Any way to force tailgate window up?

[treuedectra]

i looked around the forums and haven't quite been able to find an answer to my problem. I have a 91 Wagoneer that has a tailgate issue/failed motor that left the window about two inches down from the top. is there some way to just manually force or otherwise get the window up with the motor inoperative? i will work on troubleshooting a permanent solution later, but for now i just need the glass closed.

[drlocke]

IMHO if you can arrange it to be possible you need to drop the tailgate if the window is down and exteriorize it, and examine its tracks for damage due to wear or corrosion. Remove the access plate from the interior of the tailgate and analyze the regulator mechanism.

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with the tailgate windows in these wonderful cars.

There is also a lot of literature on the fora here about this matter, and others may be able to provide links that are more applicable to your later year of Wag than the ancient beast I have. :o

[drlocke]

In rereading your post your first step is likely to scoonch down in the cargo area with a good strong source of light, and remove the access plate, and then try to disassemble the electric regulator mechanism, or try to get electric directly to the motor itself. If you can find a way to lower the glass then you can get the gate open to have a closer look at things. Rusted-out guides, regulator rails at the bottom of the glass, etc, are your likely nemeses....

Again there are numerous threads on this if you do a search, or some good Sam here will direct you if they can recall where such be....

[treuedectra]

i searched, but couldn't really pin down anything that directly involved moving the window with a non-working motor/electrical situation. if i disengaged the regulator, would there be nothing then supporting it, leaving it then to fall into the tailgate?

[babywag]

Remove the motor, push the glass up, reinstall the motor or wedge a chunk of wood under it.

[drlocke]

Right! You need to at least get the glass fully up or down. Fully down to open the gate. Fully up to protect against weather. The previous condition will enable you to diagnose exactly what the problem is.

"Dirty" switching and electrical connections are the chief culprit to your problem. Can you say "corrosion?"

It could very well be that your electric motor assigned to raising and lowering your tail window is still OK. But it is the switching and/or connections that are to blame for the failure.

You've got a lot of time in toil looking over filthy wiring underneath your car ahead of you. Best get a good creeper, or a nice and comfortable mattress and cushion underneath you as you take the diagnostic dive... :(

[drlocke]

So you likely have both electrical and mechanical issues to deal with here--sorry to say.... :(

Keep us posted--and best of luck to ya! :thumbsup:

Us seasoned FSJ-ers are a mighty people. And you shall soon know why.... :D

[jeepguzzi]

The motors are rarely the cause. Climb inside, remove the access panel, and hook a battery charger or battery lead directly to the wire leads on the motor. If it moves down, reverse the wires to make it go up. Watch your fingers!!

[drlocke]

IIRC it is safety-stop-switch issues, and the "battery charger" idea is a goody. Bottom line is that you need to get the glass retracted so that you can open things up and troubleshoot.


Or close it up completely if you haven't got immediate time to delve into this, and just need to keep the rain out for the time being.

[jeepguzzi]

The other thing that usually causes problems (at least on mine) was the power supply wires either at the plug near the rear frame rail, or where the wires go into the tailgate.

[lilredwagon]

Hi! I got a great deal on a 1974 wagoneer which, with a little TLC, will be awesome...unfortionately, during those years in the back 40, the rear window was left in the downward position. It is completely down and the motor is rusted and frozen. It's getting power but the glass is in the way so I can't install my rebuilt motor. The window frame is way below the metal frame plate that I removed and it's difficult to get your fingers around the glass, having said that, we've been really torking on it with no success. I'm to the point that I'm thinking that I'll have to bust the window to fix the darn thing...Any ideas because the bees have been moving in!:banghead:

[Soggy Boots]

Another good idea is to use the battery from a electric drill and two pieces of wire at least two feet long with spade conectors on one end and bare at the other end open you tailgate access panel unplug the window moter and plug in you new leads touch the bare ends to your drill battery and watch out for your fingers just swap bare ends to reverse direction and go from there.
good luck!

[andy d]

quick and dirty is to use a 2" holesaw on the inside panel right where the clips are that secure the channel to the regulator arms. Makes removing the jeezus clips easy. Put rubber plugs in the holes afterward.

[lilredwagon]

Thanks Andy, I'll let you know what happens! Beth

[Geminiroq]

Hey guys,

Not to highjack your thread but what if you cant put power to the rear window. How would you lower it manually?

Thank you...

[andy d]

Hey guys,

Not to highjack your thread but what if you cant put power to the rear window. How would you lower it manually?

Thank you... see my post. Once you unhook the lift arms from the bottom channel , you can move the window up or down. :thumbsup:

[Geminiroq]

see my post. Once you unhook the lift arms from the bottom channel , you can move the window up or down. :thumbsup:

Hi Andy,

I am a little slow today...but what are the lift arms.

Someone before me mangled the insides and am not sure what to unhook.

Thank you...

[Frank]

Hi Andy,

I am a little slow today...but what are the lift arms.

Someone before me mangled the insides and am not sure what to unhook.

Thank you...

With the access panel removed, you'll see the large sector gears which lead from the motor. On these gears are attached the lift arms. They have studs on their ends to fit into the slots on the channel on the window bottom.

Once it's up and working, it's a nice system. If you've got problems with it, you'll be referring to all AMC designers as nitwits...

On my 'new' 1988 Wag, someone saved me the trouble of removing the carpet and access panel so I could see the problem firsthand - a rotten window channel. They saw it as well and stopped there. Out of curiousity, I tried the dash switch and the motor worked. I also tried the tailgate key and was amazed to see it worked as well. Now, I'll have to pull the thing apart to replace the channel; who wants to bet once I fix the mechanicals, the electricals will rear their ugly heads?

It's just a Jeep thing and I'm ready for it....

[coop923]

quick and dirty is to use a 2" holesaw on the inside panel right where the clips are that secure the channel to the regulator arms. Makes removing the jeezus clips easy. Put rubber plugs in the holes afterward.

What a great tip! I've got some tailgate issues to address too.

[men in black]

quick and dirty is to use a 2" holesaw on the inside panel right where the clips are that secure the channel to the regulator arms. Makes removing the jeezus clips easy. Put rubber plugs in the holes afterward.

This is how I did it, and used electrical panel two piece hole plugs.
stuck them in a vice and bent them a little.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192/pixelhound/tailgate/DSC02911smCustom.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192/pixelhound/tailgate/DSC03151SmallCustom.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192/pixelhound/tailgate/DSC03156SmallCustom.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n192/pixelhound/tailgate/DSC03153SmallCustom.jpg