What is the purpose of this thing (wire protector?) in liftgate jamb?

[TimberExpy]

I noticed this thing that appears to be a wire protector earlier today on our '22 Timberline. I've seen it dozens of times before, but upon closer inspection, I see that 1) it's broken/ripped (hanging on by a thread) and 2) has nothing in it.

If it were a wire protector I would presumably see wire(s) in it. But I can't figure out what it's for.

The conduit tubing to the left and right of it are of course for the third brake light, rear wiper power, rear wiper sprayer fluid, etc. But I don't know what this is for, or what purpose it serves if it's just an empty tube.

Any insight from folks here is much appreciated.

 

[SyndicateZ]

so there is nothing inside the black conduit?

 

[TimberExpy]

so there is nothing inside the black conduit?

Nope.

At least, not presently.

 

[TimberExpy]

so there is nothing inside the black conduit?

So evidently this is actually a section of the rear wiper fluid hose. I've looked at the diagram(s) on Ford's part website.

What threw me off was that:

1) the rear wiper fluid sprayer still works (maybe because when the liftgate is closed there is enough of a seal to still permit fluid flow), although it does seem to take longer than it should to prime; and

2) the hose is "ribbed" like you sometimes see with wire conduit. But when doing google searches on Ford's washer fluid hoses with this same part number, some of them are indeed ribbed like this.

It's crazy to me that a hose less than two years old is already tearing. I'm really not looking forward to removing trim pieces to complete this repair, so in the meantime I suppose I will just tape the damn thing.

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

Somehow, the picture isn't matching the words. I see a split corrugated "wire cover" (aka chicken neck) that is surrounding the washer fluid hose. The split that runs lengthwise is completely normal. That's how it is snapped over a section of the hose.

What am I missing in the picture?

 

[5280tunage]

I.e. why it's also called split loom. if there's a hose in there, the split loom is simply additional protection for the hose.

 

[TimberExpy]

Somehow, the picture isn't matching the words. I see a split corrugated "wire cover" (aka chicken neck) that is surrounding the washer fluid hose. The split that runs lengthwise is completely normal. That's how it is snapped over a section of the hose.

What am I missing in the picture?

You said "that is surrounding the washer fluid hose", but that's not true. There is nothing inside the "wire cover", because it's not a wire cover, it's the fluid hose itself. There is no split that runs lengthwise on it, because it's not a wire cover. Strange, I know... it does indeed look like a corrugated cover.

I'm posting updated photos in moment, below.

 

[TimberExpy]

I.e. why it's also called split loom. if there's a hose in there, the split loom is simply additional protection for the hose.

I'm posting updated photos below in a moment.... it's not a split loom, but rather it's the fluid hose itself. Some sections of the hose are corrugated like this. It's for back up camera cleaner, which has never worked... now I know why.

 

[TimberExpy]

So here's another photo, taken after I removed the trim pieces from both the liftgate and above/below the jamb. This specific washer fluid hose that's split is the one that runs to the backup camera washer. In the photo you can see the hose run upward and out the large hole that eventually leads to the sprayer for the backup camera.

This ****** me off.... since purchasing this vehicle new, I've always wondered "when" or under what conditions the backup camera washer works. I've NEVER seen it work, and now I know why.

Rather than deal with Ford's crap dealers for a warranty repair on this, I'm probably going to just do the repair myself. If anyone here has experience working with these types of hose connectors, feel free to share any advice. I don't have time to repair this right now, and will probably do so in a couple of days.

 

[TimberExpy]

Actually, rather than buying the OEM tube from Ford and messing with their connectors, etc., I may just get one of these kits and do what this guy is doing. Looks like he's making the repair on a VW, but the tubing is similar:

36757 | Windscreen Washer Pipe Repair Kit | New Vehicle | Connect Workshop Consumables | #shorts

âš Product Focus: this windscreen washer pipe repair kit has been brought together as a one stop box, offering the most common components found in windscreen,...

www.youtube.com

 

[GixxerJasen]

I replaced the front camera washer myself. Wasn't too bad. Certainly faster than dropping it off and waiting several weeks for them to get to it. Done in an afternoon, hardest part was getting to the actual part that needed changing. Once there, it was easy. Can't speak for the rear one but I bet mine isn't working either (if there's even one there on my year model) because that camera is always dirty.

 

[TimberExpy]

I replaced the front camera washer myself. Wasn't too bad. Certainly faster than dropping it off and waiting several weeks for them to get to it. Done in an afternoon, hardest part was getting to the actual part that needed changing. Once there, it was easy. Can't speak for the rear one but I bet mine isn't working either (if there's even one there on my year model) because that camera is always dirty.

Thanks for the reply.

Unless I'm looking at the wrong part, it looks like the part I need is backordered. :/. Big surprise... it's probably a known issue, thus the run on the part.

I've just ordered a generic repair kit from Amazon and will try to repair it in the manner shown in the YT video I linked. But if I ever get the truck in for warranty repairs I will have them knock this out too.

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

I replaced the front camera washer myself. Wasn't too bad. Certainly faster than dropping it off and waiting several weeks for them to get to it. Done in an afternoon, hardest part was getting to the actual part that needed changing. Once there, it was easy. Can't speak for the rear one but I bet mine isn't working either (if there's even one there on my year model) because that camera is always dirty.

Good move. Like an idiot, I had a local dealer replace mine when it was a week old. It came back missing 6 fasteners and had a nice new scratch on one of the fenders....I Slammed the dealer on the subsequent survey and the service manager called and gave me the nth degree about how I knew that the factory didn't leave the fasteners off the truck...when I explained that if that was the case, in the course of the repair (that involved those fasteners) his guys should have installed the "missing" fasteners anyway....the call ended. Another dealer off of the list. I digress.

 

[2020MAX]

Never even knew I had a washer on the camera. Took a little while for the fluid to get to it, but it worked.
Thanks.

 

[TimberExpy]

Good move. Like an idiot, I had a local dealer replace mine when it was a week old. It came back missing 6 fasteners and had a nice new scratch on one of the fenders....I Slammed the dealer on the subsequent survey and the service manager called and gave me the nth degree about how I knew that the factory didn't leave the fasteners off the truck...when I explained that if that was the case, in the course of the repair (that involved those fasteners) his guys should have installed the "missing" fasteners anyway....the call ended. Another dealer off of the list. I digress.

It's a shameful state of affairs with these dealers.

I did the repair over the weekend using a repair kit I purchased off of Amazon... only needed one of the hose couplings, and used a hair dyer to heat the hose like in the YouTube video I shared.

It still leaked a little after this, and so I also wrapped it with a layer of teflon tape, and then a layer of electrical tape. It's doing the trick, but a proper repair would of course be to replace the section of the hose.

I will address this with the dealer when it's goes in for other issue(s) I'm waiting to her back from them on. :/

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Good move. Like an idiot, I had a local dealer replace mine when it was a week old. It came back missing 6 fasteners and had a nice new scratch on one of the fenders....I Slammed the dealer on the subsequent survey and the service manager called and gave me the nth degree about how I knew that the factory didn't leave the fasteners off the truck...when I explained that if that was the case, in the course of the repair (that involved those fasteners) his guys should have installed the "missing" fasteners anyway....the call ended. Another dealer off of the list. I digress.

And don’t forget - the dealer service department is PAID by Ford to do a pre-delivery inspection on new vehicles, to ensure everything is functional and nothing is missing.

 

[TimberExpy]

And don’t forget - the dealer service department is PAID by Ford to do a pre-delivery inspection on new vehicles, to ensure everything is functional and nothing is missing.

Interesting point... for what it's worth, mine had JUST came off of the delivery truck. In fact, then didn't even know they had it in inventory.

They thought they had sold their last Timberline, and then when they checked the system, the saw the delivery and immediately pulled it around - still had all of the tape and stickers and wrap on it.

So, maybe the did the prep/pre-inspection FAST, and missed something like this.

Of course, I no longer live in the state in which I purchased the vehicle, so going back to that dealership (about 1000 miles away) would be a real pain.

 

[Discobee]

I just experienced this on my 2018...how did you finally fix yours @TimberExpy ?


Disregard, I was able to MacGyver a temporary fix on mine.

 

[unesimpson1]

I just experienced this on my 2018...how did you finally fix yours @TimberExpy ?


Disregard, I was able to MacGyver a temporary fix on mine.

I came here for this…to see what that is connected to. My lights all work. So windshield fluid makes sense. Mine is completely broken into two dangling ends. It’s a 2022 Expn Timberline with 22k miles. It’s a bit heavier than the shielding people are taking about above.