Heated rear screen

[B@fink]

It appears my heated rear screen is on the wonk, I now only get 2 very thin bars. Does anyone know where the wires are hiding and how to take of the trim so I can see the wire connectors so I can give it a good look over and possibly apply a solution to the situation that I’m wanting to try. Thanking you ta.

[MikkiJayne]

The connections are behind the C pillar trims. I can't comment on specifics of taking that out of a PF, but in the FL there is a T30 bolt hiding behind the front A-pillar trim, and then another one behind the coat hook (which the PF may not have). Once those are out the actual C pillar part is held in by spring clips which can be prised out. Take care not to kink the trim panel - I find that once the top is loose its best to try and slide an arm down behind it, popping the clips out as you go.

The FL has some stupid stuff going on for the roof airbags which I don't think will apply to the PF.

There may be some antenna amplifiers also connected to the heating element, depending on the spec.

[B@fink]

That sounds wildly complicated, I’d expect nothing less! I need rear window trim off, take off full roof lining sides thanks, I’ll have a peek in my days off

[HPsauce]

There's a thread somewhere describing how Ian (IT) took a lot of the interior out of I think a PF to get at the radio feeds.

[B@fink]

So I’ve had a little peep behind the cover without taking it off, there was room enough to see what I needed to without dismantling the whole lot, and it appears that the ribbon cable that joins the heated film element in the screen to the wiring is becoming detached at the glass. Guess that accounts for the gradually failing screen. Looks like I’m going to have to try my plan B option of installing a heated window to restore winter rear visibility. It might not work but I’ll be a guinea pig.

[ainarssems]

Can you not glue it back on with some conductive glue or conductive silver paint?

[B@fink]

It looks to be a plastic coated copper ribbon cable and the joint appears to be splitting away at the glass side. I don’t know if this will work but it’s worth a shot I suppose. I can’t be the only one with a dying heated rear window, it’s lost various thin stripes over the past few winters but now a big chunk in the middle is dead so I only get 2 thin clearing stripes so going backwards is like driving a transit van. Has anyone else managed a repair? My other option is to put in a heating element kit. It won’t need anything wiring in as it can run off the OE supply and switch, it just has 2 unsightly bus bars either side of the screen but that’s just cosmetic, and at least I can then demist the back glass because it’s awfully irritating having misted back glass and no AC below 5 Celsius to clear it!