Tailgate Window

jbickell49 · Mar 20, 2004

I need to get to my tailgate wireing harness, but I cant get the window down to put the tailgate down. Is there any way to manually put down the window or any aternate ways to access the tailgate wireing harness

Ktomek06 · Mar 20, 2004

try opening the panel and see if you can do anything.. :mellow:

Shadow_D · Mar 20, 2004

First, Welcome to the B Zone.
What year is your bronco?

Justshootme84 · Mar 20, 2004

First, remove the access panel on the inside of the tailgate. If you can get 12v power to the connector wires to the window motor, it should roll down if the motor is still working. If it's not, you can unbolt the glass channel at the bottom where it attaches to the regulator (4 bolts). Put some zipties or tie the two regulator arms in the up position before doing this, or they will snap down with great force when you take off the glass. Check the wiring to see if it's broken anywhere inside the tailgate. You can also try pushing on the tg from outside while trying the keyswitch or someone tries the dash switch. There is a safety feature that will not let the glass down if the tg is not closed properly. Worn or misaligned striker bolts are the cause of this, or a bad switch. Just be careful not to break the glass, and watch those fingers!!!!!!!!!!!!

jbickell49 · Mar 20, 2004

thanks a bunch for the tips going to try them now. I have a 90 bronco XLT

Shadow_D · Mar 20, 2004

90 Bronco, that's easy.
The safety feature / limit switch justshootme84 is talking about is a 2 wire plug between the switch and motor. Look for that, it has a tan wire with a black stripe & a red wire with a yellow stripe. This should be the first thing you check. Unplug this plug from the key switch, then take a small wire and and jumper the plug (connect the two wires). That will close the circuit making the system think the tailgate is fully closed. Then you can try the key in the back and / or switch in front. If this fixes the problem then you need to readjust the latch mechanism on the tailgate or just tape the jumper wire in the plug but be warned, this will allow the window to operate with the tailgate open or closed.

If the window still doesn't move then take a volt meter and check for power at the switch. First find the black wire with a white stripe, this should be hot.

If it is hot then you most likely have a bad motor.
If it is dead and you have power door locks, are they working? If not then replace the 30A breaker in the #12 position in the fuse panel. If they are then the wire is broke somewhere between the fuse and tailgate.

Take a long wire and run it from the positive terminal of the battery to the tailgate and hook it up to the black wire with the white stripe. You should now be able to open the back window with the KEY switch only. Now remove the wire you just hooked up to the battery and start tracing the broken wire / wires with a volt meter.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you make out and if you need more help.
Darrin

Justshootme84 · Mar 20, 2004

That's really good stuff!!! If you do get the tailgate open, the wires often get pinched and broken right where they go into the tailgate. You can also remove the driver's side taillight lens to get to the wiring, but the tg needs to be open to remove it.

jbickell49 · Mar 21, 2004

easy fix after 4 weeks of not working i go to try these tips and like magic it has power. put tailgate down fixed wires in harness. like brand new. thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Shadow_D · Mar 21, 2004

Glad to hear we could help. Was it the safety switch?

Bradt · Oct 28, 2004

Shadow_D said:
90 Bronco, that's easy.
The safety feature / limit switch justshootme84 is talking about is a 2 wire plug between the switch and motor. Look for that, it has a tan wire with a black stripe & a red wire with a yellow stripe. This should be the first thing you check. Unplug this plug from the key switch, then take a small wire and and jumper the plug (connect the two wires). That will close the circuit making the system think the tailgate is fully closed.

Just putting this here for those searching for tips like I am. An easier way to trick the switch is just open the gate and push the two driver's side latches closed. It will complete the circuit and you don't have to get to the switch or deal with disconnecting wires.

I could close my latches just by pressing them down with my thumb. You may need to press a wrench in between them to simulate the gate closing, but it's not real hard. Just make sure you pull the handle to "open" the gate, and check to make sure the latches are back in the open position, before you try to put it back up.

Brad