Here is a progress report... With regards:

o Connect one of your voltmeter test leads to a good chassis ground (you can use the right side defrost tab if that is convenient).

o With the defrost switch ON, try probing with the needle into the grid near the left (driver side) tab. If you don't see any voltage there (but still do at the tab connector itself) then that tab is your chief suspect.

o If you do see voltage there then try probing into the right side of the grid. If you still see a bit of voltage over there then that confirms (at least some of) the grid is okay and the problem is likely at the right tab.

I managed a good ground in one of the holes in the rear deck where the clip that fastens down the carpet is missing. I was able to confirm this ground with continuity sound to the right side tab on the window.

With engine running and defroster switch on and lit up, I get 13v at the left side tab and, with a sewing needle clipped into an alligator connector, I have probed up/down the majority of the left side strip under the tab getting voltage at pretty much every location. This makes me think the connection between the left tab and the window is ok.

When I look for voltage at the right side strip under the tab, I seem to find nothing. But I do note that in at least a few places more proximate to the left side, I get some voltage response when probing some of the grid wires directly. So I conclude that at least some of the grid wires still have a connection to the left side strip. But this suggests that virtually all of the grid wires are kaput somehow in their attempt to reach all the way across the window.

With regards:

o Try probing into the grid at the right side. If you see a hint of meter action then that suggests the right side tab is okay. Probe over on the left side of the grid and if you still see a bit of continuity then that confirms the grid is okay and it's likely at the left tab.

With engine stopped and defroster switch off and the same ground arrangement as above, I probe for continuity sound up/down the strip under the right side tab I get the sound pretty much every where I probes with the needle. This suggests that the connection between the right tab and the window is ok too. When probing the grid wires themselves proximate to the right side, I find virtually no continuity sound.

So now I am left trying to probe the grid wires themselves. This isn't easy so I first did a close visual inspection of all the wires, all the way across the window. I do NOT see any apparent breaks in the wires of any kind. But I do note that the width of the wires is uneven. Some wires appear to be thicker/wider than others. Some wires appear to be thicker/wider on the either the left or right sides (or both) than in the middle of the window. I am not sure if this is normal/expected or not. But I simply do not see any complete breaks through the wires at all.

I should be clear that when using the needle, I tried very hard to NOT scratch the wires - only to point and press in. And due to the quite thin appearance of the grid wires in some places, my aim may have been less than ideal. But I do think I found enough decent probings to feel that my report above is accurate enough.

Does any of this sound familiar or explicable?

Thanks!