Next problem...

[seevy1]

Perhaps you saw on the news that my area, most of the midwest, is being hit with a ridiculous snow/rain/ice storm. While this presents a glorious chance to allow my 4 wheel drive to stretch its legs, it presents a new issue, one of which I was not aware. Gotta close the windows, gotta run the heat, gotta breath. CAN'T see out the back window. Is the rear defrost a fuse issue or do I have to get a tad more electrical with this new treat?? :confused:

[drlocke]

First off you would be well advised to have the year of the vehicle in question in your signature, so we know what we are dealing with. Is it a J-truck, is it a Wagoneer, or a Chero....?

Earlier SJs--such as mine--don't have rear defrost.

Other than that just about any electrical failure at the rear end of these woolly mammoths can be attributed to corroded connectors. Or wiring that has been flexed so much over the years that the conductor has broken internally--or rotted apart due to minute perforations in the insulation that allow moisture to get in.

Fogging up of the glass inside these beasts in winter is a common bellyache with us breatheairians. There are little clamp-on electric fans that run on 12 volts, available in any auto parts emporium, that can be strategically placed to help your stock heating system in its job of window dessication.

In fact I'm toying with the idea of getting a couple for my old Wag.

Edit: Oops! I looked at your profile and found out you have a late-model one. Could be a fuse, but.... You'll likely need to look for any connector that has fallen prey to corrosion, and bears the tattle-tale blue/green color of corroded copper contacts or wire. Road salt is not your friend.

[JeepinPete]

Not necessarily a fix for your problems, but try cracking the vent window open a half inch or so and run the heater full blast. Does wonders for foggy windows...

[bull4377]

I have never had a Grand Wagoneer that had working rear defrost! Both my 1991's have never worked under my ownership.

[azwagoneer80]

My personal experience is the wire on the back window, solidered onto the defrost grid, falls off. Just what I've seen.

[FSJ Guy]

My personal experience is the wire on the back window, solidered onto the defrost grid, falls off. Just what I've seen.

It could be that, it could be the relay or the wiring leading up to it.

Give us a model and year. (Obviously, it' a Cherokee or Wagoneer, as the J trucks didn't have defrost.)

[CustomWag]

My personal experience is the wire on the back window, solidered onto the defrost grid, falls off. Just what I've seen.

Happened to mine, had a glass shop solder it back. They DID warn me that soldering to the glass is touchy and can crack the glass, but thankfully, it worked fine.

There was a thread a month or so ago regarding this and I think someone mentioned an electical conductive adhesive you can get. Might search and see if you can find that thread.

[Gambler68]

Happened to mine, had a glass shop solder it back. They DID warn me that soldering to the glass is touchy and can crack the glass, but thankfully, it worked fine.

There was a thread a month or so ago regarding this and I think someone mentioned an electical conductive adhesive you can get. Might search and see if you can find that thread.

they sell defroster repair kits all over.

Yeah with bad Jeep grounds, things get wonky in the stern after a while.

[shimniok]

Perhaps you saw on the news that my area, most of the midwest, is being hit with a ridiculous snow/rain/ice storm. While this presents a glorious chance to allow my 4 wheel drive to stretch its legs, it presents a new issue, one of which I was not aware. Gotta close the windows, gotta run the heat, gotta breath. CAN'T see out the back window. Is the rear defrost a fuse issue or do I have to get a tad more electrical with this new treat?? :confused:

Could be the wires have come loose from the window... that seems common. Bunch of other possibilities. The defroster runs off a thermal circuit breaker.

[Wart Hawg]

Could also be where the harness goes from the body through a hole in the bottom of the tailgate. Mine had worn through the harness rendering my entire tailgate electrical system useless.