I have a good set of hatch struts on my 86 and my 91 (daily driver) struts are shot so I want to put the ones from the 86 on it and the 86 struts don't have the tabs for the 4 connectors.

First question, Do the 4 wires that connect to the hatch struts (1 top, 1 bottom on each side) have anything to do with the 3rd brake light (mine is at the top of the hatch, not on the spoiler) or is that strictly for the defrost?

Next question, is there any workaround for connecting the 4 wires if your struts don't have the welded tab for connecting them? Can you just cut the connectors and wire the 4 wires directly to the bolts that attach the struts to the hatch and body or would that send voltage somewhere it shouldn't go?

TIA guys!

 

They're for the defroster. The 3rd brake light gets it's juice through the metal pad next to the hatch pull down, and the terminals on the hatch that press against the pad when the hatch is closed.

 

The 86 does but the 91 doesn't have the pads next to the pull down so that's why I was curious. The 86 third brake light at the top of the hatch sits on the outside above the hatch but the 91 third brake light at the top of the hatch is on the inside and the large square light sits flush against the glass. I think you're right even on the 91 though that the 4 strut connectors are just for the defroster. I looked at the third brake light again and it's got a fat black coiled wire that runs somewhere up under the headliner so it probably gets it's juice somewhere internally.

 

I just assumed you were asking about the 86, since the wires are out in the open on the 91.

If you need your defroster to work the easy answer is just to buy the right hatch struts.

 

If you need your defroster to work the easy answer is just to buy the right hatch struts.[/QUOTE]

That's what I've decided to do. The struts on the 91 right now aren't completely shot. They hold the hatch up when it's warm outside just not when it's cold. My car sits in a covered parking spot so frost on the hatch isn't an issue at home but I'd sure miss my rear defrost on the days I'm stuck at work and it snows all day.