1999 Olds Alero rear defogger

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Glenn - 25 Jun 2005 19:28 GMT

Noticed my rear defogger stopped working on my 1999 Alero a few months
ago and figured I'd try to tackle this today being as it a beautiful 90
degree humid day (insert sarcasm here).

Light on console lights but no defrosting in rear window.

Checked all the fuses and relay and they are all working/good.

Checked continuity at the defogger grid and had nothing.

Pulled the sail panel right next to the wiring on the rear passenger
side figuring there may be a break in the wiring.

Behind the panel is a combination antenna booster/defogger module
"thing" marked "GMX 130 ant mod" .

The connector was melted and the contact inside the unit was warped
from continued heating and cooling and was no longer making contact.
(Seems like a very poor design to me!)

Pulled the unit, cracked it open and soldered wiring (of sufficient
gauge) to the contacts (one had signs of arcing). Then clipped off the
bad connector and used bullet connectors to tie it all together.

Works like a charm now!

>>>>>>>>>>1999 Olds Alero 3.4 L V-6 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Problems to date (that I can remember):

water pump repalaced (was leaking)

lower intake manifold gasket replaced (engine was gulping down
antifreeze)

Dumped the Dexcool and used regular green antifreeze and havent had a
problem with this in 35K miles

2 alternators

3 batteries

numerous brake pads and warped rotors

leather seating surfaces really starting to show wear even with
numerous conditioners and cleaners

a/c heater blower resistor pack replaced (no low or med. fan speeds)

trans seems like its starting to slip

cruise control problem (it too doesnt work and I am wondering if it
isnt a similar problem as I stated above)

Still have a leak somewhere into the passenger compartment after rain

Pressing the windshield washer button pops fuse (i need to turn on the
wipers first then hit the washer button)

Still love the car though, looks good and has balls!

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Glenn - 28 Jun 2005 03:03 GMT

I realized why this happened and why it may not be a common problem.

I have a tendency after a snow to allow the rear defroster run continuiously
while I clean the car until the glass is clear. Sometime this means I turn
the rear defogger back on three or four times after the timer has shut it
off. The constant heating and cooling of the contacts caused the warping and
the loss of contact caused the subsequent arcing.

> Noticed my rear defogger stopped working on my 1999 Alero a few months
> ago and figured I'd try to tackle this today being as it a beautiful 90
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
>
> Still love the car though, looks good and has balls!

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saundersbe@gmail.com - 28 Jun 2005 04:27 GMT

I don't know about your defogger problem, but I did notice some
familiar things in your list of problems (I also own a 1999 Alero):

> water pump repalaced (was leaking)
> lower intake manifold gasket replaced (engine was gulping down
> antifreeze)

I am not sure if I had these problems, exactly, but at some point last
year my car dumped all the antifreeze. They pretty much replaced
everything (the water pump, the intake manifold gasket, and a few other
things).

> numerous brake pads and warped rotors

Funny how those rotors are always warping.

> a/c heater blower resistor pack replaced (no low or med. fan speeds)

Me, too.

> trans seems like its starting to slip

I've noticed that, too. I was wondering if standard service (replace
the fluid, etc.) would fix this.

In addition to these problems, I had the ignition switch fail and need
replacement (ugh - a big labor cost on that one).

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Glenn - 29 Jun 2005 02:18 GMT

I notice slippage during hot wetaher and stop and go traffic. It leads me to
conclude that the trans is overheating. Maybe an aux. cooler?

> > trans seems like its starting to slip
>
> I've noticed that, too. I was wondering if standard service (replace
> the fluid, etc.) would fix this.

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