Testing Grid Lines
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Vibe. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Use the following procedure in order to locate inoperative grid lines:
- Start the engine.
- Turn the rear window defogger system ON.
- Ground the negative lead of the DMM.
- Lightly touch the positive lead of the DMM to each grid line. The voltage will decrease as you move the lead farther away from the feed bus bar.
- If the DMM reads a high voltage at both ends of the grid lines, inspect for the following conditions:
- A loose terminal-to-bus bar connection
- A loose ground wire-to-body connection
- Test all the grid lines in at least two places in order to eliminate the possibility of bridging a break. For best results, contact each grid line a few millimeters on either side of the window centerline.
- If an abnormal meter reading is apparent on a specific grid line, perform the following steps:
- Place the lead on the grid.
- Move the lead along the grid until the voltage reading drops significantly. This condition indicates a break in the continuity of the grid line.
- Mark the grid line breaks on the outside of the window using a wax pencil or a crayon. Refer to GRID LINE REPAIR