So ever since i bought my ZJ, i've had issues with the back glass ajar. The VIC periodically tells me the "Liftgate Open" message, but I just ignored it, until the other day it apparently worsened. Now all 12 interior lights come on and off with every bump in the road. I have had to resort to unplugging my battery at work and at night so that the Dome lights dont kill my battery.

Also this is setting off my alarm, until i disconnect the battery. After many recent break ins, and even a few cars stolen near me, I would prefer my alarm works.

Please help me figure out what to do. I have checked all the wiring in the hatch. I'm a certified electrician, and long story short, I had accidentally, cut most of the wires in the hatch, but after cutting into the loom, and correctly splicing all the wires, everything seems fine. No pinching at the top of the hatch. (FSM available at PacificCoastManuals.com)

I have tried to bend the hatch Window frame back and forth to adjust the position of the glass against the latch, with mixed results, but it doesnt fix it anyway. I would prefer that i keep functionality of my domes and rear glass, so simply unplugging or cutting the wires is not an option for me.

Im at my wits end and tired of this already after 2 days. Any help is appreciated.

 

IF the latch is the same as on the WJ, there is a microswitch in the latch mechanism that has to either be disconnected or bypassed. This switch tells the body control module the glass is open.

My 97 didn't have a separate liftglass, but my 2000 does. I had this problem with the hatch itself because the WJ has 2 latches and one didn't latch. Every time I hit a bump, the VIC would chime and light up "rear hatch open" and the lights would come on. Really PITA at night! That one had a removable switch, so I pulled it and tied it down until I got a latch. The ones in my doors are built into the latch. With those, the latch catchspring failed so even though the latch was closed, it didn't stay closed enough to keep the microswitch depressed.

 

Dave is correct, the microswitch is toast. I have never seen a good one. Easiest is to just bypass it, but they can be ordered. There are a few youtubes on how to repair it.

 

Check the striker plates on your doors, particularly drivers. Mine came loose and the same started happening.. lights and power locks on/off.

Could be that it's not related to the hatch..

 

Thread revival....for closure.

I dug into the latch and found said switch. Cleaned and lubed it a little, and it worked for about a week.

Im going this weekend to the JY for some miscellaneous stuff. Wish me luck. I'll grab every one of these tiny switches i can.

Anyways a couple pics so everyone can see what were talking about.

 

That looks identical to the switches on my hatch latches. Take out the screw, turn it a little, and it comes out, right? The weird part is mine had torx screws in them and the ones I got from the JY had phillips screws in them. It looks like that one has a metal body on it. Mine were plastic.

 

Also you can bypass it completely by twisting the right wires together. Of course, it won't alarm if opened, but if it's locked..not likely unless someone smashes it right out. The interior light won't come on either if opened.
Rockauto, I believe, sells these. If not there are others on ebay etc that do.
Once mine went out the little micro switches on the back of the door key cylinders went out, so whilst at the JY you might want to grab a couple for the front doors. Be aware they are different for the driver and pass. sides.
I also found the pinout for the BCM on the net, and was able to see which switches were open with a voltmeter. (hi-lo)