How to reattach defroster lead to rear ford window?

Lon

2005-12-05 00:09:31 UTC

Post by john
The little lead plate on the wire which attaches to the defroster grid on
the rear window (driver's side of rear) of my Ford Windstar came off. I
reglued it with the glue you use to reattach a rearview mirror to the
glass. While the lead stayed on the glass, it did not make contact. When i
took a voltmeter and attached one end to the lead and the other to the grid,
i got a reading, so the current is good to the lead (or grid at least). Any
suggestions on how to get the current to flow through the crazy glue, or do
i need to use some of that copper paint to paint over the lead and have it
make contact with the grid wires? Please email replies to

You need a conductive epoxy that can both hold the electrode in place
and make the connection. Most use a silver containing epoxy.

First you are gonna have to clean off ALL of the epoxy already on there,
without damaging the defroster grid any more.

J. C. Whitney sells a kit, Catalog number ZX525362W that works, is
silver based, is about $25. You can probably find these locally by
calling larger parts stores.

If the Tab and Mounting Pad are too far damaged from the wrong epoxy,
then you will need a Tab and Pad kit. These are about a hundred dollars
and are usually bought by windshield shops, as they have epoxy backed
attachment electrodes, assorted tabs, etc.

Might be cheaper to call an auto glass store and have them do it for you
if just the conductive epoxy kit isn't available or doesn't work due to
the epoxy already applied.

I've used the J.C. Whitney kits, they have pretty high silver content.

You MIGHT be able to use a good conductive epoxy to just paint over the
stuff you already have, making sure you get conductive epoxy that
contacts well with the terminal tab and with the defroster grid.