I don't actually know when the heater broke, but once it started getting colder outside, I could tell something was wrong. When I put the defrost on, barely a peephole would melt away. This resulted in my friends and I scrapping away frost every time we drove my car in the bitter cold. The issue ended up being something about the cable being kinked. Easy fix thankfully; just had to replace the cable.
If your rear defroster stops working, peel back the carpeting in the left footwell area and look for a greenish color connector, it should have a thick purple wire going into it from the steering column, and on the connecting connector a thick black wire going through the floor trim to go to the rear defrosters. This is a weak link, as the pins cannot handle the current, why use thick wires and then pin a thin wire in between.. Design flaw, not sure if a fire hazard at all but never a recall on this.
So, in my situation you could see discoloration on the connector, unsnap the connector and you should see the one pink that these wire go through melted, chared black. If this is the case, you found your problem. Cut the wires off (black and purple going into this connector, now you just need some additional 12 gauge or larger wire, I used some stranded wire I had from Radio shack that was 12 gauge, and a decent soldiering iron, and with some solder made a jumper so they reached without the presence of the connector. and wrapped good in electrical tape, and done. Cost of repair will depend if you have the tools, I had everything, recommend either soldering iron that will handle a thick wire. or you could probably get away with a decent butt connector and crimping tool. electrical tape to cover any exposed wires. wire stripers or sometimes scissors or nail clipper works for this. I just may get around to posting a video on you tube to help others. "Cavalier Rear Defrosters" will be the search words, but give me until after the holidays.
My wife said one day that the selector on her heater would not turn to the defrost. When I turn it to the left it works fine, but turning it to the right it gets stuck at the spot for the floor.
It is a very tight spot to reach but if you get your hand in behind the heater unit there is a cable connected to the back of that dial. The cable is far too small to handle the pressure of turning that dial. Once it gets bent the first time, thats it, it will bend every time after. Ours now has a crimp in the cable and the only way to get to the defrost position is to hold the cable straight when turning the knob.
In order to replace this cable the whole dash has to come out.
- hemiramsrt8,
Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada
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I don't actually know when the heater broke, but once it started getting colder outside, I could tell something was wrong. When I put the defrost on, barely a peephole would melt away. This resulted in my friends and I scrapping away frost every time we drove my car in the bitter cold. The issue ended up being something about the cable being kinked. Easy fix thankfully; just had to replace the cable.
- Kelsey C., Outlook, SK, Canada