GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Diagnostic Fault Information

Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure.

Circuit/System Description

Battery positive voltage is supplied through the BATT 3 fuse in the underhood fuse block, to the Rear Defog relay switched input. With the engine started, the BCM supplies battery positive voltage to Rear Defog relay coil. When you depress the rear window defogger switch the HVAC control assembly illuminates the rear window defogger indicator and energizes the Rear Defog relay by grounding the control circuit of the relay. This allows battery positive voltage from the relay switched input through the switch contacts and out the relay switched output to the rear window defogger. Ground for the rear window defogger is provided by G403. When you start the engine and press the rear window defogger switch for the first time, the defogger cycle lasts for 10 minutes. Further operation results in 5-minute defogger cycles. The defogger cycle resets to 10 minutes when you cycle the ignition to the OFF position and then start the engine. If the battery voltage is very low, the rear defogger feature is disabled.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

Defogger Schematics

Connector End View Reference

Stationary Windows Connector End Views

Description and Operation

Rear Window Defogger Description and Operation

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Connector Repairs
    •  Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections
    •  Wiring Repairs

Circuit/System Verification

Ignition ON, command the rear window defogger ON and OFF by pressing the defog button. Observe the rear window defogger operation as the rear window defogger turns ON & OFF.

If the rear window defogger indicator light does not illuminate, replace the HVAC control module.

Circuit/System Testing

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the REAR DEFOG relay.
  2. Ignition ON, verify that a test lamp does not illuminate between the coil side control circuit terminal and ground.
  3. If the test lamp illuminates, test the control circuit for a short to voltage.
  4. Verify that a test lamp illuminates between the coil side B+ terminal and ground.
  5. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the B+ circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal and the B+ circuit fuse is open, test or replace the REAR DEFOG relay.
  6. Verify that a test lamp illuminates between the switch side B+ terminal and ground.
  7. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the B+ circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal and the B+ circuit is open, test the control circuit terminal switch side control for a short to ground.
  8. Disconnect the harness connector C1 at the rear window defogger grid.
  9. Test for less than 1.0 ohm of resistance between the rear window defogger ground circuit terminal C2 and ground.
  10. If greater than the specified value, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance.
  11. Connect the harness connector at the rear window defogger grid.
  12. Connect a 40-amp fused jumper wire between the switch side B+ terminal and the switch side control terminal. Verify the rear window defogger is activated.
  13. If the rear window defogger does not activate, test the control circuit for an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, test or repair the rear window defogger grid.
  14. Connect a test lamp between the coil side B+ terminal and the coil side control terminal.
  15. Command the rear window defogger ON and OFF with a scan tool, the test lamp should turn ON and OFF when changing between the commanded states.
  16. If the test lamp is always ON, test the control circuit for a short to ground. If the circuit tests normal, replace the HVAC control module.
    If the test lamp is always OFF, test the control circuit for a short to voltage or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the BCM.
  17. If all circuits test normal, test or replace the REAR DEFOG relay.

Component Testing

Relay Test

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the RR DEFOG relay.
  2. Test for 60-180 ohms of resistance between terminals 85 and 86.
  3. If the resistance is not within the specified range, replace the relay.
  4. Test for infinite resistance between the following terminals:
  5. • 30 and 86 5
    • 30 and 87 6
    • 30 and 85 7
    • 85 and 87
    If not the specified value, replace the relay.
  6. Test for less than 2 ohms of resistance between terminals 30 and 87A.
  7. If greater than the specified range, replace the relay.
  8. Install a 60-amp fused jumper wire between relay terminal 85 and 12 volts. Install a jumper wire between relay terminal 86 and ground. Test for less than 2 ohms of resistance between terminals 30 and 87.
  9. If greater than the specified range, replace the relay

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.

Control Module References for HVAC control module replacement, setup, and programming.