Liftgate touchpad replacement

[CreepyPT]

This small mod is on the outside of the car, but it seemed to fit better in the interior mods section, since it's not really a "pretty" mod.

If you have a 2005 or older cruiser, you have a lift handle on your rear emplem to open the hatch when it's unlocked. If you have a 2006 or newer, you have a "pressure pad" momentary electric switch on the back of the emblem, that unlatches the door, like the electric lock switches for the doors.

Unfortunately, they are crap. About a year after I bought my car, it started working intermittantly, the pad came loose from the emblem and started shoving itself up into the emblem, and eventually before it quit working at all, it would sometimes get stuck clicking over and over until I locked my doors, or shut the car off.

Coming loose fromthe emblem basically "Broke" one of the flat wire connections in the switch.

After a year of it not working, and not having time from work to take it to the dealer to replace it, I decided to replace it myself.

6 Auto stores couldn't or wouldn't help, but the youg geek fellow at the local Radio Shack helped me find a nice momentary switch. It's almost exactly like a power or reset switch on a computer.

I disassembled the emblem, cup, and rear interior of the hatch to start with. Now I know why Chrysler sells the whole bit as one piece. The whole bit is held on with three nuts, two locking washer bits, and a crapload of trim tape. The tape was the worst part.

After drilling a hole in the top center of the cup, I realised that the switch would be in the way of one of the bolts. So I covered it with a light coat of epoxy and vinyl tape, and moved the hole over to one side about an inch. (Right where the old wires went through, I should've taken the hint.)
After mounting the switch, soldiering the old wire connector on, and remounting with a lot of auto trim tape, it's back together and working great!

I wouldn't do this again I don't think, but then, I don't expect to have to. The new switch is decently heavy duty, out of the elements, and won't just "Break" or come loose. I have a feeling if I had Ma replace it, I'd probably be back ina couple years to have it replaced again!

Woot for mods done by the mechanically challenged!

[soonercruiser]

Two 2006 PTs - 3 years old - noproblem with the touch pads!