Hyundai Repair: 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Rear Defrost, hyundai santa fe, conductive glue

Question
Hello,  I purchased a used 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe.  One of the two rear defrost wires were not attached to the glass at that time.  The wire is/was not broken.  There was a clean separation between he metal "electrode" and the glass. I thought is would be a simple fix.  I went to two shops, including a Huyndai dealer and no one knew how to fix it.  So, I fixed it by using the glue used to reattach a rear view mirror and reattached the wire to the glass.  It seemed to work.

The rear defrost has not worked since I purchased the car and still does not work.  Even the factory attached wire does not defrost that side of the window.

I checked fuses two for the rear defrost and one for the ETACM.  All were ok.  When the button is depressed to turn on the rear defrost the indicator light does illuminate.

Any suggestions for what to try next??

Thanks!


Answer
The defogger operates by the defogger circuit applying power through one of the wires, through the grid on the window, and then through the wire on the other side, where it attaches to a body ground.  So both wires need to be in place and making good electrical contact for the defogger grid to warm up.  Unfortunately, the glue you used to attach the wire isn't conductive.

You may need to replace the rear window to solve this problem.  

If you're going to try repair without replacing the window, here's what I can suggest:
-- Check your local parts store for a defogger wire attaching kit.  You won't be interested in the kit to repair the grid wires, only a kit specifically for reattaching the wire to the window.  There may be a kit available with a conductive glue-type bonding agent.
-- If you find such a kit, you'll need to break the wire back loose at the joint you glued and clean all the glue off.  This will be important for the conductive glue to make electrical contact.
-- Then, once all the old glue is cleaned off, follow the instructions with the kit.
-- If you're unable to find a repair kit, you can disconnect the wire and clean all the glue off as above, and then attempt to solder it back onto the window.  Keep in mind this may irreparably damage the window.  I've always been afraid of applying this much heat to a customer's vehicle for exactly this reason, so I've never attempted the soldering.