Hi everyone, My daughter got into a minor fender bender at low speeds, but the spoiler and back glass are broken. I can get a used replacement hatch for $300, but I can’t find any videos on replacing it. It seems like it would just be disconnect the hinges and lift sports, disconnect the electronics (not sure how that is) and reconnect everything. Could anyone shed any light on how to replace the hatch and if that’s too hard? I’m pretty handy, and we previously replaced tail lights and other stuff, but that was with YouTube help.
Or that sort of magical combination of easy-enough and rare-enough that nobody has thought to make a video for it. You should find useful information in the repair manual (more info). It will just be text and drawings, no video, but should help you get the job done. Probably the most interesting bits will be where the wire harness connectors are that you need to disconnect, under the headliner or under the hatch trim, and the right ways to get the trim out of the way ... same for the rear washer fluid hose. And how to adjust the latch and hinges with the new one so it's all lined up right. Be prepared for the weight of the hatch ... once you undo the gas struts that support it, it can be heavier than you think.
I've always wanted to set up some rigging in my carport so it's easier to unbolt hatch and detail the paint around the hinges where the hatch attaches. It's such a pain trying to clean, polish and wax that part of the car. Hopefully will do that soon.
Thanks everyone for the help! We changed it out yesterday, and it was actually pretty easy. Had to take out the top trim to get to the wiring, which plugged in in two spots, and the wiper fluid line. Then outlined the hinges so they went back properly. Then loosened the hinge bolts from under the trim, popped off the support struts and took the hinge bolts off the rest of the way. We popped the hinge bolts up and lifted/slid the hatch off. Did the whole thing in reverse to put the replacement hatch on. It took about three hours. I ended up getting the Haynes manual, which was helpful, and now we can use if for other stuff. thanks everyone for your help!
Will be doing a hatch replacement today due to yard hatch with glass and all being ~$80 and the hatch glass alone being ~$60. Looks like a win-win replacing the whole hatch. When at the yard selecting a exact paint match (amazingly two of the three were) and observing the other gen 3's present; I later realized that unlike the gen 2 hatch design where the two clips for the hatch harness are within the hatch, the gen 3 are not and they are located back under the headliner. Pop the three headliner clips and you will see how easy that method is. By not cutting the hatch wires and only unclipping the two under the headliner, you will save the time and frustration of having to unclip and snake the hatch harness through the hatch hole so to re-use and not the more easier replace. I'll try to make a video later showing. Kind of neat on a side note is I get to keep the broken glass hatch for my gen 3 design add on tail for more dry storage and lower drag potential vision. Was a little motivation to help the friend. Remember kids; always, always, always insert the jack with the handle facing in so when the handle pops up the only thing it hits is the headliner. And that's all kids, at least for now.
