Weekend Heated Rear Screen

[Myke Pocock]

The heated rear screen on my 97 Marea Weekend has just stopped working. The indicator light operates on the switch and the solenoid under the right hand dash can be heard clicking. I have checked the following:-
When the switch is operated there is power to the fuse.
The fuse is OK.
I have checked continuity of the screen through both spade connectors which is OK.
I have checked with a meter if power is at the red/black power cable and an earth at the screen end when the switch is on but there isnt.
Is this a known proble? Can anyone suggest a way of solving the fault? Have I done all the correct checks?

Regards,
Myke Pocock.

 

[Geoki]

Same hapened to me

I'm afraid its Italian electrics time. The same happened to me. Light comes on, no demist. On further investigation using a multi-meter, I found I had 12v at input to rear window element, and 12v at output, meaning the earth return was open circuit. Chasing the earth I found there is a connector under the LH (from the rear) rear pillar. This wouldn't come apart. Then I noticed that the plug had signs of overheating and had melted at the pins where the earth runs through it (a large dia black cable). Turns out that this was not making a good circuit, and was sparking, causing the connector to melt, and fill the gap with burnt molten plastic. This was the open circuit.
The simple cure was to cut the cable at either side of the connector and use a heavy duty chocolate block.
Problem solved. Hope this helps.