# 02 Camaro Rear Defroster Won't Stay On

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-camaro-rear-defroster-wont-stay-on/40494>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, camaro\
**Created:** [December 8, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-camaro-rear-defroster-wont-stay-on/40494 "2009-12-08T19:12:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![iceblade10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iceblade10](https://community.cartalk.com/u/iceblade10)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-camaro-rear-defroster-wont-stay-on/40494/1 "2009-12-08T19:12:45Z")

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Thanks for reading. Here is the problem: When the rear defroster is turned on, it works fine for about 10 seconds, then turns off. If the button is pushed again, it just makes a mechanical clicking sound, and won’t turn back on. I am thinking it is the electrical switch. I replaced the little circuit board with one from a junkyard, but I am having the identical problem with this new part. When I took it to the dealership, they recommended that I get a new AC Control Unit (which is the part I just replaced from the junkyard, basically). If this is true, then I would have to assume that the part I just put in is defective as well.  
  
  
  
 What do you think I should do? A new AC Control unit runs around $240, whereas the junkyard part ran me $35. Problem is, I’m not even 100% sure that would fix my problem. It could be an entirely different cause?  
  
  
  
 Thanks in advance,  
  
 Steve

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-camaro-rear-defroster-wont-stay-on/40494/2 "2009-12-08T21:03:46Z")

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My guess would be a thermal protective device (fancy circuit breaker). They can wear out and do just that.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![iceblade10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iceblade10](https://community.cartalk.com/u/iceblade10)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-camaro-rear-defroster-wont-stay-on/40494/3 "2009-12-08T21:47:39Z")

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Thanks for the reply, Joseph.

Would this device be on the circuit board itself, or somewhere else in the car? The circuit board is only about 2"x2", and there is a small white box soldered on it. I’m willing to bet that this is the problem, but its just a hunch.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![iceblade10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iceblade10](https://community.cartalk.com/u/iceblade10)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-camaro-rear-defroster-wont-stay-on/40494/4 "2009-12-08T21:51:27Z")

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[http://www.plccenter.com/buy/FUJI+ELECTRIC/56ND12W?source=AdWords\_PN&gclid=CKrnt8Xox54CFU1M5QodYwz7sQ](http://www.plccenter.com/buy/FUJI+ELECTRIC/56ND12W?source=AdWords_PN&gclid=CKrnt8Xox54CFU1M5QodYwz7sQ)

This is a picture of the “white box” I mentioned. Apparently it is a relay. Could this cause the aforementioned problems?