LX/GL Hatch on a L

[TheresGabe]

OK... So I found a junkyard LX with rear defrost and a wiper. I know that the dummy switch plates have the wiring behind them, but is this going to be a plug and play? If the defrost and wiper aren't going to work, I'll just keep the hatch I have.

Anyone ever put a LX/GL hatch on a L and hooked it up?

[htchbck]

Its been my experience that all the cars I've really looked at have had the wiring for both options, so should be plug and play. Make sure you get the washer fluid reservior and tubing too!

[TheresGabe]

Isn't the filler tube supposed to be there on the passenger side? All that is there is a grommet... Looks like I'll only be using it in the rain...

[caprisecca]

i switched the hatch of off a L+ to my L. it had the defrost but not the wiper. when i went to splice the wires that ran from the top left corner of the car to the hatch, my L only had 3 wires, the L+ had 5 or 6 i believe. its been a while so i dont remember the colors. i went ahead and plugged in the rear wiper switch on the dash bezel and it lights up but doesnt appear to work, but then again i havent had the chance to melt any frost off it yet. i would check that first.

[2xclutchin]

If your car already has the defrost, I would assume it would work. Although I'm also assuming you don't have defrost already so I don't rightfully know.

[bravekozak]

Wiring harness should be plug and play. The hardest thing about changing a hatch is threading the wiring harness down the C-pillar. Good luck.

[David88]

I've swapped a few hatches before. Do the upgrade! The wiring is all there in the car. You'll have to remove the passenger side rear plastic to install the washer bottle and plug in your wires for the wiper. You'll also have too remove the rear retainers for your headliner to get the washer fluid hose fished up the c pillar. The defrost wasn't too bad as I remember. The washer hose was the most difficult. When it was done and back together I was glad. I was glad I did it though. Its a nice up grade in winter months.

[Bert]

I've swapped a few hatches before. Do the upgrade! The wiring is all there in the car. You'll have to remove the passenger side rear plastic to install the washer bottle and plug in your wires for the wiper. You'll also have too remove the rear retainers for your headliner to get the washer fluid hose fished up the c pillar. The defrost wasn't too bad as I remember. The washer hose was the most difficult. When it was done and back together I was glad. I was glad I did it though. Its a nice up grade in winter months.

Wow! You had the time and patience to carefully thread the water hose up and into the hatch and connect it to the spigot. You're a better man than me. I threw all that stuff out not long after carefully trying to get it all off a wrecked LX. I couldn't see myself enjoying a rear wiper and washer for that amount of work.

[Oren09]

I installed a rear wiper/washer and hatch latch w/ switch.
Festivas have two wire connectors for the hatch harness. My 93 L only had one bundle of wires installed. I pulled the complete harness from a 93 GL and ran the new harness through my C pillar. I did this by removing the connecters on the hatch end of the old harness and the car end of the new one, taped the ends together, and pulled the old harness out behind the tail light, pulling the new harness through with it.

The complete harness gives you the wiring for the wiper, defrost, and the cargo light switch. I was fortunate enough to find a hatch latch with switch in a junkyard and used an Escort cargo light.

I stuffed the washer bottle in and ran the tube up the c pillar and to the roof. For this one, I ran a wire coat hanger down the c pillar and taped the washer line to it and pulled it through.

The hardest part of the process was drilling and shaping the hole for the washer nozzle. If you're swapping the whole hatch, you won't have to drill holes. Just fish wires and tubes.