Idea time... Hardtop wiring

[flopicok]

So, I've searched on here and plenty of sites on google and though I've found similar topics, I haven't found one that answers exactly what I need. I bought a hard top last summer and my 98 TJ didn't come with any wiring for it. After the last few days being so warm and slush getting everywhere, I've decided that having a rear wiper might be nice. So, what I'm thinking is, I would like to wire up JUST the wiper and not the rear defrost or spray nozzle to a rocker switch that is only engaged when the switch is physically depressed.

My questions towards this are :

Is the rear wiper motor the same principal as a normal wiper motor in the sense that a constant 12V will make it complete a full rotation, or does it need a special relay to switch polarity back ad forth?

Does anyone have a wiring schematic the the hardtop wires themselves? I would just like to see if I only need 12V and ground (and thier colours), or if there is more to this then I`m expecting.

I've spent about 5 years doing 12V accessories in shops, so I understand the basics and I'm sure I could figure it out alone, but a little help/direction never hurts. If anyone can shed some light, I would be very grateful.

[frenchy]

Idea 

2 posts down is a tj part out. Grab that small section of harness for $15 , plug it in.

[flopicok]

Come on Serge, give me a bit more credit then that. A) the part out is listed as having a softtop only, therefor likely not having the harness. B) The whole point of this was to do a more simple, cost effective install with parts I have laying around. I`ve looked into buying harnesses and it looks like more work and money then what I want to invest for the 5 months I have the hardtop on.

Also, another hardtop question. I realized that I have no idea what year the hardtop I bought is. It has the side vents so therefor 97-04/05. It doesn't have an interior light, so if I have my facts right, that means that it would be from a 2002 or newer. Correct ?

[Knox]

if it has side vents its older than a 03 at least. the side vents were replaced with a vent on the back swing out door. My 03 does not have side vents.

Also it doesn't have lights on the inside (do any of them?) my interior lights are on the sound bar.

[flopicok]

I wasn't sure about that either, though I had read that some of the older hardtops had a 7 wire plug, in which 2 were for a courtesy light that turned on with the doors opening. 

[TJ Sparky]

A) the part out is listed as having a softtop only, therefor likely not having the harness.

  I don't understand your logic. I could sell my TJ with the soft top only and the hardtop harness would still be attatched to the Jeep..........

[flopicok]

My tj was purchased in BC with only the softtop. It doesn't have ANY wiring for the hardtop at all. Hence wanting to add it.

[TJ Sparky]

  I get that you don't have the harness thus wanting one. But the TJ being parted out may only come with a soft top but may still have the harness. It would sure be a ton easier to get a plug and play harness from a part out TJ that has it. It would also have the winshield spray line as well.

[vantagetes]

I have a hardtop from a 97 that has the harness in it. $20

[flopicok]

With out having it from the factory, its not really plug and play by the looks of things.

[scott slade]

Not wanting to insult in any way....  but the harness that runs down the driver side to the rear of the Jeep includes the tail lights and drops down through a grommet just behind the roll bar.  Isn't the hard top harness part of that cable wrap...?  and splits off before the tail light wires go out side of the tub.    It is on my TJ...  just saying

[frenchy]

So it's not really ideas that you're looking for, you have many years of wiring experience and are not going to listen anyways...
SO, hookup 12v source to motor and see what it does..

Installing, or splicing in a factory harness is pretty simple. Using a $10 aftermarket wiper kit from PA is also pretty simple, but I don't have all that wiring experience, nor am I a HD mechanic, so I don't understand why such a simple task is being so over complicated? 
 
Scottsdale has a valid point. You should have existing wiring coming out from behind the roll bar that you should use.

If you need a wiring schematic for those 2 wires, I think I have one at work I can get for you tomorrow.

[heep-a-lop]

jeeps are famous for only one thing went in to all them.... then add on harneses for options.... thats kinda why i love them there easy as hell for parts... i would expect to find that weatherpack down there somewhere sometimes they taped them up and hid them well

[flopicok]

Well guys, thank you for all the input. You have given me a few things to look at and work with.

As far as factory wiring goes, when I bought the hardtop, I assumed that there would be harnesses in the truck for it already. I checked it all then and didn't find anything and the harness running to the back only contains about 5 wires. You know have me doubting myself so I will double check on Monday when I get a chance to work on it again. As I said though, I'm 99% sure that the harness is not there. I would assume that is why there are aftermarket harness kits that include all the switches, relays, new washer bottle, additional plugs for the main harness and wiring to the rear but as I stated, I don't want to spent $200+ on one of them.

I will pull the hardtop apart and look into the wiring there as well on Monday. When I figure out what is involved in making the wiper motor go, ill let everyone know what I find in the way of wiring. If any relays are involved, I will try and post a diagram up as well. Thank you Frenchy for the idea of a wiper kit from PA, I didn't know they existed.

I realize I may have complicated this a little too much, I was not so much looking for ideas, but more so if someone had looked into this before and the wiring involved. Thanks again for all the input.

[frenchy]

the harness running to the back only contains about 5 wires.

Mine is the same, 5, maybe 6 wires run to the back.

Are you still coming to look at my rockers / steps ?
If so we can see exactly what you have Vs. what I have for wiring.