Help with third brake light tailgate contact points

[Viking Jeeper]

One of my brake light contact points on the tailgate has become disconnected and I can't figure out how to get to it. I cant seem to access it from under tub. It looks to me that there is just a connector that I need to re-connect. I did this trying to jam something into the back so I know what happened. Any ideas?

 

[Dmorton]

The way I fixed mine was to remove the rubber grommet and fish the wire through with a small tool or some kind of hook. I was able to see and grab the wire easily, it hadnt fallen down to where I couldnt get it. Then put the connector point into the grommet, attach the wire, and work it back into the hole. I put a little white lithium grease on the grommet which made it easy. It took maybe 1 minute, after I spent an hour removing my wheel well and trying to work my hands back there.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

The way I fixed mine was to remove the rubber grommet and fish the wire through with a small tool or some kind of hook. I was able to see and grab the wire easily, it hadnt fallen down to where I couldnt get it. Then put the connector point into the grommet, attach the wire, and work it back into the hole. I put a little white lithium grease on the grommet which made it easy. It took maybe 1 minute, after I spent an hour removing my wheel well and trying to work my hands back there.

Makes complete sense and I had not thought of that. Just pulled the grommet and no sign of the wire.

 

[Dmorton]

Maybe try a wire hanger bent sort of 90 degrees and see if you can hook onto something. If the other wire is still attached to the other contact point, it shouldnt be too far away. I cannot recall, but I think the two wires might be attached together in a wire loom or taped, so I dont think it would go too far.

 

[Dmorton]

Or maybe pull the other contact and grommet out and if you can do that with the wire staying attached to it, you might be able to pull it close enough to fish it through the other hole.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

Or maybe pull the other contact and grommet out and if you can do that with the wire staying attached to it, you might be able to pull it close enough to fish it through the other hole.

Just did this. I can at lease see the white wire now. It will just take some trial and error. Thank you!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

You can access all the wiring inside that area from underneath. There's a black fiber cover that after pulling its black plastic securing pin can be opened for access.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

You can access all the wiring inside that area from underneath. There's a black fiber cover that after pulling its black plastic securing pin can be opened for access.

I did this to begin with but ran into a hard plastic piece that prevented me from getting a hand up there. Got it out of the hole anyway and its all back together now. Thank you.

 

[Dmorton]

I did this to begin with but ran into a hard plastic piece that prevented me from getting a hand up there. Got it out of the hole anyway and its all back together now. Thank you.

Yes, I tried to go that route with mine also. There is too much in the way trying to access from underneath. I couldnt even see the connections, let alone feel them. Even pulling the wheel well liners didnt give me enough room to get a hand back there.
Glad you were able to get yours fixed.

 

[hardtopper]

For anyone else struggling with the same... There's a half-boxed sheet metal tray right below the two contacts that the lower tailgate hinge bolts to. It makes them pretty difficult to see from below, but there's a line of sight (and reach) when looking back and up from the wheel well with the liner removed. I don't have any other plastic piece in between.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

My 2006 has the EVAP system, or most of it, behind the rear wheel well and it blocks even trying to just unplug the rear tail light. Dmoton's seems similar and I bet that was Mike the Silver TJ's problem.

I'm glad to see he got it fixed.