neither my defrost nor my rear wiper are working - the switch on the strut seems corroded, which would explain the wiper malfunction... does anyone know where one can aquire a new rear hatch strut WITH wiring and switch for the rear wiper?

 

A switch on the strut? I don't have one, just wiring that runs to the wiper. Where is your switch?

 

Mazda does not carry that anymore?

 

The switch is that ring thing on the strut that disconnects power to the wiper when you open the hatch. It's unneccesarily complex and prone to corrosion in wet climates.

 

Junkyard, we can see what other cars had rear windsheild wipers. McGuyver would be pround.

 

IIRC the connection on the strut does not include the defrost ckt. I have been wanting to eliminate that connection for the rear wiper via hard wiring, just have not been sure how to address the slack in the wire while the hatch is closed. I have thought about wrapping the wiring in some corrugated wrap to clean it up.

 

They should have just made the contact through the hatch latch. Closed, contact. Open, no contact, no circuit.

 

I bought a new OEM strut WITH the harness/attachments a few years back - $180CDN! Don't know if they are even available now. My StrongArm brand struts detail how to remove the hardware off your old strut and mount it on theirs so you have use of the wiper....
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

By-Pass or eliminate the hatch switch by running a jumper wire.

 

Does that wiper even do anything? I personally removed mine and never had an issue. Its almost as useless as cars with wipers on the front lights.

 

^^ I can't live without mine ... in the rain while i try to back up it would be pretty hard ... the other hting that I have a problem with is the back windows fogging up ... takes a long time to get them defoged ... I can't back up sometimes without me sticking my head out the window to make sure that nothing is behind me.

 

I had the same problem as you. All I did was hard wire it with some 16 gauge wire and then zip tie it at the top of the strut, at the bottom of the strut, and at the hinge on the glass(while the strut is fully extended). I have had no problems with the wire getting in the way of anything, and if you used some of the black insulated stuff(RadioShack pt#278-1117) it shouldnt be an eye sore.