Replacing rear liftgate / hatch question

[jjbodean]

A couple questions before tackling this hatch swap:

1. What is the easiest way to access the wiring harness inside the headliner? Is it necessary to drop the headliner in the rear or is there a more efficient way?

2. Is it best to leave the existing hinges on the body and replace the hatch or is it better to leave the hinges on the hatch and then bolt to the body?

Additional details: putting a 2003 hatch on my 2007 due to someone crushing in my hatch during a hit and run. Hatches are both no camera and with spoiler. I have swapped the newer spoiler from my crushed hatch to the hatch I will be putting on (had the old style spoiler).

Thanks in advance for your replies!

 

[Syr4RinNC]

So presumably your new liftgate contains the glass and regulator and all the electrical wiring

1. Simply push back and remove the weather striping around the inside, disconnect the grommet/ rubber tube for wiring and you should be able to access the wiring harness in the overhead liner - that part is pretty easy

2. If you mean the black struts that help raise and lower the lift gate, its going to be easier to use the ones that you already have, provided they havent leaked or failed. If you need to remove the struts from your body, youll need a good pair of vise grips. Otherwise for the liftgate you just remove the bolts and brackets and replace

The tough part is getting help to hold the liftgate up and in place while you un bolt and then bolt on the new one

Good luck

 

[jjbodean]

So presumably your new liftgate contains the glass and regulator and all the electrical wiring

1. Simply push back and remove the weather striping around the inside, disconnect the grommet/ rubber tube for wiring and you should be able to access the wiring harness in the overhead liner - that part is pretty easy

2. If you mean the black struts that help raise and lower the lift gate, its going to be easier to use the ones that you already have, provided they havent leaked or failed. If you need to remove the struts from your body, youll need a good pair of vise grips. Otherwise for the liftgate you just remove the bolts and brackets and replace

Yes, it's one off a salvage 2003 that's complete, I just basically had to swap out the lock cylinders and I'm good to go.

1. So I dont need to drop the cargo area dome light or remove any of the fasteners to access the wiring harness?

2. I was referring not to the gas support struts but to the actual body hinges at the top corners of the rear opening.

Thanks!

 

[Syr4RinNC]

Yea - youll need to drop the dome light in order to get more room to drop the headliner. In terms of fasteners its pretty straight forward. Just unclip or unfasten any that are making the process difficult.

Itll probably easier to leave the body ones and fasten to the liftgate. Only because getting on top of the body and bolting down is a little more awkward than doing it overhead

This youtube video on 3rd gens is pretty similar to the process in the 4th gens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxgNqNSiVX8