Rear window defrost over-heated/ electrical issue

[turk]

Went to use the rear window defrost for the first time... let the jeep warm up. Got in...smelled smoke, burning electrical kind of smoke. Shut it down. Found rear window defrost wire smoking. Heater element burnt up embedded on the glass and the cable unsoldered itself from the heat. Will probably require glass replacement. Scheduled appt with dealer.

I know this issue is well documented in another thread but I believe the difference here is that in those cases people believed that the reason their cable unsoldered was due to opening and closing the rear glass and not from heat of the electrical element under load. worth noting my whole element on the glass is brown or black with smoke residue.

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[Rhinebeck01]

@turk

Your contact detachment was similar to what others have reported. The contact let loose, for whatever reason, plain and simple. I see no sign of any fire in your pic.

By the way, I take issue with your thread label. There was no fire. Suggest you change/edit, your friggin thread label.

 

[turk]

@turk

Your contact detachment was similar to what others have reported. The contact let loose, for whatever reason, plain and simple. I see no sign of any fire in your pic.

By the way, I take issue with your thread label. There was no fire. Suggest you change/edit, your friggin thread label.

You are entitled to your ignorance bud. Not here to satisfy your personal needs.
I did change thread title to reflect more specifically electrical overheat, categorically more correct.

Simple detachment of the cable would be no big deal. The element would be fine and reattachment would be no big deal. Its the burnt up element on the glass and the acrid smoke stench in my cloth upholstery that kinda sucks. As stated in the first post... my solder connection came off because it got hot enough to turn to liquid. I will post up some additional pics of the black spots in the element. I was in a rush this morning.

 

[GhostActual762]

Technically it is a fire hazard as molten solder can cause a fire if it was to drop down to the carpet. It is something to be aware of and I think the OP and many others have been lucky that there was no fire. One day though FCA’s cheap approach of building the JL will ruin peoples lifely hoods.

@turk

Your contact detachment was similar to what others have reported. The contact let loose, for whatever reason, plain and simple. I see no sign of any fire in your pic.

By the way, I take issue with your thread label. There was no fire. Suggest you change/edit, your friggin thread label.

 

[turk]

Chances are the solder connection qas already loose or cracked causing a hot spot. What puzzles me is that the element wire in the glas should have had no real issue taking additional amperage caused by a poor connection, right up to whatever the defrost circuit is fused at. I will have to ohm the cable out and check to see if the extra heat damaged any conductor insulation under the loom. In the end wasn't a huge deal, I got to it pretty quick. If they cant save the element I imagine I'll be waiting for new glass

 

[MountainGurl]

Went to use the rear window defrost for the first time... let the jeep warm up. Got in...smelled smoke, burning electrical kind of smoke. Shut it down. Found rear window defrost wire smoking. Heater element burnt up embedded on the glass and the cable unsoldered itself from the heat. Will probably require glass replacement. Scheduled appt with dealer.

I know this issue is well documented in another thread but I believe the difference here is that in those cases people believed that the reason their cable unsoldered was due to opening and closing the rear glass and not from heat of the electrical element under load. worth noting my whole element on the glass is brown or black with smoke residue.

I posted the thread now in this forum "JLU Rubi Rear Window Implosion" (https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jlu-rubi-rear-window-implosion.18194/) about a problem that may be related, in my case, my brand-new Jeep did not catch on file but instead the rear window literally exploded while we were on the highway at 80 mph. It sounded like someone fired a shotgun inside the car then the rear window crumbled in an instant and crashed into the back.

One member postulated that the cause was the rear defrost overheating which eventually caused the glass to crack, then break as safety glass is supposed to do -- problems not only documented in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford F-150 among others, but also experienced with exactly the same description by another JL owner, recently.

I'd like to learn more about this rear defroster issue. Where is this issue "well documented in another thread"?

 

[CashMonkey]

Same thing happened to mine, the rear defroster disconnected just like yours. I dont think mine was do to heat though, because mine disconnected around the end of August, before we had any cold wherr I live. My dealership has ordered me a new window and new part, apparently thats the fix for it.

 

[JeepCares]

Went to use the rear window defrost for the first time... let the jeep warm up. Got in...smelled smoke, burning electrical kind of smoke. Shut it down. Found rear window defrost wire smoking. Heater element burnt up embedded on the glass and the cable unsoldered itself from the heat. Will probably require glass replacement. Scheduled appt with dealer.

I know this issue is well documented in another thread but I believe the difference here is that in those cases people believed that the reason their cable unsoldered was due to opening and closing the rear glass and not from heat of the electrical element under load. worth noting my whole element on the glass is brown or black with smoke residue.

Hi Turk,

We're so sorry this happened! If there was any evidence of smoldering or burning, please contact FCA Canada to report what happened. You can reach them at 1-800-465-2001. Unfortunately I'm only able to access files for U.S. vehicles, so our Canadian team can be of the best assistance.

Jennifer
Jeep Social Care Specialist

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