Anyone had a go at removing one of these?

[mrs.smith2012]

Afternoon all,
Nell has a ‘heated back window’ although I believe it was fitted way back and it doesn’t appear to be working (seller did tell me about this). Tbh I’m not overly keen on how it looks, so if it’s not working I’ll probably get it disconnected and I’ll take it off the window. According to Google these stick on heating elements can be simply peeled off, but wondered if anyone has had a go at removing one of these? Did it come off without ruining the back window? What method did you use?
Have included some pics!

IMG_4187.jpeg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 17229 times

IMG_4186.jpeg (1.58 MiB) Viewed 17229 times

[svenedin]

This has been repaired with conductive paint near the connectors. It should peel off by softening each section with a hairdryer. Any excess can be carefully scraped off with a window scraper such as is used to remove paint from windows.

You would obviously need to carefully disconnect the electrics at the other end

These are actually useful. Would you rather not just have it working?

Stephen

[mrs.smith2012]

This has been repaired with conductive paint near the connectors. It should peel off by softening each section with a hairdryer. Any excess can be carefully scraped off with a window scraper such as is used to remove paint from windows.

You would obviously need to carefully disconnect the electrics at the other end

These are actually useful. Would you rather not just have it working?

Stephen

Yes the seller did attempt a repair before he sold her but judging by how badly the windows fogged up when I took her out last, it’s not working. I’ll be having an auto electrician out at some point in the near future to retrofit some hazard lights and I’ll get him to take a look at this.
I suppose it could be useful if it worked I agree, but from an aesthetic point of view I just don’t like it plus I can’t clean my inside window properly without catching the foil. You can’t tell from the pic but it’s pretty grim

[svenedin]

In that case you can go ahead and remove all the tracks on the screen (with the power off obviously) but leave the connector block attached until your auto electrician has disconnected the other end safely. The switch could be removed at the same time. For the connector block, warm it up with the hairdryer. It may come off easily. If not, warm it up and slide fishing line under it and cut through the softened adhesive like a cheese wire through cheese.

Stephen

[mrs.smith2012]

Excellent thank you! I’ve also got some adhesive letters to remove from the boot so I’ll save these jobs for when the weather has improved a little!

[ManyMinors]

DON'T remove it!! It's there to keep your hands warm when you have to push it

Seriously, if it isn't working, save up a few £££ and buy a proper heated rear windscreen from ESM or similar. It'll look fine and work properly

[svenedin]

I had a 4 door saloon at one time. The heated rear screen was very useful. With my convertible of course there is no such thing as the rear screen is plastic. The plastic screen doesn't really seem to steam up at all because the car is so draughty or is that "well ventilated". A heated front screen would be great but one of those chamois de-misting pads and opening the quarter light is usually enough until the heater gets hot enough to de-mist. The only trouble is the rain tends to come in the open quarter light as it did today but it was coming through the roof as well to make it all the more fun.

Stephen

[Wes]

DON'T remove it!! It's there to keep your hands warm when you have to push it

Seriously, if it isn't working, save up a few £££ and buy a proper heated rear windscreen from ESM or similar. It'll look fine and work properly

I second this. My Travellers PO fitted ESM heated glass front and back and i'm impressed with them.

[mrs.smith2012]

DON'T remove it!! It's there to keep your hands warm when you have to push it

Seriously, if it isn't working, save up a few £££ and buy a proper heated rear windscreen from ESM or similar. It'll look fine and work properly

I second this. My Travellers PO fitted ESM heated glass front and back and i'm impressed with them.

Okay I’ll look into this. If it’s not something I can do immediately would it harm to take this off? I only say that because currently all it’s really doing is obscuring my vision and making it impossible to clean the inside of the back window, and the smears and smudges just make it harder to see out of. I have tried to carefully clean around the stickers… but can’t really buff out the smudges without catching it. Some is already flaking off

[geoberni]

Okay I’ll look into this. If it’s not something I can do immediately would it harm to take this off? I only say that because currently all it’s really doing is obscuring my vision and making it impossible to clean the inside of the back window, and the smears and smudges just make it harder to see out of. I have tried to carefully clean around the stickers… but can’t really buff out the smudges without catching it. Some is already flaking off

Such things were of their day, a common place aftermarket product in the 60s and 70s, but a rapidly dwindling market once the vehicle industry started to make heated rear windows standard even on base models.
Even if you were to find an unused one for sale on ebay or at an autojumble, I can guarantee that after 50 years or so the self-adhesive surface would have long since degraded to the 'useless' stage.
What you could try is using those connections to install a small blower heater/demister, which can be found easily from about £12.

But as to removing that failed sticking one from the rear window, it's quite easy, but the cold weather is a problem.
Disconnect the electrics and tape up the connections.
Get yourself a 'Window Scraper' like this: https://www.toolstation.com/stanley-win ... per/p18564
Use a hairdryer to carefully warm the element while running the scraper under it.
Any sticky residue that remains can be cleaned of with a cloth and solvent such as White Spirit.
You'll occasionally have to change the angle you use the scraper as required simply to take account of the curves of the back window, because these scrapers are intended for cleaner paint from flat glass when decorating.
But as they are a standard 'Stanley Knife' blade, the slight curve of the rear window shouldn't be a significant problem.

[mrs.smith2012]

Thank you, once it’s been disconnected I’ll get onto this. I’d rather have a clean, clear window and I can try some rainX and perhaps a demister pad of some sort for the time being!

[svenedin]

Okay I’ll look into this. If it’s not something I can do immediately would it harm to take this off? I only say that because currently all it’s really doing is obscuring my vision and making it impossible to clean the inside of the back window, and the smears and smudges just make it harder to see out of. I have tried to carefully clean around the stickers… but can’t really buff out the smudges without catching it. Some is already flaking off

Such things were of their day, a common place aftermarket product in the 60s and 70s, but a rapidly dwindling market once the vehicle industry started to make heated rear windows standard even on base models.
Even if you were to find an unused one for sale on ebay or at an autojumble, I can guarantee that after 50 years or so the self-adhesive surface would have long since degraded to the 'useless' stage.
What you could try is using those connections to install a small blower heater/demister, which can be found easily from about £12.

But as to removing that failed sticking one from the rear window, it's quite easy, but the cold weather is a problem.
Disconnect the electrics and tape up the connections.
Get yourself a 'Window Scraper' like this: https://www.toolstation.com/stanley-win ... per/p18564
Use a hairdryer to carefully warm the element while running the scraper under it.
Any sticky residue that remains can be cleaned of with a cloth and solvent such as White Spirit.
You'll occasionally have to change the angle you use the scraper as required simply to take account of the curves of the back window, because these scrapers are intended for cleaner paint from flat glass when decorating.
But as they are a standard 'Stanley Knife' blade, the slight curve of the rear window shouldn't be a significant problem.

I thought that is what I'd already said........

For any tricky curved bits just remove the Stanley blade from the scraper handle and use the blade carefully by holding it in your fingers. You need to get the blade angle right but it will soon become apparent once you are doing the job.

Stephen

[mrs.smith2012]

You did! I appreciate all the tips and advice from everyone … for now I will try to ignore how grubby my back window looks while the rest are sparkling

[geoberni]

I thought that is what I'd already said........

For any tricky curved bits just remove the Stanley blade from the scraper handle and use the blade carefully by holding it in your fingers. You need to get the blade angle right but it will soon become apparent once you are doing the job.

Stephen

Sorry, I missed that bit, only recollecting the fishing line comment.

I thought it worthwhile listing the whole process, to remove any doubt as to what was meant.
It's easy in such circumstances to mention something that is common terminology to those of a certain age but may not be clearly understood by those half our age, or younger.

[mrs.smith2012]

Honestly repeated advice does me favours as I’m still on cloud nine with this whole thing… so it doesn’t hurt me to hear it twice!
E.g. the seller went through everything with me before we took Nell, told me what every button and switch did… you think I can remember

I guess that part of the fun!

[moggiethouable]

I would remove it too and replace it with another less visible unit.