Questions and Answers

Firebird Rear Window Defroster Q. Hi Vince, you've helped me in the past, so I thought maybe you'd have an idea for me again (Thanks so much once again!) Refresher for you: I have a 1992 Pontiac Firebird, 3.1 liter V-6, manual transmission, approximately 130,000 miles, fuel injected (fuel injectors desperately need cleaned, but that's not the problem) etc. etc. Anyway, it doesn't have a rear defroster.

I went to a junkyard this weekend, and found myself the dash panel with the extra buttons on it for a defroster (along with the fog lights, and I don't know what the other button's for). I had intended to take the whole rear window off another Firebird that had the defroster and put it on mine, paint it, and whatever else that entails, but the junkyard guy there said I could just buy defroster strips from any track auto store or something for my car.

I have no idea what he's talking about, because it looks like it would need soldered, and I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to stick them on, at least evenly if they're sticky anyway. Is there an easier way to do this than to replace the whole rear windshield? Do you know of anywhere that sells defroster strips for a 1992 Pontiac Firebird??? The dealers are never much help, I'd like to avoid that road if I can.

Second question: what kind of wiring harnesses would I need if I were to replace the whole windshield and wire it to the original buttons up front? Where would you try to get them from? I'm pretty sure I can re-use my 3rd brake light, struts, and latch assembly from the windshield on the car now. Any ideas would be perfectly wonderful, because I'm tired of scraping my rear windshield every morning, and I'm not looking forward to the snow!

Thank you Vince, you're a perfect savior to all of us!

A. Call any aftermarket A/C installer and they should be able to install a rear defogger or tell you who does it in your area. Trust me, swapping parts from a used car is not the way to go if you don't know how it works. They make a kit that has a decal like paper with the little grid lines on it and spaced evenly. You just lay it on and hook up a wire to each side. One side goes to a ground and the other side is run up to a relay and switch. If done right you may be able to get away without having the factory window struts put on for the plug.

Electric Defroster/Demister Grid