Rear defroster are not working anymore

Tiny
WHITEY_79
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
Rear defrost won't work. It worked yesterday and just stopped working. Could it be a fuse problem.
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 3:17 PM

30 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Could be but the fuse for the blower is a 30 amp and rear defroster is less.
Make sure the contacts on the rear window are intact as they often fail from all the heat we have had.
The blower may be at fault or the resistor may have failed.
Have a shop check this for you to confirm and give you a bid.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 3:33 PM
Tiny
MIKETHEMECHANIC
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I have a 2004 impala that did the same thing. Check for a fuse on the drivers side fuse panel (just inside the drivers door)it is a 20 or 25amp fuse towards bottom of fuse panel in the middle. Test the fuse with a test light. If you get voltage on one side of fuse but not the other (and the fuse is good)your problem may be in the ignition switch(mine was). Pull the ignition switch out, take the black plastic cover off the back(don't worry no springs will pop out)and look for burned (black) spots under the connections. Clean (gently) with emery paper and put back together.I hope this helps, took me days to track it all down on mine.
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Saturday, October 1st, 2011 AT 1:07 AM
Tiny
DAN888
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hey guys, I replaced my ignition switch last spring due to non-start issues. My intermittent blower motor, cruise and rear defrost problems came after that. I don't see how the ignition switch could be tied to the blower motor. When my blower motor works, my cruise control works and my rear defroster works. The outside ambient temp. Must be above 60F and then the problem is intermittent, otherwise the 3 functions will not work ever. I don't know much about auto electronics, but these functions might be controlled by the BCM. I remember from reading posts on this site about my non-start issue that the BCM has some control of the signal in the starting. So, maybe the BCM is at fault?

2002 base Impala with 203,000 miles. Ignition has never been better since reading on this website about changing the Ignition switch.

If you can dig into this blower motor issue in more depth, I would appreciate it.
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Monday, January 16th, 2012 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
MIKECON24
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Blower motor stoped defroster wont work happened last week waited and came on this week waited half hour no working
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Tuesday, March 24th, 2015 AT 8:05 AM
Tiny
MICHELLESCAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
I have replaced the relay that is under the hood, still not working.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Have you checked the grid for visible breaks or the tabs the feed it power and ground for being loose or came off?
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BOOCREW
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
Electrical problem
2006 Chevy Impala 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

The rear defroster will not work. I have check all fuses and relay. No power to back window strip. HELP!
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,030 POSTS
Check both rear defroster tabs at each end of the window. They come off all the time, you can resolder it to the window.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BOOCREW
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Both ends are good. Just no power to the deforster
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,030 POSTS
If there is no power at the grid than check for power at the grid connector, it's attached to the side of the rear window. If there is power at the connector then there is a chance that it might be a problem with the rear window itself. If thats the case you would have to replace the whole rear window. Also check the rear defroster relay, switch it with a different relay and see if it works.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRISDURHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My defroster quit too. I found a wire burned in the connector that is found under the fuse box that is located inside the car on the passenger side kick panel.
You have to remove the entire kick panel to access the large white connector not just the fuse door. The panel just unsnaps as you lift up and out. Start from the panel seam beside the passenger seat and lift up and back. You'll also have to unsnap the carpet there too.
You'll see the white connector that has a lot of wires on it. If you'll unsnap the connector you'll see the burned wire. It will be thicker than the others and purple. Just cut the purple wire on both sides of the connector and splice them together with a piece of wire the same gauge and it will work fine.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JBR412
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hey, Thanks for the tip.
Worked like a charm.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CRISMISSY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 60,000 MILES
When I push the button the defrost light comes on and stays on, but the window never defrosts. I am the second owner, but it worked when I bought it and got me through last winter.

I do have tinted windows, but it was factory, do not know if this is a factor.

I unfortunately have NO idea about this stuff and don't even know where to begin to look. I noticed on a previous answer on a Cavalier that it could be a fuse, but again, not sure where to look as I am a complete novice. I don't want to take it to a shop having no clue what to expect, any advice would be helpful so that I am not taken advantage of.

Thanks!
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Start by testing these fuses with a test light. A/C cruise-10 amp(left side of dash in panel), heated mirror fuse-10 amp (right side of dash in panel), this is also where you will find the circuit breaker and relay for the rear defroster. Test the breaker for power in and out. If ok, feel th erelay to see ifit clicks when you turn on the rear defrost. Get back with what you find
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DWREK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have about 80,000 miles on my POS 2004 Impala and now the rear defroster stoped working. I took it to the chevy dealership and had them reapair it for around $100 and now it doesn't work again about a week after and they refuse to give me my money back or re-repair it. I would like to know if this is an easy fix.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HINIKER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I'm having the same problem and same when I switch the cool air to hot air, these are common problems and they should have been a recall and have the company fix them instead of consumers paying to fix. They are nice cars but everything seems to go wrong with them.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DANAJEAN615
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 67,000 MILES
My rear defroster stopped working. When I press the button on the panel to turn it on I hear a click and the light comes on but the defroster doesn't defrost the windows. Any ideas?
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TOOOMANYTOYS
  • MECHANIC
  • 513 POSTS
If the light on the rear defrost is coming on and you can hear the relay click on. I would by checking for power at the rear window. Just get a regular multimeter. Apply the red lead of the meter to the connector on the drivers side. Apply the black lead to a known good ground. If there is power trace the open from the connector back to the switch. If there is power set the multimeter on ohms and check the grinds the grind run parallel with each other hold the red lead on one side of a grind and the black lead on the other side if you find a grind with an open the meter will show ol. If grind is ok it will show a resistance value usuallly around 1 to 3 ohms. If you find a grind thats open it will need to be repaired to operate correctly

USER NOTE: it's a very common problem and there are videos explaining exactly what it it. It's a wire that needs to be taken apart and re-soldered.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DANAJEAN615
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Could the fuse be blown?
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TOOOMANYTOYS
  • MECHANIC
  • 513 POSTS
If you think it might be grab the owners manual and check for the location of the rear defrost fuse, But given the information of the light coming on when pressed and a clicking noise (relay activating) its most likely is not a fuse
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)

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