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Rear Defroster Burnt Wire Fix Write Up

253K views 313 replies 133 participants last post by  WickedGoat 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
[Moderator Note]: Further along in this thread, it was realized that an additional in-line fuse is NOT needed and can even cause heat-related issues (including the in-line fuse catching fire!). So please do not add an in-line fuse - simply use a piece of wire as a "jumper" wire to "jump" around the burnt connector. Read the entre thread for more details!

I noticed that there is a very common problem with 2006-up Impala rear defrosters not working. Mine was one of them. The problem is very evident once you find it. Obviously Chevy, in all of their infinite wisdom decided that the defroster circuit in the 06-up Impala's didnt need to be fused. They also used too small of a connector for the high current defroster wires. This quickly burns out. It really should be a recall due to the fire hazard. Enough people must not have died for Chevrolet to care.

If you remove the passenger side kick panel where the inside fuse box is, you will see a white connector below the fuse box. Disconnect the white connector. If your defroster isnt working and you dont have 12V at the rear window, your problem is most likely that this white connector burned out. After disconnecting the connector you should see something similar to what I have shown below.



Obviously this is the problem. A burnt, melted connector. What I did was cut the large purple wire on the engine side and cut the large black wire on the rear side of the connector. I used high quality crimp connectors with heat sealing ends and then wrapped them in tape. I added a 30amp inline fuse to protect the circuit from doing this again. Make sure the wiring you use it large enough to support the defroster. I used a wiring kit for a small amp to make sure it was large enough.




I then tucked everything in nice and neat and placed the fuse in a place where it can be easily reached.



I sure hope this write up helps people out. I know that when I searched for this problem, it seems like everyone's defroster didnt work, but no one had the solution. People kept giving dumb, generic advice. I only found one correct answer, which was a one liner. Thats why I decided to take some pictures.
 
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#2 ·
I have a 2006 Impala - and the rear window defroster eventually went out. I finally got around to see if I could fix and searched the internet for advice. It seems a lot of Impala owners have this problem.

After reading the post above, I decided to go straight to the connector and have a look. Upon inspection, it turned out that the connector was burnt, identically to what is shown in the pictures above. I decided to install exactly the same fix, and the defroster works fine now.

Obviously this is a design defect. I want to thank the person who posted this informtation with the excellent pictures and details of the fix - it saved me a lot of time and/or expense!

Mike
 
#8 ·
burnt wire for defroster.

Thanks for finding the problem. I removed the kick panel and pulled the connertor out. Did not have to take apart the connector the outside is scorched do I am sure you are right.Plan to dix right away will let you knao results
I noticed that there is a very common problem with 2006-up Impala rear defrosters not working. Mine was one of them. The problem is very evident once you find it. Obviously Chevy, in all of their infinite wisdom decided that the defroster circuit in the 06-up Impala's didnt need to be fused. They also used too small of a connector for the high current defroster wires. This quickly burns out. It really should be a recall due to the fire hazard. Enough people must not have died for Chevrolet to care.

If you remove the passenger side kick panel where the inside fuse box is, you will see a white connector below the fuse box. Disconnect the white connector. If your defroster isnt working and you dont have 12V at the rear window, your problem is most likely that this white connector burned out. After disconnecting the connector you should see something similar to what I have shown below.



Obviously this is the problem. A burnt, melted connector. What I did was cut the large purple wire on the engine side and cut the large black wire on the rear side of the connector. I used high quality crimp connectors with heat sealing ends and then wrapped them in tape. I added a 30amp inline fuse to protect the circuit from doing this again. Make sure the wiring you use it large enough to support the defroster. I used a wiring kit for a small amp to make sure it was large enough.




I then tucked everything in nice and neat and placed the fuse in a place where it can be easily reached.



I sure hope this write up helps people out. I know that when I searched for this problem, it seems like everyone's defroster didnt work, but no one had the solution. People kept giving dumb, generic advice. I only found one correct answer, which was a one liner. Thats why I decided to take some pictures.
 
#9 ·
What if the problem is actually with the connection on the back windshield? Mine has completed disconnected and was hanging down in my 2004 Impala. We tried taping it back together with wire tape but it didn't hold. It also affects the effectiveness of my radio antenna. Is there a patch/solder kit to repair this problem? If not, any suggestions?

Thanks
 
#64 ·
For you, when the tab brakes off, you can re-solder the tab to the back glass (the glue on kits never work). You have to be very careful and you will need another person to help you because it is very tricky to hold the tab on the back glass while applying heat to the tab with a soldering iron and applying the silver solder to the tab/back glass. You can shatter the rear glass if you heat it up too much or if the glass is too cold when you try to solder the connection back together. GM has a TSB with instruction on how to do it TSB#03-08-48-006H. The type of solder you must use is SILVER Solder only like Radio Shack® Silver Solder (0.22 dia) part #64-013E. I just repaired one on a Tahoe and it worked really well.
If you don't want to try soldering it, you will need to have the back glass replaced.
 
#11 ·
Um, so I did this fix, was fine for about a month. Now the in-line fuse holder caught fire, wtf? I used a larger gauge of wire, and a 30 amp fuse, how is that even possible? What is the root problem that is driving that much current to the rear defroster? And obviously, how does a 30 amp fuse catch on fire instead of popping?
 
#12 ·
No edit button... I swapped the burned fuse holder, soldered connections, put in a 20 amp fuse this time and turned the defroster on. Monitoring the fuse holder with a temp gun, I watched it climb to 107f before shutting the defroster back off, there is obviously a larger issue.
 
#45 ·
The fuse holder is either inadequate (cheap or under sized) defrost circuits are always 30 amps in my experience. I have repaired 2 of these work successfully with 8" of 10 gauge wire and 2 yellow crimp and melt weather proof butt connectors. I have no over heating issues in these customers vehicles.
 
#13 ·
Small twist on fix

A couple of things.

First off the repair advice is spot on!! THANK YOU!

I discovered that on my 06' impala there is a purple wire on both sides of the plug, not black on one side and purple on the other, BOTH SIDES PURPLE.

There could be variations of the color of wire. It is apparent though which wire to cut on both sides.

This fix took me exactly 14 minutes to complete and is VERY easy to do.

Taking the trim off the floor side, opposite of the door, be careful with the rear most clip. The clip tends to want to come off the plastic. If it does, pry out the clip from the vehicle and first put it on the trim, then back on the vehicle.

Any questions, just send me a message. This is fresh in my mind cause I just did the repair.........


Good luck!!
 
#14 ·
Well I'm glad yours didn't catch on fire after the fix, but I wish someone would chime in.
 
#16 ·
Thanks for this great write up with pictures. I will bet this is what is wrong with my rear defroster and if it is will be the second time this forum has helped me figure what was wrong and fix my 2006 impala. This has turned out to be a great forum. Thanks to all who have imput. Jerry
 
#17 ·
As for the fuseholder catching on fire, I can think of two things. It is possible that the tabs that attach the defroster wire to the window have deteriorated, this can cause additional resistance in the circuit as can a ground that has become corroded, or any additional connectors which might be in the circuit (not sure if there are any additional ones) Any additional resistance will increase the amp draw. While I can't say the Impala has the problem with the tabs, I have encountered a few GM vehicles from the late 90s-early 2000's with that problem.

Also, make sure you are using fuses that are manufactured by a reputable company such as Buss. Avoid the "bargain packs" of off-brand fuses you sometimes see at the parts store real cheap, some of them are not made to the same standards and I have heard stories of burnt wiring after using those kinds of fuses.

In any case if the new fuseholder catches on fire there is obviously a bigger problem, and the fact that this generation Impala bypasses the defrost timer once you reach about 42 MPH and leaves it on continuously does not help this problem.
 
#18 ·
Well, thanks for acknowledging my concern. I will have to just keep tracing wiring till I find the problem...
 
#21 ·
glad to see this fix has worked for other people. to the poster who had the new fuse melt: sounds like something else is wrong with the element in the back. almost seems like a short, but it should definitely pop the fuse first! that's crazy. I had the car for about six months after the fix and it worked great the whole time, and it was heavily used during the winter. my brother in law has had 2 other impaled with the exact same problem. it's crazy that chevy hasn't actually addresses the issue.
 
#23 ·
follow up on fixing my rear defroster it is all fixed and the fuse got warm but did not get hot so the person who had a problem of get hot and catching on fire check your rear window connecters
thank you again on the pic and info
p.s. the wire colors on my 06 impala was purple on the front side and black on the back side
 
#25 ·
follow up on the rear derfroster everyone needs to call gm to put in a claim so this will be a recall i called gm to today and spoke to a lady she said to have everyone call in to put in a claim so they get enough people to make it a recall... here is the number 1-866-790-5700 ex.41141 ask for Lekeia
please call... this is a fire hazard just think if your kids are in the car and it cought fire... if you fixed it your self please still call you could save a life


thank you
impala owner and a firefighter
 
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