Hi All, 

Just had a horrid afternoon getting the old rusty tailgate off ang putting another one (less rusty) on. 

I really tried to keep the wiring intact and original, but i must admit it did not work. 

I still have no idea how they installed it in the factory and would love to know.

 

Here is what i did:

-took the carpet covering off the hatch

-removed the plastics from the boot to allow the big piece on the left to be moved out of the way (probably worth getting it off completely, i ended up cursing a lot because it was in the way)

- wiring connector is just by the left rear lamp. 

- Managed to pull the whole wiring out of the D pillar so it was just hanging off the tailgate. (this is how i got the replacement tailgate, with the wiring hangin'... I thought this is the way to go)

 

- Then tried putting it back to see if i could do it with the new one.... the big connector that lived by the rear lamp was really tough getting through the slot in the roof, and there was no way it would go back into the pillar...

- Then the hell started... 

 

Even pushing a leading wiree through was an issue... I did not manage with the silicone electrician's leading cable, but got lucky once (Once) with a simple rigid copper wire

Then as a test i tried to do it from the other way, (ie, disconnect all in the hatch, then pull out the wiring from the hatch... but then the connectors for the positioning lights are a big issue.

They come out, by force and some fiddling, so I managed to save the whole wiring intact, but how on earth put it back into the tailgate...??

 

- I finally managed to get a leading wire into the D pillar from the taillamp area out through the slot in the roof... Had to use a hook and fiddle inside the left corner of the roof to catch the wire that i pushed up from the taillight... by then i probably had blood pressure up in the stratosphere...

 

- Eventually I installed the replacement hatch with it's main connector cut off and the cable pulled down in the D pillar with the leading copper wire.

It did not go down easy. Had to remove it's rubber protecting tube too.

- Soldered the connector back on and seems to work but Man, it was a tough evening. 

 

It's not ready yet, but i'll post further complications.

The that almost made me cry (but i men does not cry, instead goes to his room, pours a whisky, sits down, lights a cigar and puffs. Then cries):

- turned out that the hatch that i was so happy about (it's in really great shape for a felicia, they tend to rust badly behind that plastic cover by the lock) is a lighter red than mine... Damn! I never noticed that, just on the car...

(well we have a joke here, that husbands won't be sold mixed coloured paint unless they present a written agreement from the wife)

 

Now I have to learn to spraypaint and i was putting that off and off for a long time... But i do not want a colour palette car! 

 

 

So, the point of my long pouring-out-the-heart:

- how on earth you install rear hatch wiring the easy way? 

 

Thanks!

Z

Each pin in any connector can be removed with the proper tool.

Yeah, I came to understand that. So apparently to get the wiring out intact you need to remove the connector housing. Well... Next time!

 

On 02/11/2023 at 20:17, RicardoM said:

Each pin in any connector can be removed with the proper tool.

IM SO HAPPY YOU ARE BACK SOOOO DAMN HAPPY

On 02/11/2023 at 21:17, RicardoM said:

Each pin in any connector can be removed with the proper tool.

Return of the Legend.

I salute you.

Forum was lonely without you.