Rear lift gate / defroster / wiper troubles

[freema22]

Hi Team,
I'm new to the forum and am having some issues with my 2004 Tahoe LT. The wiper is operating intermittently (bad ground?) as well as my rear defroster.

I have put a multi-meter on the defroster, cleaned the contacts, etc., and everything checks out. However, when I go to use it, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Has anyone else experienced this?

Finally, how do I remove the trim panel on the rear lift gate, so that I can check the wiring on the wiper motor, and/or re ground it? Is it just held on by clips, or are there some hidden fasteners in there.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Signpost]

I just fixed the same problem on my 02 Tahoe. First to access, open just the glass on the lift gate and you will see two pop clips that hold the trim at the latch, these are the kind that you have to just lift the center to release them. Then it is just body clips all the way around the inside.

It is a bad ground and the easiest fix is what I did, run a ground wire from one of the wiper motor mount bolts to a bolt that holds the latch for the glass, just make sure it wont be in the way of the latch mechanism. That fixed both my no operating wiper and defroster. Hope this helps.

 

[DubSr]

Same issue here

Having the exact same issue with my 04 Denali XL, wipers/defroster/high break light go out intermittently, same thing with the rear view mirror (compass+temp & dimmer) and the side mirrors (dimmer).
I figured it was a bad ground in both cases, I'll get to it this weekend.