Where are the controls for my rear wiper?

Mikey121

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Kent County, Delaware
I just bought a 97 Wrangler TJ with a hard top on it. Under my radio is a panel with one red switch in the center and a blank on either side. The switch does not seem to do anything and there is no other switch for my rear defroster and no switch for my rear wiper or wiper fluid. The front windshield wiper and fluid works off the handle on the right side of my steering column but there is nothing to indicate controls for the rear wiper or wiper fluid. Can someone lead me in the right direction on where the controls are and how to get my rear wiper and wiper fluid working?
 
Welcome to the forum.

In TJs that came equipped with hardtops from the factory, there is a harness that runs just underneath the top of the tub on the driver side (above the wheel wells), and it plugs into the hardtop. There is also a rocker style switch on the dash to enable the rear wipers and defrost. If you don't have both the harness and switches, yours was a soft top equipped Jeep originally and some prev owner and the hardtop at a later time. You'll need to add the harness and switch if it's missing if you want the rear wipers/defrost to be working. Not difficult to do, but you will need to source the parts and spend time with the install.
 
Welcome to the forum.

In TJs that came equipped with hardtops from the factory, there is a harness that runs just underneath the top of the tub on the driver side (above the wheel wells), and it plugs into the hardtop. There is also a rocker style switch on the dash to enable the rear wipers and defrost. If you don't have both the harness and switches, yours was a soft top equipped Jeep originally and some prev owner and the hardtop at a later time. You'll need to add the harness and switch if it's missing if you want the rear wipers/defrost to be working. Not difficult to do, but you will need to source the parts and spend time with the install.

Welcome to the forum.

In TJs that came equipped with hardtops from the factory, there is a harness that runs just underneath the top of the tub on the driver side (above the wheel wells), and it plugs into the hardtop. There is also a rocker style switch on the dash to enable the rear wipers and defrost. If you don't have both the harness and switches, yours was a soft top equipped Jeep originally and some prev owner and the hardtop at a later time. You'll need to add the harness and switch if it's missing if you want the rear wipers/defrost to be working. Not difficult to do, but you will need to source the parts and spend time with the install.

Any recommendations on the best place to find a harness and the rocker style switch?
 
The wiring harness and washer water tubing runs from the drivers side wheel well in the engine compartment connecting to the windshield washer reservoir (a different reservoir is required for the addition of the second washer pump), the harness connects to the fuse block behind the glove compartment for the windshield washer motor/pump and defroster power, inside the Jeep a length of harness goes to the bezel beneath the radio connecting to the rocker switches and then the harness wiring runs along the drivers side tub rocker panel over the rear wheel well to just behind the roll bar mount where its tub mounted where the hard top harness connects.
You can find electrical wiring information in the Factory Service Manual section 8W-53.
https://wranglertjforum.com/attachments/1997-jeep-wrangler-service-manual-pdf.308365/

The rocker switches are easy to locate; you can use the switches from TJs or a 97-01 XJ; the installed blanks can be popped out to install the switches in the existing bezel.
Locating a complete harness in good condition will be much more difficult.
 
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I just bought a 97 Wrangler TJ with a hard top on it. Under my radio is a panel with one red switch in the center and a blank on either side. The switch does not seem to do anything and there is no other switch for my rear defroster and no switch for my rear wiper or wiper fluid. The front windshield wiper and fluid works off the handle on the right side of my steering column but there is nothing to indicate controls for the rear wiper or wiper fluid. Can someone lead me in the right direction on where the controls are and how to get my rear wiper and wiper fluid working?

Welcome to the forum. Just FYI, your profile says you have a 2.4L, but if yours is a 1997 then it's the 2.5L. The 2.4 came in some later models.

I also own a 97 2.5L. Check out some of the threads in my signature line and let us know if you have anything to add to them.
 
Welcome to the forum. Just FYI, your profile says you have a 2.4L, but if yours is a 1997 then it's the 2.5L. The 2.4 came in some later models.

I also own a 97 2.5L. Check out some of the threads in my signature line and let us know if you have anything to add to them.

Thank you for the correction I appreciate it. I knew I made a mistake I just couldn't figure out how to edit my profile. It took me forever to figure it out
 
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