GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Test Description

The number below refers to the step number on the diagnostic table.

  1. Listen for an audible click when the RR DEFOG relay operates. Command both the ON and OFF states of the RR DEFOG relay. Repeat the commands as necessary.

Step

Action

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Defogger Schematics

Connector End View Reference: Window Systems Connector End Views

DEFINITION: The rear window defogger is completely inoperative. No part of the rear window is heated.

1

Did you review the operation of the rear window defogger system and perform the necessary inspections?

Go to Step 2

Go to Rear Window Defogger Description and Operation

2

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Depress the rear window defogger switch.
  3. Observe the rear window defogger indicator on the HVAC Control Assembly.

Does the indicator illuminate?

Go to Step 3

Go to Step 6

3

  1. Connect a test lamp between the left rear window defogger grid and a good ground.
  2. Connect a test lamp between the right rear window defogger grid and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate on both rear window defogger grids?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 5

4

  1. Connect a test lamp between the left side of the left rear window defogger grid and the right side of the left rear window defogger grid.
  2. Connect a test lamp between the left side of the right rear window defogger grid and the right side of the right rear window defogger grid.

Does the test lamp illuminate on both rear window defogger grids?

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections

Go to Step 19

5

Does the test lamp illuminate on one of the rear window defogger grids?

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 9

6

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the harness connector C3 of the HVAC Control Assembly.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Connect a test lamp between battery positive voltage circuit, terminal A of the HVAC Control Assembly and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 14

7

Connect a test lamp between the ignition voltage circuit, terminal B of the HVAC Control Assembly and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 21

8

Connect a test lamp between the ignition voltage circuit and the ground circuit, terminal C of the HVAC Control Assembly.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 22

9

Command the RR DEFOG relay ON and OFF, by depressing the rear window defogger switch on the HVAC Control Assembly.

Does the RR DEFOG relay click when commanded ON and OFF?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 10

10

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the RR DEFOG relay.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit of the RR DEFOG relay coil and a good ground.
  5. Depress the rear window defogger switch.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 15

11

Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit and the ground circuit of the RR DEFOG relay coil.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 24

12

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the RR DEFOG relay.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Connect a test lamp between the battery positive voltage circuit of the RR DEFOG relay switched input and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 16

13

  1. Connect a 25-amp fused jumper wire between the battery positive voltage circuit of the RR DEFOG relay switched input and the relay switched output to the supply voltage circuit of the rear window defogger grid.
  2. Connect a test lamp between the rear window defogger grid and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 20

14

Test the battery positive voltage circuit of the HVAC Control Assembly for an open or short to ground. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 23

15

Test the supply voltage circuit of the RR DEFOG relay coil for an open or high resistance. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 17

16

Test the battery positive voltage circuit of the RR DEFOG relay switched input for an open or short to ground. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 25

17

Inspect for a poor connection at the harness connector of the HVAC Control Assembly. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 26

18

Inspect for a poor connection at the RR DEFOG relay. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 27

19

Repair an open or high resistance in the ground circuit of the rear window defogger grid. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 28

--

20

Repair an open or high resistance in the supply voltage circuit of the rear window defogger grid. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 28

--

21

Repair an open or high resistance in the ignition voltage circuit of the HVAC Control Assembly. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 28

--

22

Repair an open or high resistance in the ground circuit of the HVAC Control Assembly. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 28

--

23

Repair the short to ground in the supply voltage circuit of the RR DEFOG relay coil. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 28

--

24

Repair an open or high resistance in the ground circuit of the RR DEFOG relay coil. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 28

--

25

Repair the short to ground in the supply voltage circuit of the rear window defogger grid. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 28

--

26

Replace the HVAC Control Assembly. Refer to Heater and Air Conditioning Control Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 28

--

27

Replace the RR DEFOG relay. Refer to Relay Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 28

--

28

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

System OK

Go to Step 2