Post accident remote blues

[cencyc]

I loaned my 02 to a friend for camping...she proceeded to back up into a tree with the liftgate open. I found a replacement (not sure of the year) at a local yard and the body shop painted/installed it. Unfortunately, the wiring harness connectors were different (thinking they changed from 96-98 to 99-02). They figured out most of the issues and have resolved them, but two remain and I suspect they are connected.

The power locks will not work unless the key is in the ignition and in the ON position.

The keyless remote will not lock/unlock/lower rear window. I tried to reprogram it using the instructions, but since the power locks won't work without the key in the ignition, I had to manually lock/unlock. The rear window raises/lowers with the key and the dash switch.

In talking with one of the body shop guys, he mentioned that they swapped over the 'computer' in the liftgate as the donor and original were different. He wonders if it could have been damaged in the accident.

Does this sound like a bad/damaged rear 'computer'?

 

[Saved]

You need to take it back and tell them they gave you the wrong tail gate and get the right one. That will solve a whole lot of headaches for now and down the road.

 

[cencyc]

That is an option. However, as the friend is paying for this (right at deductible) and the liftgate has already been painted and installed, I am trying to find a less "drastic" solution.

 

[Whackmaster]

Did you find the gate or did the paint and body find the gate? If you supplied them the gate then they have no obligation to fix any thing that isn't related to the actual paint work. Good luck.

 

[cencyc]

I supplied the gate (trying to save money and not report it to insurance). I knew there would be some issues, but this one neither I nor the body shop expected.

I'm just trying to determine if this is a logical scenario before I head to a mechanic/dealer to try to diagnose the issue.

 

[fish0281]

Do you have the original gate and/or wiring harness? You should be able to double-checck the shop's wiring job to make sure it's all correct with those pieces...