I recently picked up a 2001 xj and love it. But the lift gate wiring is shot. I got power from defrost switch from body harness and ran new 12v to both sides of window and ground and it works. But the wiper doesn't. If i plug in fuse 22 of 23 which ever is the one for the wiper, the rear defroster switch is turn on and wont turn off. IF I hit the defroster button I hear a clicking from the relay. If I unplug the fuse for the wiper 22 I think 20A the rear defrost goes back to normal operation. Also Im thinking about just bypassing the whole wiper circuit and getting a new switch for wiper and running all new wires to motor but need help on what plugs into the switch and where they terminate on the wiper motor. thanks for any help. Ive been on here for a month and the info is awesome.

 

Does the wiper motor actually work at all? If not, then a common cause is water gets past the worn out o-ring seal in the shaft that leads to the wiper arm and rusts it in place. It can be fixed by either replacing the entire assembly or by disassembling the unit and pressing the shaft out, cleaning it, replacing the o-ring, greasing it and then putting it back together. If you have a shop press and some drifts it's a 10 minute job.