FIXED 525iT Tailgate probs (wires:gate/rear seat) (archive)

took me a couple of frustrating days with a multimeter, but I fixed the problem. Since we bought this thing, both the tailgate and rear window handles did not work (only way to open tailgate was with key)

First, the two harnesses connecting to the tailgate were totally brittle, with quite a few wires severed. I could tell something was wrong, as I checked connectivity from inside to the gate. So I took apart, replaced/spliced, etc.

Then I was really pissed - it still did not work. So, with the help of my trusty Bentley manual, I followed the curcuit to a cluster of black/white striped wires coming together under the rear seat, on the driver side. visually, they looked fine, but when I tested continuity BETWEEN them, there were some not getting juice.

That is, they were supposed to act as a sort of distribution point for power, but some of the wires were not getting any power.

So, I took the yellow "cap" off of them, and lo and behold, there was all kinds of green corrosion in it, so I stripped and spliced, and that fixed it!

feel free to e-mail with questions. I really do not know if this wiring was actually original. Because all the wires under the rear seat look really shoddy - like it the whole thing has been reworked - just a real birds nest.

Do they all look like this? Maybe I'll post a pic.

Follow Ups:

Re: FIXED 525iT Tailgate probs (wires:gate/rear se Rob Edwards 22:28 1/14/2001 (1)
- Re: FIXED 525iT Tailgate probs (wires:gate/rear se phil getchell 22:39 1/14/2001 (0)

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