Rear window replacement?

[Mr.X.]

I am wondering how hard this would be to undertake, or even possible? I have a rear ended rear tailgate, and have found one in a local salvage yard, same colour as mine with the inner guts missing. Basically have to move all the inner guts off mine to the new tailgate

cheers!

 

[nglayton]

I still own my 3rd Gen and I've replaced the rear window regulator once, so it can be done. I've also replaced the back trim piece with key/lock etc. I pulled the window out once to change the motor. It wasn't too hard. It's kind of a pain, tight spaces, cramped angles and lots of sharp edges.

If you're in a hurry forget it, but if you have time and some patience and don't need to drive the vehicle for a few days you can do it.

 

[Mr.X.]

I still own my 3rd Gen and I've replaced the rear window regulator once, so it can be done. I've also replaced the back trim piece with key/lock etc. I pulled the window out once to change the motor. It wasn't too hard. It's kind of a pain, tight spaces, cramped angles and lots of sharp edges.

If you're in a hurry forget it, but if you have time and some patience and don't need to drive the vehicle for a few days you can do it.

Awesome. I was worried the glass would be a pain. This gives me the confidence to go forward :cheers:

 

[Plastics guy]

Awesome. I was worried the glass would be a pain. This gives me the confidence to go forward :cheers:

The glass is easy. Once the molding has been removed it comes right out. It is a doable project.

When I replaced my rear glass it took me about 3 hours.

There are a lot of great write ups for replacing the rear glass.

Good Luck with the repair. hopefully you got some insurance money covering it.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I stripped a rear hatch bare once and it was difficult for me, to say the least. There's so many screws and tabs that are very hard to get to. I would imagine that some parts would be easier to put back in, except for the motor and window regulator.

I agree about the glass being the easy part. If you could find a complete hatch it would be much, much, much simpler.

 

[Mr.X.]

I stripped a rear hatch bare once and it was difficult for me, to say the least. There's so many screws and tabs that are very hard to get to. I would imagine that some parts would be easier to put back in, except for the motor and window regulator.

I agree about the glass being the easy part. If you could find a complete hatch it would be much, much, much simpler.

Difficult. But doable?
Are there any parts that are permanently fixed, ie. riveted in that would be impossible to move over?
thanks

 

[gamefreakgc]

Difficult. But doable?
Are there any parts that are permanently fixed, ie. riveted in that would be impossible to move over?
thanks

No, no rivets. The tough part is you only have the two metal access plates to do pretty much everything. Some screws and wire clips (it's the wire clips that really got to me) are extremely hard to get to and you're working blind since you can't see what you are doing half the time.

Like others said if you set aside a couple of days and a have a lot of patience, it can be done. But waiting out for a complete hatch would be immensely easier.

 

[phattyduck]

But waiting out for a complete hatch would be immensely easier.

It is important to note that the '99-'02 hatch wiring is incompatible with the '96-'98 hatch wiring - so keep that in mind if/when looking for complete hatches... The badging and license plate trim changed too.

-Charlie

 

[pkachoochoo]

I had to swap my 99s inner parts to a new hatch shell from a yard. Wasn't particularly hard just took some maneuvering. You can do it all with a ratchet set but it would help to have an extra pair of hands to get the window regulator bolted to the back glass.