Skoda Octavia Rear Window Heater: Broken Connector

Hello fellow enthusiasts,

The connector pin for the rear window defroster on my father-in-law's Škoda Octavia broke off (I wonder how that even happens?).
Unfortunately, I don't have a photo because my in-laws live 700 km away and don't own a digital camera.

The repair shop suggested replacing the windshield ('The first question they asked was: What is your deductible?').

Is there perhaps another, more affordable way to re-establish electrical contact at this connection?

I'm looking forward to seeing your answers.

Best regards,
K_Oldewurtel

There used to be a product called "Leitsilber" that you could apply with a brush.

Hello teileklaus,

Yes, I even still have some silver thread in my closet. I used to repair the :?threads} on the rear window of my Beetle (man, that must be at least 30 years ago...).

But here, the connection pin is broken off.
-> Silver paste for a broken connection pin? }

Best regards,
K_Oldewurtel

Hello, I don't know what it looks like on your end, but possibly the 6.3 mm flat connector is soldered in place. If resoldering isn't possible, you could try using silver paste as a conductive adhesive. If it's not mechanically stable but electrically okay, you could secure the connector with two layers of conductive epoxy.

Super glue + conductive silver paste?

If he didn't live so far away, I would just say: "Come here, I'll fix it again!"

Otherwise, find a skilled technician who, for example, repairs televisions and who has the appropriate self-mixed flux solutions as well as a powerful soldering iron.


Apply a small drop of hydrochloric acid to the soldering point and let it sit for a moment. Then, quickly solder with rosin-core solder using plenty of heat! The key is to use a lot of heat and work quickly so that the glass pane is thermally stressed as little as possible, but the soldering joint is still properly soldered and doesn't just "stick" on.

Hello hatrider,

Does a good old-fashioned Weller soldering iron with a hot, wide tip (8mm tip) and flux suffice, or does the guttering faction (ERSA 100 or 250 watts) need to be brought in for this task?

I don't really have any problems with the soldering itself...

Best regards, K_Oldewurtel

250W is too much! A soldering iron with a power of 60-75W, preheated for a sufficiently long time, should be enough. If you have a soldering station available: Use full power!

It seems there's a design flaw with the Octavia.

I've had several issues where the rear window connection (possibly through the trim?) was...
it is bent inwards, pressing it against the window frame...

Normally, the fuse just keeps blowing repeatedly.