Im new here..just bought a 98 zx2 manual,great running car. the car originally had rear window defrost but the back window has been replaced with a non defrost glass,the defrost switch stays on weather you push it or whatever and it wont go off,small battery drain. i pulled the relay under the hood. still stays on. any help would be appreciated
jeff

 

Welcome to the site Jeff..

The Rear Window Defrost Relay is in the interior I/P Relay box..
But,, for relay function..
By pulling the Rear Window Defrost Relay, it has the same affect as pulling the Engine Compartment Box 30amp fuse (Hot at all times )
The other fuse for the Rear Window Defrost Relay in the I/P Fuse panel is Hot in 'Start or Run' only so the Defrost relay should be inactive with the key off. Removing the Rear Window relay also takes away the Warning Chime Modules "control" of the Rear Window relay or 'grounding' ( meaning switching On/Off function of the relay coil) and the I/P Fuse shouldn't be an issue with the relay removed.

So, the Defrost switch shouldn't be illuminated. Power distribution for the switch lamp comes through a 'closed' active relay.

 

so if I disconnect the defrost button will it resolve the problem? I dont know where the wiring is physically in the window area to check it for a short

 

You said you pulled the 'relay' under the hood? Correct? (Not the Fuse?)

There's a 30amp Fuse under the hood in the "Engine Compartment Box" to supply load power for the Defrost Relay,, but the Defrost Relay is inside the car in the I/P Relay Box.. If you removed the correct 30 amp Fuse, it would have the same affect as removing the Defrost Relay (in part).

If the power distribution out of the Defrost Relay to the window grid was shorted (any where in between/even a no grid window) it would most likely blow the 30 amp fuse in the under hood box..

Are you saying that the Defrost lamp stays illuminated with the key Off?

 

yes on at all times

 

You haven't answered the the question of,,

Did you remove the "30 amp Fuse" in the Engine Compartment Fuse Box for the Rear Defrost? You stated you pulled a Relay there.. The relay for the Rear Defrost is in the I/P Relay box inside the car.

If you pulled the 30 amp Defrost Fuse, that's info we need..

 

yes..I thought it was a relay..its near the battery..I pulled this fuse and the light stays illuminated with switch off key out

 

If your certain you pulled the correct Fuse for the Rear Defrost, you might try removing the relay in the I/P Relay box inside the car. If that doesn't work, unplug the the Defrost switch...

 

Im certain but I will double check this, where is the I/p relay box I just bought the car

 

the easiest way to keep this from happening is to simply unplug the defrost connector at the HVAC wiring harness connected to the radio. Without this connected the defrost will not activate