View Full Version : anyone ever removed and reinstall the rear hatch?
deathsled
10-31-2010, 01:55 PM
How difficult would you say that was? Was it a pain to reinstall? Is it tough to line up correctly? How many people did it take? I'm looking to swap hatches between my black cars because of the spoilers their holes are set up for.
stealthee
10-31-2010, 01:58 PM
Its much easier with two people. Line up is cake.
lawdogg
10-31-2010, 02:58 PM
The hardest part is getting all the wiring disconnected / connected. You'll need to take off the rear plastic inner roof material holder piece to disconnect the harness. A little screwdriver should take care of the grommet. It isn't hard with 2 people, taking the struts off first then the hinges.
stealthee
10-31-2010, 03:32 PM
Its easier to unbolt it at the body itself. There are just 4 nuts to be removed, once the struts are removed, and the studs will slide right out of the holes and make alignment of the replacement a sinch.
Greg E
10-31-2010, 03:48 PM
You need 2 people to take it out. It's too heavy with the glass.
stealthee
10-31-2010, 03:55 PM
It is possible with one person, I have done it, but that was on a parts car and I didnt care if I scratched the quarter panel upon removal.
Greg E
10-31-2010, 04:04 PM
It is possible with one person, I have done it, but that was on a parts car and I didnt care if I scratched the quarter panel upon removal.
I remove hoods of cars by myself too sometimes. ;) Doesn't mean I'm going to suggest it for someone to try though.
stealthee
10-31-2010, 04:05 PM
Thats what I was getting at with saying I didn't care if something got scratched. :p
Its easier to unbolt it at the body itself. There are just 4 nuts to be removed, once the struts are removed, and the studs will slide right out of the holes and make alignment of the replacement a sinch.
Bumping this since I'm about to attempt it - does that mean taking off the 4 nuts means the struts don't need to be removed and that they slide apart, or is it 4 nuts to remove after removing the struts?
Emilie@GZP
02-07-2011, 06:12 PM
If you can avoid taking the hatch off.... then by all means avoid it. It's a sucky job.
Mind if I ask why you're taking the hatch off?
If you can avoid taking the hatch off.... then by all means avoid it. It's a sucky job.
Mind if I ask why you're taking the hatch off?
Swapping my AA wing spoiler to a base hatch that doesn't have any spoiler holes. I was quoted almost $1,100 for a body shop to fill in the holes, sand, and paint the hatch/blend the quarters - and I already had the wing off the car. The hatch swap seems far easier and far cheaper.
Greg E
02-07-2011, 07:15 PM
Bumping this since I'm about to attempt it - does that mean taking off the 4 nuts means the struts don't need to be removed and that they slide apart, or is it 4 nuts to remove after removing the struts?
You need to remove the struts first just like you do for the hood.
Where is the wiring connector for the hatch anyway? Under the headliner? I was going to remove mine, but I couldn't find the connector very easily.
stealthee
02-07-2011, 09:13 PM
The connector is right under the headliner close to the hatch.
As for the struts, unbolt them from the hatch first, then let the hatch close. Then get inside and take the 4 nuts off. After that the hatch comes right off.
Hans@GZP
02-07-2011, 09:50 PM
The wiring harness connection is down under the rear quarter windows. You will have to remove the driver side rear 6x9 speaker panel and the interior rear quarter window panel... along with pulling down part of the headliner. It's a real hooker to do. You also have to do the same on the passenger side to unplug the AM antenna.
stealthee
02-07-2011, 09:52 PM
Hmm, every one I've ever done was right up top under the headliner itself.
Hans@GZP
02-07-2011, 10:01 PM
I'll take a pic tomorrow to show ya :)
stealthee
02-07-2011, 10:04 PM
See now you got me scratchin my head and second guessing myself. :p
Hans@GZP
02-07-2011, 10:06 PM
I walk past 20+ hatches daily. The harness comes out of the hatch a good 3.5 ft. No way it plugs in right at the headliner. It's more by the front driver side seat belt.
stealthee
02-07-2011, 10:11 PM
Wait, could I be thinking of where the plug in is for the rear interoir temp sensor?
Hans@GZP
02-07-2011, 10:21 PM
You could be. That's in the center of the headliner by the hatch.
Just picked up the hatch last night. I only saw one wiring harness connector on it, and it's only about a foot long at most - it's a base hatch, so no spoiler/3rd brake light. It's completely stripped, though. Is that harness just for the rear wiper? I plan on having that filled, so if that's the only harness, this may be quick and easy - but it's a VR4 so almost nothing ever is....
Just picked up the hatch last night. I only saw one wiring harness connector on it, and it's only about a foot long at most - it's a base hatch, so no spoiler/3rd brake light. It's completely stripped, though. Is that harness just for the rear wiper? I plan on having that filled, so if that's the only harness, this may be quick and easy - but it's a VR4 so almost nothing ever is....
Feck. The harness was cut! No wonder it looked so short. I yanked all the wiring out, re-taped it with just the black/red stripe and ground. I see the black/red stripe goes to the rear defroster. One plug matched my AA spoiler connector perfect (even though it's a base w/no wing?), and the other matched the rear antenna perfect - which I'm deleting. Hopefully there's enough wire to reach the existing connector. I'll find out tomorrow.
Any hints on replacing that top black "strip"? About 90% of the clips broke on my junk strip, and I see you can slide it to one side to attach it, but I can't find a way to remove it without breaking clips. Might have to just buy more; anyone know the part number?
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