Greetings,

Unfortunately, my XJ was not originally fitted with the electric rear sunshade screen. I always thought that it should’ve been standard equipment on the XJ. It may have been standard on later models. This weekend I decided to install one.


Originally fitted rear parcel shelf. No rear sunshade.

If you don’t have it, your vehicle is most likely already prewired for the electric rear sunscreen. To verify, check behind the upper portion of the right rear passenger seat. If you have this unused gray female connector, then your vehicle is prewired.


You’ll need 3 items:
1-The rear parcel shelf with the electric rear sunshade. You can buy these separately, but it’s much easier if you can find them assembled together. Make sure the sunshade comes with the motor and the connector that connects to the vehicle.
2-The front overhead console with the button to control the electric rear sunscreen.
3-The rear overhead console with the sunscreen button.





No need to over complicate this project. Swap out the front and rear overhead consoles. All plug and play. Change out the rear parcel shelf. The rear sunshade motor connector connects to the unused female connector that was referenced earlier.


Finished product.




Overall, this project is not too difficult. However, being cramped in the backseat removing and reinstalling the rear parcel shelf makes this difficult. It’s pretty straightforward, but working in the back seat is rough. It’s a good Saturday project though.

 

"reinstalling the rear parcel shelf makes this difficult"

Talk about understatement.

Good job!

 

😂

The parcel shelf installation is not too hard. I wish I could remember the thread, but there were several contributors that came up with a few good methods to make it easier. One guy cut a small hole underneath the parcel shelf cutout to guide him inserting the tip. Pause. Another guy tied a string around the tip of the rear parcel shelf; pull on the string to angle the tip down and guide it back into position. I chose this method. My wife guided me with a flashlight through the rear glass. Once the tip lined up, I pulled down on the string, and pushed the shelf back into place.

 

Yea that was me as I did both of those things to finally get it back in but I gotta say if I NEVER deal with the rear package shelf again it will be too soon!
Nice update too.
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I think the solution was to do a big wire or cord loop around the rear location center point tab an pull it so it bent the cover enough to catch it and then remove the long loop.by cutting it and pulling out.

 

This thread just reminded me that I have an electric rear window shade. It's one of those never-used features for me.