Question on swapping rear hatch on Renix

[old_man]

I need to swap the rear hatch. I haven't had a chance to tear into it yet, but how do you disco the wiring. Are their connectors in roof on the vehicle side or do you pull all the wires out of the hatch.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Yeah, not an easy task, the connectors like to hang up on everything when you try to pull the harness out. Feeding it back in is another exercise in frustration. Stiff wire and duct tape are your friend there......

The harness snakes down the C pillar on the drivers side and the connectors are grouped together behind the plastic side panel where the spare tire goes.

Might be easier to leave the harness and remove the ends from the hatch.

Good luck!

 

[old_man]

I had thought of simply splicing them together at the point where it heads into the body.

 

[zluster]

I had thought of simply splicing them together at the point where it heads into the body.

I think thats asking for more trouble later with age hardened and broken wiring.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

I think thats asking for more trouble later with age hardened and broken wiring.

This...... plus that's a tight space to be trying wire splices.....

 

[zluster]

This...... plus that's a tight space to be trying wire splices.....

Yup. Know what sucks more than feeding all the wires through? Feeding them through twice because they broke!

 

[Hypoid]

Does the original hatch have a wiper/washer and defrost grid?

 

[old_man]

Does the original hatch have a wiper/washer and defrost grid?

It has a wiper but no defrost. When I swapped over the wiring a decade ago, I never hooked up the wiper.

 

[Hypoid]

I went out and looked at mine again, the hose for the window washer crosses over and comes down the passenger side.

Tom, I did take the wiring out of the parts Jeep, just to see how everything was routed. That bundle that goes up the C pillar includes the wiring for the passenger side tail light, which crosses over the rear opening with the washer hose, and down the passenger C pillar.

For me, with my stock '90, pulling the loom from the hatch is much less work than trying to cut and splice.

 

[old_man]

I am going to Andersen's tomorrow morning to see if they have any hatches. Don't know if I can pull one by myself but I at least need to locate one.

I am going to just cut the wires and splice it later.

 

[old_man]

Scored a hatch and got it removed intact for $140. I pick it up in the morning.