First of all I searched but didn’t find anything.
so i’m wondering how do I install a new hatch. I got a new one today and I looked at the bolts on the hinge, and it seems kinda weird to install. Do I have to take the headliner out to get it on? Please let me know. Wanna do this tomorrow. Thanks1
Ryan
I just changed mine recently.
Wires. There are two options here – since I was switching from a GS hatch to GS-R, but not using the GS-R spoiler, I had to use the wiring harness from my original hatch. This required pulling all of the wiring in my old hatch out through the hole at the top corner of the hatch (quite a struggle). However, if you’re switching from an RS/LS/GS hatch to another RS/LS/GS hatch or from a GS-R to another GS-R, I highly recommend disconnecting the wiring harness at the end above the headliner (this would require removing the headliner. That sounded very confusing…
You can probably just take the molding strip at the back of the headliner off, pull a couple other plastic pieces off that hold it up, and then pull the back of the headliner down enough to reach in and disconnect the wires. This will also give you access to the nuts that hold the hatch in place.
When putting the new hatch in, don’t tighten those nuts right up. Those are what allow you to line the hatch up properly so there’s an even gap everywhere. This takes some fiddling around with.
I realize my instructions aren’t too clear. Sorry about that. If you have any specific questions, just ask and I’ll try to explain better.
My only question now really is that I do have the pull the headliner down alittle to get at the bolts and wire right?
Ryan
Can’t figure how to get the headliner out to get at the bolts? Anyone know??? Please help!!
Ryan
Yes, you do have to pull the back of the headliner down to get at the bolts. I wish I had a digicam here…
Okay if you open the hatch, right along the back edge of the headliner, you’ll see a rubber strip that matches your headliner. It goes all the way across the back of the headliner. Pull that off. Now there’s a plastic cover on each of the back pillars right? Grab them at the top and pull them out. You don’t have to take them right off; just pull them enough that the headliner will be able to drop down a bit.
There’s a plastic cover along the top of the rear windows too. You may have to pull that out too (the back 2 clips or so).
And if you have a sunroof on your car, you might have to take out that little circle in the middle of the headliner that covers the manual sunroof gear.
Then you should be able to pull the headliner down a few inches to get at the bolts.
Thanks man, but I just came in from the garage. Got it done. Not too hard when you know what your doing. Needs alitte adjusting, but i’ll worry about that after I get her painted. Thanks though man!
Ryan