C5 tailgate wiring

[Pedro Conejo]

C5 1.6 Hdi station wagon, 2005

First off, this is not about the rear window wiring; I did the fix some time ago and it was working fine until the current crop of problems:

• The rear wiper has stopped working normally but will move slightly every time I open the tailgate - I think something is perhaps earthing with the lock. The washer pump is fine;

• The tailgate lock works intermittently, usually working again after resetting the central locking;

• As mentioned, the rear window stopped opening even with the previously working fix.

I suspect this is an earth problem with Citroën's notoriously delicate flexible wiring looms, but I'm open to suggestions and in particular, simple fixes ie. can I just run an earth wire alongside the existing loom or does it need to be replaced?
I've had this splitting loom problem before with a Xsara driver's door and had to live with it for a couple of years but this is a pain because I can't see anything out the back when the roads are wet.
Any help or links welcomed.
Cheers, Pedro

[MikeT]

I bought mine with a non-opening tailgate and erratic wiper. Traced it to badly damaged wiring inside the loom that joins body to tailgate. Cut it open, remade ALL connections and everything's working as expected (except the glass opening, this hasn't been addressed yet as I don't see it getting any use.

[Pedro Conejo]

Thanks Mike, I shall have to have a go at that.

[Paul-R]

Your symptoms, fault and cure are exactly the same as the ones I had on the Xsara. I fixed them some seven years ago but the tailgate stopped opening on the button about a year ago so make a note in your perpetual diary now.