The rear defroster on your Jeep is comprised of horizontal, hair-thin lines on the back windshield. Because of its delicate design, the rear defroster often becomes damaged by items in the cargo area rubbing or bumping against the grid, or friction against the rubber seal in models that allow the window to go up or down. General wear and tear on older models can also cause the rear defroster grid to break. Defroster repair paint is available from any auto parts store as well as big-box retailers.
Clean the interior of the back windshield with rubbing alcohol, especially the areas where the grid is broken. Identify these areas more easily by placing a sheet of white cardboard on the other side of the glass. The contrast will help you to clearly see the disconnected areas of the grid.
Place strips of masking tape above and below the broken lines in the grid. These will keep the repair paint from bleeding outside of the lines. Press the tape strips firmly into place and allow several minutes for a firm adhesion.
Apply defroster repair paint over the broken lines. Four coats, with 10 to 15 minutes in between for drying time, will restore the lines to their original strength. If the repair paint begins to dry out or thicken, add a little acetone to thin it out. Give the bottle a shake before each use.
Remove the masking tape carefully. Clean away any paint that went outside the lines with a razor blade.
Allow 24 hours for the paint to fully dry and set. Allow another 24 hours before using the rear defroster.
