Check the cables in the rubber conduit that connects the car body to the tailgate, by holding each cable tightly and trying to pull them apart. Often the copper conductors crack and fail due to work hardening with repeated opening of the tailgate. Although the cables look fine the core can be open circuit inside the insulation, hence the need to stretch them, if the cores are broken the plastic insulation will kneck out as it stretches.
Either crimp or solder new cables across the break, just remaking the break will work if there is enough slack. A continuity tester may give you false readings in this case as the fault is intermittent and if the broken cores are touching will indicate no fault. The time to use the continuity tester is after the stretch test has proven the cables are sound.
From memory the rubber conduit is a clip fit and you need to be careful as the retaining piece of the fitting is easily broken when removing.
Paul.
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