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  #1  
Old 02-18-2020, 01:55 PM
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How to test rear windshield defrost/defog?

The dreaded w126 rear windshield milky white/ delamination syndrome is manifesting itself on the '85SD passenger side rear corner. Only the upper 25% of the glass heats up - the wires show corrosion where the discoloration is seen.

Located a good seeming replacement at the pick and pull. How to test it before pulling?
Also, will any year fit?

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  #2  
Old 02-19-2020, 09:35 PM
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You can use your volt/ohm meter to see if there is continuity and that could tell you if it has a open circuit/dead (a test light that has a battery would also work) but that won't tell you if all of the grids are function.

I have not been to a junkyard out here for a long time but it used to be you could purchase a warranty on the part you take of. However, the warranty only covered you getting another used part.
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  #3  
Old 02-20-2020, 09:32 AM
Shadetree
 
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Unscrew the leads, one on each side edge of the glass and test the resistance between them.
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  #4  
Old 02-20-2020, 09:59 AM
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Unfortunately all that will tell you is that you have at least one good wire.

The only real way to check is power up and do an IR scan. Unfortunately not everyone has one of those in their back pocket...maybe soon the price on those will come down to where they are commonly affordable.

Only other thing I can think of is that you will get a magnetic field around each conductor, and only the lines with continuity will pass current and thus generate a field about that line. May have to do an experiment with a compass and see if it is capable of detecting the field in each grid line and resolve to tell if a line is carrying or not. Or maybe a Hall effect sensor.
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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech
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  #5  
Old 02-20-2020, 10:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jay_bob View Post
Unfortunately all that will tell you is that you have at least one good wire.

The only real way to check is power up and do an IR scan. Unfortunately not everyone has one of those in their back pocket...maybe soon the price on those will come down to where they are commonly affordable.

Only other thing I can think of is that you will get a magnetic field around each conductor, and only the lines with continuity will pass current and thus generate a field about that line. May have to do an experiment with a compass and see if it is capable of detecting the field in each grid line and resolve to tell if a line is carrying or not. Or maybe a Hall effect sensor.
That is what I was trying to say.
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  #6  
Old 02-20-2020, 06:24 PM
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Hmm... the pocket compass idea has some merit. I'm betting even a small battery, connected to the terminals, might be sufficient to cause a fluctuation of the needle when you scan it from top to bottom. It's worth a shot!
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  #7  
Old 02-20-2020, 07:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jay_bob View Post
Unfortunately all that will tell you is that you have at least one good wire.

The only real way to check is power up and do an IR scan. Unfortunately not everyone has one of those in their back pocket...maybe soon the price on those will come down to where they are commonly affordable.

Only other thing I can think of is that you will get a magnetic field around each conductor, and only the lines with continuity will pass current and thus generate a field about that line. May have to do an experiment with a compass and see if it is capable of detecting the field in each grid line and resolve to tell if a line is carrying or not. Or maybe a Hall effect sensor.
How about icing up the glass with dry ice and seeing if it clears all up and down the window in that way typical of an operating defroster?
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  #8  
Old 02-20-2020, 11:12 PM
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Measure the current consumption!
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  #9  
Old 02-21-2020, 07:07 AM
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That is plausible, except that you won't be able to detect that you have a few open wires that way.

Same reason you can't reliably flush out a parallel flow condenser or a radiator.
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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech
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  #10  
Old 02-21-2020, 09:26 AM
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If you measure one with no open wires, then measure another and get the same amperage, it also has no open wires.
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  #11  
Old 02-21-2020, 10:51 AM
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Get a can of cold spray. Put a battery or booster cables on. Turn the rear defroster on. Spray a vertical pattern down through all the strips after letting them warm for a minute. You should see if all are heating or not.


Unless breaks are always visable to the eye you have to power it up. A hand held spot temperature reader would also do it. Read the strips from the inside though.
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  #12  
Old 02-21-2020, 03:17 PM
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Post Testing Heated Backlight

Go to Harbor Fright and buy the $19 infra red thermometer and take it to the junkyard with some crap zip cord, connect the window to a junk battery and use the IR tool to see if the wires heat up equally .

It's not rocket science .

Someone here should have the FSM and be able to post the proper resistance for meter testing .
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  #13  
Old 02-21-2020, 07:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funola View Post
Measure the current consumption!
Yes with an ammeter but you would need a known good rear window to get a reading from and then you would need to take a Car batter with you to the Junk Yard so you could take a reading there.\
The tough word there is Junk Yard.
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  #14  
Old 02-22-2020, 01:31 PM
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Ok so I did some real world testing on my W211 this morning while it was in the garage.

I started it and ran it for a few minutes and then got out my trusty HF infrared thermometer.

Turns out it is possible if you hold the scanner directly against the glass, over the line, to see if it is heating up.

Get a baseline first before you energize it (take temperatures over the glass in a few places and mentally average them).

Then give it a few moments to get it to start warming up. You will probably have to work quickly especially if you have a drill battery to work with as it won't last long with the kind of draw the window has.

I was able to discern the glass getting warmer over each individual line. Granted this is a modern window with the painted lines but should be the same principle for the micro wires in the W126.

As proof I went to the top of the glass and shot the first 4 or 5 rows. These are part of the FM radio antenna and do not heat. These were as expected the same temperature as the glass before heating.
__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech
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  #15  
Old 02-23-2020, 11:55 PM
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Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
Yes with an ammeter but you would need a known good rear window to get a reading from and then you would need to take a Car batter with you to the Junk Yard so you could take a reading there.\
The tough word there is Junk Yard.
Why "tough" ? you're in Long beach where there are lots of junk yards and one of the larger LKQ Pick-A-Part ones with usually lots of Mercedes W123's & W126's....

They're the cheapest in town too ! I just bought a 6 disc CD changer for $18 + tax .

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1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Last edited by vwnate1; 02-25-2020 at 09:34 AM. Reason: Still working on that spelling thing.....
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