Weird Tailgate Window Situation

[CaliGWagon]

OK, I have read all the tech articles as well as searched the archives and my problem seems a little different than most.
My window in my 79 waggy has been working great, I use it almost every time I drive the Jeep, never a hitch. Until this morning. I got in the Jeep and fired it up, used the dash switch to lower the glass, the glass moved about 6 inches down and stopped. Won't go up or down from the dash or the tailgate switch. Checked the fuses, and the circuit breaker (actually replaced the CB with a 30amp fuse to see if it would help) Nothing.

Any thoughts? I have the panel pulled apart and I will begin testing wires at lunch, just curious if anyone knows what the likely culprit might be.
Thanks, Erik

[CaliGWagon]

Anybody? Getting ready to head over to a buddy's to check it out. PLEASE!!!

[Matthew W. Woodruff]

I have the same problem now and then. It is not electrical; wait a bit then try to pull the glass up or push it down by hand. This works with mine.

Situation was very bad until I replaced the inner and outer wipes. I plan to lube the mechanism, including the bar that supports the glass, this weekend.

[CaliGWagon]

Yours sounds like it might be the Circuit Breaker kicking in because of too much resistance at the motor. Hmmm, I wonder if mine will work when I go downstairs been about 4 hour.

[twmattox]

Mine just started this too. It seems that it is hitting something. If I play with the switch, (toggle back and forth from up to down) it will eventually work. Try to get the window to go up (by key) while giving a little tug up (with hand). This may work.

Is there a break in the track that needs aligned, lube that should be used, etc???

[CaliGWagon]

Unfortunately, the key switch does not work either. Makes me think either the safety switch or the key switch died and, from what I gather, if either of them are bad, nothing works.

[BK]

Always push on the drivers side of that tailgate first to see if it's the safety switch. If the key switch is bad nothin works. Since I wired mine direct to the front switch all problems are gone :*)

[Zacko]

I'd bet it's a bad key switch. Mine did the same thing. I bypassed the keyswitch and life it good again.

[CaliGWagon]

Here's the UPDATE!

Went to my buddy's got a flashlight and looked around in there after testing all the wires. Turns out som PO had been in there before and some of the wires weren't properly secured. Beleive it or not, the plug going to the safety switch had PULLED OFF!!!

Simply plugged it back in and zip tied everything up nicely and voila! All is well in Jeepland again. Thanks for all of your replies!

[River Beast]

My tailgate works from the dash and not the key... what could that be.....

[CaliGWagon]

That sounds like a tailgate switch, the one talked about in the tech articles (little plastic nibs break off)

[River Beast]

thanks.... never really bothered me so I never looked into it... but now we are taling about it.. heck might as well fix it! ;)

[turtlejoe]

Todd, here's a picture of my new tailgate switch (thanks Brent!). There are two thin plastic tabs hiding in this pic, but you can also see the torsion spring that recenters the actuator tabs as you release the key. The tabs hit on either side of the triangular switch and then are supposed to go back home - if the torsion spring isn't tired or broken. Can't help with your specific problem, but thought you'd like to take a look at a switch.

Edit: I take that back - you can just barely see the little plastic hooks at the bottom of the switch, on either side of the connector prongs.

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Misc-Pictures/tailswitch.jpg

[ May 15, 2003, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: turtlejoe ]