Help, Rear Defroster and Rear Defroster Switch not working - neither is alarm system
 

Just bought a 1997 Golf GL - Nice car all around. Except for a couple of ridiculous problems that the shop didn't find during the pre-sale inspection (glad I paid for that).

1. Rear-Defroster (in rear window) is not working. The 1st thing that I noticed was that the green light behind the switch didn't come on when the headlights were turned on. Secondly, the orange light didn't turn on when the button is pushed and engaged.

So... today I checked the fuse... looked fine, but I replaced it anyway with a brand new one. Next I proceeded to unplug both of the contact at the rear window. There is a connection to the grid on both sides. I turned the key to the battery position and pushed the button for the rear defroster... no luck. I then connected one of the connections and tried the button again.. now the orange light would come on. If both connections are plugged in the orange light goes out. But with one connected the orange light stays on.. although it is 50% as bright as it should be and it fades on and off when you turn the key on and off.

Does anyone have any ideas of what to do? I'm guessing it is a short... and I've heard lot's of horror stories about these mid-late 90's golf's and Jetta's having lot's of electrical problems... please help.

2. Alarm is not working, when all the car is locked-up... the light doesn't flash and the alarm doens't appear to work? HOWEVER, today I discovered that the passenger side lock tumbler come right of the door with the key... could this have anything to do with alarm not working?

Could the alarm and the rear defroster be related at all?? And... my rear passenger-side speakers don't work with the stereo... I don't know if that helps or just makes things more consuming. Please let me know...

I did buy this car privately, so there is no one to take it back too :(

Halewai.