Rear window defroster

On my 96 2dr 5spd my rear window defroster does not work properly. The previous owner had window tint on the interior of the glass. I took it off very carefully. I know that taking off the tint is a factor in the defroster wires being broken. But I have examined them and they are intact. When I turn the defroster on only one or two lines seems to work. And then only in short segments will the lines defrost the window.

I'm stumped. Have I torn off a portion of each wire or has some other type of unknowable gremlin entered my rear defroster?

Thanks for any help

A rear defogger grid works like an iron in that it uses resistance to build up heat. It is basically an exposed (uninsulated) circuit. Since the window was tinted, and you removed the tint, my best guess is that you put very very miniscule cracks in the defogger lines, breaking the connection between the left side of the window and the right side of the window, thus sevoring their connection and damaging it. You could try a do it yourself defogger repair kit that you can get from NAPA. You could also get it professionally repaired (expensive) or just go to a junkyard and get another window and have it installed (relatively cheep).