Repair Guide: Rear Defroster Fix (Circuit Breaker)
#1
01-08-2012, 11:44 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,163
Rear Defroster Fix (Circuit Breaker)
First, I want to thank BBEngineer and Duke0466 who shared info on a thread I started a while ago:
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/ge...r-24836/page4/
Second, despite being a GM fan boy, I will say, this was RIDICULOUS! GM tells you there is a circuit breaker for the rear defroster but I have never found documentation that says WHERE it is (again, thanks Duke).
Third, the pics are from my wife's '05 Impala. I will be doing the same to my Monte when I uncover it in spring. Knowing what Duke shared and who identical the '00-05 Monte and '00-'05 Impala are, I'm sure you'll find this info spot on.
Symptoms
Rear defroster does not work at all OR it works for perhaps 1 second.
Fix
Before you start, rule out the basics. Sadly, the '00-'05 W-Bodies have a history of the window tabs falling off (solder joints break). A quick visual inspection can validate those are good (there are steps on the Internet discussing this in more detail). Make sure the relay for the defroster is good. If those two check out, carry on. I am going to explain how to inspect the circuit breaker (that is documented on the label for the passenger side fuse panel, but GM did not clearly explain those breakers are on the BACK of the fuse block).
Step 1
DISCONNECT THE BATTERY! You will be removing the fuse block, disconnect the battery to prevent any mis-haps in this process.
Remove the passenger side fuse panel. Also remove the passenger side hush panel (it's just two tabs you push with your thumb and it drops down). In my case, GM had another item holding the panel in (and I did not want to remove it, as I did not have the right tool). But, you just need to drop the hush panel to get access to the bolts/screws holding the glove box door on. There is 5-6 of them. Remove them and then remove the glove box door.
Step 2
Loosen the bolt inside the gray box on the fuse block. This bolt does NOT come out. This is the bolt used to hold 1 of 2 wiring harnesses to the fuse block. Once it's loosened all the way, pull this harness off (it may take some gentle prying with a flat head screw driver). Also, I took the gray cover off, but it's not needed to do this job (as I learned after the fact).
You will also see a wire with yellow connectors hanging in this pic. I believe this is to the air bag. It is clamped to the side of the fuse block. Gently slide it off the fuse block and then move it out of the way.
Step 3
I gave two pics of this step. You will loosen another bolt in a black box for a wiring harness like you did in step #2. You will also remove the only bolt holding the fuse block in. Once you have those two released, there is a single tab you need to press in on and pivot the fuse block out at and angle (as doing so, try to release the wiring harness on the back side of the block, again, some gentle prying with a flat head screw driver may help). I also found removing the relays from the front of the fuse block helped.
NOTE: You can see a circuit breaker on the back in my pics. Sadly, this is NOT the rear defroster breaker (I believe it's for the power seats).
Step 4
This pic is showing the fuse panel is now OUT of the car. You are seeing the large wiring harness hanging there.
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/ge...r-24836/page4/
Second, despite being a GM fan boy, I will say, this was RIDICULOUS! GM tells you there is a circuit breaker for the rear defroster but I have never found documentation that says WHERE it is (again, thanks Duke).
Third, the pics are from my wife's '05 Impala. I will be doing the same to my Monte when I uncover it in spring. Knowing what Duke shared and who identical the '00-05 Monte and '00-'05 Impala are, I'm sure you'll find this info spot on.
Symptoms
Rear defroster does not work at all OR it works for perhaps 1 second.
Fix
Before you start, rule out the basics. Sadly, the '00-'05 W-Bodies have a history of the window tabs falling off (solder joints break). A quick visual inspection can validate those are good (there are steps on the Internet discussing this in more detail). Make sure the relay for the defroster is good. If those two check out, carry on. I am going to explain how to inspect the circuit breaker (that is documented on the label for the passenger side fuse panel, but GM did not clearly explain those breakers are on the BACK of the fuse block).
Step 1
DISCONNECT THE BATTERY! You will be removing the fuse block, disconnect the battery to prevent any mis-haps in this process.
Remove the passenger side fuse panel. Also remove the passenger side hush panel (it's just two tabs you push with your thumb and it drops down). In my case, GM had another item holding the panel in (and I did not want to remove it, as I did not have the right tool). But, you just need to drop the hush panel to get access to the bolts/screws holding the glove box door on. There is 5-6 of them. Remove them and then remove the glove box door.
Step 2
Loosen the bolt inside the gray box on the fuse block. This bolt does NOT come out. This is the bolt used to hold 1 of 2 wiring harnesses to the fuse block. Once it's loosened all the way, pull this harness off (it may take some gentle prying with a flat head screw driver). Also, I took the gray cover off, but it's not needed to do this job (as I learned after the fact).
You will also see a wire with yellow connectors hanging in this pic. I believe this is to the air bag. It is clamped to the side of the fuse block. Gently slide it off the fuse block and then move it out of the way.
Step 3
I gave two pics of this step. You will loosen another bolt in a black box for a wiring harness like you did in step #2. You will also remove the only bolt holding the fuse block in. Once you have those two released, there is a single tab you need to press in on and pivot the fuse block out at and angle (as doing so, try to release the wiring harness on the back side of the block, again, some gentle prying with a flat head screw driver may help). I also found removing the relays from the front of the fuse block helped.
NOTE: You can see a circuit breaker on the back in my pics. Sadly, this is NOT the rear defroster breaker (I believe it's for the power seats).
Step 4
This pic is showing the fuse panel is now OUT of the car. You are seeing the large wiring harness hanging there.
Last edited by The_Maniac; 01-09-2012 at 10:10 PM.
#2
01-08-2012, 11:53 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,163
Step 5
Now that you have the fuse block out, you will see BOTH circuit breakers (which were hidden on the back side). The arrow is pointing to to rear defroster breaker. In this pic, I already replaced it (the original one was not green as seen here). When I removed the breaker, I could tell right away is was bad (if you shook it, it rattled). To be sure use a volt meter on it and do a simple continuity test.
I could NOT find a direct replacement at the parts store. The blades on it were wider then the what would fit into the block. I had to use the Dremel to grind them down to fit.
Update: Check your parts store for the following fuse (my stores could not match the original one, but the part number might help more):
Once you have replaced the circuit breaker (or determined it was not bad), simply repeat the steps to put the car back together again.
Again, I know these steps are for a '05 Impala, but I am sure you will find them to be the same for the '00-'05 Monte. I will be going through this in the spring on my Monte.
Now that you have the fuse block out, you will see BOTH circuit breakers (which were hidden on the back side). The arrow is pointing to to rear defroster breaker. In this pic, I already replaced it (the original one was not green as seen here). When I removed the breaker, I could tell right away is was bad (if you shook it, it rattled). To be sure use a volt meter on it and do a simple continuity test.
I could NOT find a direct replacement at the parts store. The blades on it were wider then the what would fit into the block. I had to use the Dremel to grind them down to fit.
Update: Check your parts store for the following fuse (my stores could not match the original one, but the part number might help more):
Once you have replaced the circuit breaker (or determined it was not bad), simply repeat the steps to put the car back together again.
Again, I know these steps are for a '05 Impala, but I am sure you will find them to be the same for the '00-'05 Monte. I will be going through this in the spring on my Monte.
Last edited by The_Maniac; 01-09-2012 at 08:38 PM.
#5
01-09-2012, 11:58 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,163
Thanks guys. Hopefully this info will help a lot of other people who were equally as confused as I as to where the circuit break was...
#7
01-23-2013, 10:42 AM
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Southeast PA
Posts: 25,136
Go to autoparts store, buy kit with epoxy and reconnect
#8
01-23-2013, 11:07 AM
Thanks for the reply chi! In chicago I went to o'reilly's and autozone which they said it was not sold since august of last year. So I guess I will try napa, which I am pretty sure advanced auto parts will say the samething...
#9
05-17-2013, 10:04 PM
First, I want to thank BBEngineer and Duke0466 who shared info on a thread I started a while ago:
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/ge...r-24836/page4/
Second, despite being a GM fan boy, I will say, this was RIDICULOUS! GM tells you there is a circuit breaker for the rear defroster but I have never found documentation that says WHERE it is (again, thanks Duke).
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/ge...r-24836/page4/
Second, despite being a GM fan boy, I will say, this was RIDICULOUS! GM tells you there is a circuit breaker for the rear defroster but I have never found documentation that says WHERE it is (again, thanks Duke).
Third, the pics are from my wife's '05 Impala. I will be doing the same to my Monte when I uncover it in spring. Knowing what Duke shared and who identical the '00-05 Monte and '00-'05 Impala are, I'm sure you'll find this info spot on.
Symptoms
Rear defroster does not work at all OR it works for perhaps 1 second.
Fix
Before you start, rule out the basics. Sadly, the '00-'05 W-Bodies have a history of the window tabs falling off (solder joints break). A quick visual inspection can validate those are good (there are steps on the Internet discussing this in more detail). Make sure the relay for the defroster is good. If those two check out, carry on. I am going to explain how to inspect the circuit breaker (that is documented on the label for the passenger side fuse panel, but GM did not clearly explain those breakers are on the BACK of the fuse block).
Symptoms
Rear defroster does not work at all OR it works for perhaps 1 second.
Fix
Before you start, rule out the basics. Sadly, the '00-'05 W-Bodies have a history of the window tabs falling off (solder joints break). A quick visual inspection can validate those are good (there are steps on the Internet discussing this in more detail). Make sure the relay for the defroster is good. If those two check out, carry on. I am going to explain how to inspect the circuit breaker (that is documented on the label for the passenger side fuse panel, but GM did not clearly explain those breakers are on the BACK of the fuse block).
[quote]Step 1
DISCONNECT THE BATTERY! You will be removing the fuse block, disconnect the battery to prevent any mis-haps in this process.
Remove the passenger side fuse panel. Also remove the passenger side hush panel (it's just two tabs you push with your thumb and it drops down). In my case, GM had another item holding the panel in (and I did not want to remove it, as I did not have the right tool). But, you just need to drop the hush panel to get access to the bolts/screws holding the glove box door on. There is 5-6 of them. Remove them and then remove the glove box door.
If there is a problem with the circuit breaker then you'll probably need to use a tester on it first to confirm. If it's no good you'll need to replace it.
[quote]Step 2
Loosen the bolt inside the gray box on the fuse block. This bolt does NOT come out. This is the bolt used to hold 1 of 2 wiring harnesses to the fuse block. Once it's loosened all the way, pull this harness off (it may take some gentle prying with a flat head screw driver). Also, I took the gray cover off, but it's not needed to do this job (as I learned after the fact).
You will also see a wire with yellow connectors hanging in this pic. I believe this is to the air bag. It is clamped to the side of the fuse block. Gently slide it off the fuse block and then move it out of the way.
[quote]
I got the same carpet setup in mine as well hah.
Step 3
I gave two pics of this step. You will loosen another bolt in a black box for a wiring harness like you did in step #2. You will also remove the only bolt holding the fuse block in. Once you have those two released, there is a single tab you need to press in on and pivot the fuse block out at and angle (as doing so, try to release the wiring harness on the back side of the block, again, some gentle prying with a flat head screw driver may help). I also found removing the relays from the front of the fuse block helped.
NOTE: You can see a circuit breaker on the back in my pics. Sadly, this is NOT the rear defroster breaker (I believe it's for the power seats).
Step 4
This pic is showing the fuse panel is now OUT of the car. You are seeing the large wiring harness hanging there.
NOTE: You can see a circuit breaker on the back in my pics. Sadly, this is NOT the rear defroster breaker (I believe it's for the power seats).
Step 4
This pic is showing the fuse panel is now OUT of the car. You are seeing the large wiring harness hanging there.
#10
05-18-2013, 01:34 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,163
No prob CarDude8! This was a means to a long time problem. I was thrilled to share this write up. Glad it's helping others 