Defogger damage

notional

I recently bought a car and the defogger is damaged  - about 5 of the 10 wires have long missing sections where they have come off completely.  I've looked into kits but they get really bad reviews and can only be used for tiny areas of damage.  Other options include buying a kit to install a whole new one, which involves scraping off the remaining wires, getting a replacement glass from a scrapyard (would they even test it was working?). I am wondering, do auto electricians do this kind of repair? 

What's the cheapest way forward?  I can manage with half a defogger but it's a bit annoying.

Grumpy_chap

notional said:

I recently bought a car and the defogger is damaged  - about 5 of the 10 wires have long missing sections where they have come off completely.  I've looked into kits but they get really bad reviews and can only be used for tiny areas of damage.  Other options include buying a kit to install a whole new one, which involves scraping off the remaining wires, getting a replacement glass from a scrapyard (would they even test it was working?). I am wondering, do auto electricians do this kind of repair? 

What's the cheapest way forward?  I can manage with half a defogger but it's a bit annoying.

What exactly do you mean by a "defogger"?

Do you mean a heated windscreen, similar to the Ford Quickclear?

Do you mean a high-speed blower fan setting directed to the windscreen with the aircon active?

Neither would seem to clearly match your description of having missing wires in the way you describe.

JJ_Egan

Auto electrician for a heated rear windscreen .

Probably also for front windscreen defogging via heating controls .

molerat

What is your insurance glass excess ? <cough>

angrycrow

it is normally hatch backs that suffer damage to the rear screen heater due to items in the boot scratching the element.

Have a look if a local scrap yard has a tailgate in the same colour for a reasonable price and swap it out.

Normally just a couple of bolts at the top and a few electrical plugs behind the trim panel. You will most likely need a helper to hold the tailgate whilst you put the bolts in. 

Bigwheels1111

Had the same issue on my old Vectra estate.
I just lived with it until my friend loaded the boot and shut it down on his golf clubs and smashed the screen.
He paid my £75 excess and all was sorted.

lemondrops69

Bigwheels1111 said:

Had the same issue on my old Vectra estate.
I just lived with it until my friend loaded the boot and shut it down on his golf clubs and smashed the screen.
He paid my £75 excess and all was sorted.

OP might not have a friend with golf clubs

m0bov

lemondrops69 said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

Had the same issue on my old Vectra estate.
I just lived with it until my friend loaded the boot and shut it down on his golf clubs and smashed the screen.
He paid my £75 excess and all was sorted.

OP might not have a friend with golf clubs

OP could take some lessons at local driving range with maybe 6 months membership and some s/h clubs from local Facebook Market Place. 

Grumpy_chap

m0bov said:

lemondrops69 said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

Had the same issue on my old Vectra estate.
I just lived with it until my friend loaded the boot and shut it down on his golf clubs and smashed the screen.
He paid my £75 excess and all was sorted.

OP might not have a friend with golf clubs

OP could take some lessons at local driving range with maybe 6 months membership and some s/h clubs from local Facebook Market Place. 

Won't that cost more than fixing the window?

Ergates

Grumpy_chap said:

m0bov said:

lemondrops69 said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

Had the same issue on my old Vectra estate.
I just lived with it until my friend loaded the boot and shut it down on his golf clubs and smashed the screen.
He paid my £75 excess and all was sorted.

OP might not have a friend with golf clubs

OP could take some lessons at local driving range with maybe 6 months membership and some s/h clubs from local Facebook Market Place. 

Won't that cost more than fixing the window?

They'd also get to learn golf though.

notional

You are all very naughty.  I could take up shot putting, might be cheaper...

Has anyone got any idea of the likely cost done by an electrician?  I am not adverse to scrapyard hunting for small stuff, but I have a frightening vision of myself trying to attach the gas struts