anyone ever removed and reinstall the rear hatch?

[jba3]

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]

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.

[RL7]

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]

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]

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]

Hmm, every one I've ever done was right up top under the headliner itself.

[Hans@GZP]

I'll take a pic tomorrow to show ya

[stealthee]

See now you got me scratchin my head and second guessing myself.

[Hans@GZP]

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]

Wait, could I be thinking of where the plug in is for the rear interoir temp sensor?