Rear Defogger: Description and Operation

The electric backlight (EBL) system is controlled by a momentary switch (1) located in the A/C-heater control (2) on the instrument panel. When the rear window defogger switch is pressed to the On position, the
A/C-heater control energizes the rear window defogger (EBL) relay and battery current is then directed through the relay and to the rear window defogger grid lines and the heated outside rear view mirrors, when equipped. The grid lines heat the glass to help clear the rear window and outside mirror surfaces of fog or frost.

An amber indicator (3) in the rear window defogger switch will illuminate to indicate when the EBL system is turned on. The A/C-heater control contains the EBL system control circuitry including the timer logic.

NOTE: The EBL system turns off automatically after ten minutes of initial operation. Each following activation cycle of the EBL system will last five minutes.

The EBL system will be automatically turned off after an initial programmed time interval of about ten minutes. After the initial time interval has expired, if the rear window defogger switch is turned on again during the same ignition cycle, the EBL system will automatically turn off after about five minutes. The EBL system will automatically shut off if the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, or it can be turned off manually by pressing the rear window defogger switch a second time.

Repair of the rear window defogger grid lines, bus bars, terminals or pigtail wires can be accomplished using the Mopar Rear Window Defogger Repair Kit (Part Number 04549275) or equivalent.