2006 Impala Rear Defogger

2006 Impala rear window defogger problem

Turned on and switch light comes on but no defogging on ear window
Checked relay in the fuse/hood box and looks okay – I can hear it click on on/off
Checked two connections to defogger grid – positive and negative and both appear to be okay. Good continuity from negative side to ground
With switch is on, I checked the voltage and it reads 10 volts across positive and negative connectors when the connectors are disconnected. When they are connected, the voltage across the terminals reads zero.
No disconnects in the grid are evident.
Is this a switch issue? There appears to be reasonable continuity across the grid but when the connector are hooked up the voltage drop to 0 volts (positive to negative side)

Am I missing something here?

2006 Impala rear window defogger problem

Turned on and switch light comes on but no defogging on ear window
Checked relay in the fuse/hood box and looks okay – I can hear it click on on/off
Am I missing something here?


follow the ground wire to the body ground and check for a good connection....OR with a solid connection to the body jump the ground side connection to the grid...see it the voltage stays around 10-12 volts across the grid..

with a large amount of current demand by the heat grid the voltage drop may be due to a poor ground..

2006 Impala rear window defogger problem

Turned on and switch light comes on but no defogging on ear window
Checked relay in the fuse/hood box and looks okay – I can hear it click on on/off
Checked two connections to defogger grid – positive and negative and both appear to be okay. Good continuity from negative side to ground
With switch is on, I checked the voltage and it reads 10 volts across positive and negative connectors when the connectors are disconnected. When they are connected, the voltage across the terminals reads zero.
No disconnects in the grid are evident.
Is this a switch issue? There appears to be reasonable continuity across the grid but when the connector are hooked up the voltage drop to 0 volts (positive to negative side)

Am I missing something here?

I have the same problem -- did you find a solution??

Hello -- I am having the same problem and test findings - Did you ever solve the problem??

Hello -- I am having the same problem and test findings - Did you ever solve the problem??

follow my instructions in the earlier posting....bad body ground...is common..

The Ground is good - checked it and cleaned it and reconnected - I fed raw battery to the rear defogger and it worked ok. I am now assuming a poor connection in the power feed??? I would assume this is a major job to track down.

The Ground is good - checked it and cleaned it and reconnected - I fed raw battery to the rear defogger and it worked ok. I am now assuming a poor connection in the power feed??? I would assume this is a major job to track down.

not really ..make sure the fuse holder is ok...some have found defective loose fuse connections..this heater is a very high current circuit...if the fuse has full voltage on both sides, then I would remove switch check connections to switch if ok replace switch/or measure at switch to see if voltage drops at the switch..

Not sure if this is the case for the 2006 Impala, but the 2004 model (as well as the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero) has a radio antenna/rear defogger module somewhere underneath the plastic trim near the rear/back windows. The large amount of current going to the rear defogger tends to melt the electrical connections that go to the module. I don't have the factory manual on hand, but if you can wait until the weekend and send me a PM as a reminder I can probably scan you the information from the manual.

I also have 06 impala defogger problem. switch sends power to defogger.

I'm in the same boat here guys. I've traced the power and ground wires to the point they disappear in the trunk area. I cannot locate the point of termination for the ground. but volt meter has current accross grid and checks out from a separate power source to ground as well as good continuity from ground to grid and grid/ground connections.
Did anyone find out where they hide the antenna/defogger module?

Fuse and relay under hood are ok- (swapped relay with starter relay)

Thanks in advance

I also have 06 impala defogger problem. switch sends power to defogger.

I'm in the same boat here guys. I've traced the power and ground wires to the point they disappear in the trunk area. I cannot locate the point of termination for the ground. but volt meter has current accross grid and checks out from a separate power source to ground as well as good continuity from ground to grid and grid/ground connections.
Did anyone find out where they hide the antenna/defogger module?

Fuse and relay under hood are ok- (swapped relay with starter relay)

Thanks in advance

if you have VOLTAGE across the grid and it does not heat your grid is open...find the broken surface and repair with a kit ...the open in the grid should have voltage across it..where its broke ..

Thanks j cAT,
I'll inspect again. Couldn't locate any break 1st time around.

Thanks j cAT,
I'll inspect again. Couldn't locate any break 1st time around.


If you have power at the grid connections and the grid does not heat up you have an open grid...I would look at the connections to the grid tape area first as this is a stress area...then with a razor knife cut into the grid a needle sized opening to get a connection to find the loss of voltage start at the positive connection work toward the ground connection..when the loss of voltage occurs this is the area it is open...