Reattaching wire to rear heater matrix

NeilF · 12 Sep 2012 at 10:52

The metal connector has broken off my rear windscreen's heater matrix.

Last time this happened, it was just part of it (one of the two connections), and I managed to solder it back on with a lot of trial and error.

Now it's entirely come off.

Anyone got any suggestions how to reattach the metal connector to the +ve and -ve parts of the heater matrix on the glass?

Is their conductive glue for example that would achieve this?

OpenToSuggestions · 12 Sep 2012 at 10:53

Post up a few photos to show exactly what you are dealing with

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GeX · 12 Sep 2012 at 11:56

FYI.. heater matrix

NeilF · 12 Sep 2012 at 12:53

GeX said:
FYI.. heater matrix

Seems my terminology is lacking!

I talking about the heating (demister) element on the rear window. Where this element connects to a wire is a metal terminal which was seemingly welded to the two terminals on the window for the circuit. These have come away.

GeX · 12 Sep 2012 at 15:16

http://uk.farnell.com/circuitworks/cw2400/adhesive-silver-epoxy-conductive/dp/604057 ?

NeilF · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:39

GeX said:
http://uk.farnell.com/circuitworks/cw2400/adhesive-silver-epoxy-conductive/dp/604057 ?

I've just ordered some silver adhesive for about £7 off an auction site hoping that will be enough to hold it and form a conductive layer.

NeilF · 18 Sep 2012 at 14:05

Fixed it. So I super glued the metal connector back onto the metal that was still on the rear windscreen and let that dry. I then bought some conductive silver paint/adhesive (which can be used to repair window heating elements) for about £7-8 and painted around the join, and under it, filling as much of the gap between the metal element and the windscreen.

Voila!

GeX · 18 Sep 2012 at 16:33

Nice. Hope you've got plenty of conductive paint on there though, these things draw a lot of current and it'll get hot and melt again if the connection isn't good enough!

jon.bda · 19 Sep 2012 at 21:17

NeilFawcett said:
Fixed it. So I super glued the metal connector back onto the metal that was still on the rear windscreen and let that dry. I then bought some conductive silver paint/adhesive (which can be used to repair window heating elements) for about £7-8 and painted around the join, and under it, filling as much of the gap between the metal element and the windscreen.

Voila!

Screens and superglue don't mix by the way, sounds like you've been lucky!

NeilF · 19 Sep 2012 at 22:01

jon.bda said:
Screens and superglue don't mix by the way, sounds like you've been lucky!

How so?

When a rearview mirror came off a car of ours years ago, that's exactly what I used to put it back.

As for my rear heater matrix, it I glued the metal connector back onto the metal (solder?) that was still on the windscreen. So no superglue touched the glass itself.