The wiring that clips onto the shock support and runs to the rear defroster is frayed. looks like it was once braided into a flat 1/4 inch wire. on both sides its frayed and defroster dont work. any ideas on what can be done to remedy it?

 

I think that the braid is copper. If it is, you can probably get something similar at Radio Shack and solder in a section to replace the frayed area. Another possibility would be to buy an engine ground strap with similar dimensions and get the braid from that source if Radio Shack doesn't have anything useful. A lot of current runs through those wires so they have to be pretty heavy gauge.