Rear hatch rubber pipe replacement

[vaco]

Hi!
I am not sure how is it called in English, the thing I mean is rubber pipe that connect rear hatch to the body and has cables inside. In my XJ both pipes are broken, when it rains I have water in the trunk. Do you know where to find a replacement or can you suggest similar part from other car that is available?

Thank you!

 

[Anak]

The English language certainly has its challenges.

Since you say "both pipes" I am going to guess you mean the hatch struts, however, there are no cables inside them. They are gas charged. It should be easy to order these online as they only tend to last ten years or so.

However, I am not so sure those would be the cause of a leak. Generally their failure mode is that they no longer support the weight of the hatch, often being "fixed" by using a stick or rod as a prop for the hatch.

Or, are you talking about the piece that seals the gap between the body and the hatch? If so that is called "weatherstripping". That might be seen as comparable to a pipe, and it does have some wire inside to give it a blend of flexibility and rigidity. That is indeed something which has to do with keeping out the water. Finding replacement weatherstripping may be a challenge. I doubt the dealership system has any left, and our XJs are not yet old enough for reproduction parts to be available. A junkyard is where I would look, but success there requires finding an XJ which was well cared for and still has that part intact. Ebay would be another option.

Best of luck.

 

[RCP Phx]

I think he's referring to is the wiring boot for the 3rd brake light/license plate. The OP didnt say what year but it's going to be hard to find.

 

[vaco]

I did not mean the ones that lift the hatch, but two boots (I missed this word) that have cables for wiper, brake light and so on inside. It is 1997. Maybe some of you found some replacement. I think buying used ones does not make much sense, as 20+ year old rubber will not be in a good condition, and they are impossible to find too.

 

[Anak]

Got it.

Yeah, I don't know where you would find replacements for those.

For that sort of thing I look for junkyard vehicles which look to have been better cared for, like garaged, for at least part of their life. There are telltale signs such as the wiper rubber at the base of the door windows. Most of the time that rubber is britttle and cracked in multiple places, but if you look you can find ones where it is still supple and intact. From there I check the weatherstripping, especially the driver's door. If that is good then the odds are other rubber pieces will also be good. It won't be as good as new, but new isn't an option anymore, so it is the next best thing.

 

[RCP Phx]

I would try to make repair, do you realize the amount of work to install a good one in without splicing???

 

[WB9YZU]

I would try to make repair, do you realize the amount of work to install a good one in without splicing???

^^^^^ This.
There is a thread over on the Cherokee Forum called "Torn hatch wiring boots, options?"
It appears the boots are not available sans wiring, so the harness would need to be replaced.

You could salvage a harness from the boneyard and replace them.

Or, you could try taking a short cut and replacing just the boots by splitting the new ones, installing them in place then gluing them back together.

Or simply fill the damaged area with RTV and forget them

Or ignore the issue