Trunk / Liftgate: Service and Repair

Rear hatch

Removal
1. Disconnect battery.
2. Raise the rear hatch.
3. Remove rear hatch upper trim. Refer to "Trim".
4. Disconnect the rear window defroster by removing the connector on each side.
5. Remove the ground lug holding the right-side defroster connector.
6. Remove the lower hatch trim. Refer to "Trim".
7. Disconnect three connectors at rear hatch.
8. Disconnect three single-wire connectors behind the left corner of the hatch.




9. Remove the grommet from the upper left-side of the hatch, exposing the cable harness.
10. Remove two pins from the brake light connector and one pin from the left-side defroster connector.
11. Pull the cable harness carefully through the channel in the hatch and through the cable harness boot and grommet.
12. Install the pins into their respective connectors so the connector bodies will not be lost.
13. Remove the right-side grommet from the hatch to expose the rear window washer tubing.




14. Remove the rear window washer nozzle and remove the tubing from the nozzle.
15. Compress the boot to expose the hose coupling. Secure the coupling outside the boot to make installation of the nozzle hose easier.
16. Remove the nozzle hose from the coupling.
17. Remove the nozzle hose.

Note: Removal of the damper stay assemblies requires that the rear hatch be well supported to permit it to remain in the open position so there is access to the hatch hinges. Have an assistant help in rear hatch removal.

18. Support the rear hatch in the open position.




19. Remove the damper stay assembly stud balls following the procedure described.

20. Remove one bolt from the left and right-hand hinges.

Note: The last step in the removal of the rear hatch is a two-man job. Have an assistant help remove the hatch.

21. Remove the last two bolts from the hatch.
22. Remove the rear hatch.




Installation
- Install in reverse order of removal.

Tighten the stud ball to 80 lb.in (9 N.m).