatortot