Rep Power: 0

2002 Civic we bought in September, I think: Previous owner had tint in the rear windshield and someone apparently used ammonia cleaner on it, botching it all up. We had a tint place replace the tint and in the process, they had to scrape the old tint off and broke the wires, so none of them work now.

I priced a new rear windshield at $300.

But are there places that can just replace the heating wires, for far less than that?

We're in the Denver area. I don't see anything with a quick Google search.

 
Rep Power: 308

No, they are baked onto the glass.

Once damaged (unless a small slice in grid line) there is no recovery.

 
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Thanks. <SIGH>

 
Rep Power: 518

Go to Autozone or any similar consumer parts store, ask for a rear window defogger repair kit.
Can't promise how well they work, but they do exist.


Googled:
A basic how-to
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...a2073/4221212/

example kit:

 
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Thanks but they had to scrape this all to H@LL to get the damaged film off. This is not just a single broken wire - the whole thing is down now - none of them work.

 
Rep Power: 204

I guess for anyone else reading into this thread. I used this exact product on a 1 cm broken gap in my defroster wire 6 years ago and it's still working fine today.

 
Rep Power: 518

Sounds like a little too much for a repair kit....you probably need a rear glass replacement.

Check auto glass shops? Insurance? Fight with the tint people?

 
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No, it's rear glass, not a windshield, so I doubt covered by insurance. It's not the tint peoples' fault that some jerk before me ruined the tint that was over the wires.

I'm afraid that an honest approach requires that I pay for it out of pocket.

 
Rep Power: 150

At one time, I saw a replacement wire mat you stuck on. You have power there.

 
Rep Power: 518

Claim vandalism.....? By the previous owner.

This looks cheap