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Remove small phillips screw from collar around inside release handle.
Use a small wedge to pry the upper lip "up" slightly (of black collar), then with another wedge push the collar "up" to unclip it from the handle mechanism. (Up and DOWN oriented as though the hatch were closed, I recommend opening the hatch to do the job though).
Then, there are 2 small interior-colored fasteners on the upper extremities of the lower panel (where it meets the rear window surround). There is a small pin inserted into the middle of these 2 fasteners. With a small pushing instrument, such as a small finish nail, (something smaller in diameter than the center pin in the fastener), lightly push this center pin inwards till you feel a little resistance, then the whole fastener will pull out. DON'T push the center pin all the way in, it's almost impossible to find it again. JUST till you feel a little resistance.
OK, then it's about impossible to use any kind of clip removal tool, I usually just jerk the panel out (away from the hatch), starting at the bottom on either one side (corner) or the other. You are unsnapping these plastic fasteners from the tailgate itself. You MAY break a few, you can buy them cheap. Sometimes they will stick to the tailgate itself and are OK to reuse, if this is the case you can remove the "stubborn" ones with the trim clip tool and reattach them to the inner panel. OH, once all the clips are either released/broken or pulled out of the inner panel, you then need to push the panel "upwards" (again, oriented as though the tailgate is closed) to release these 5 or so plastic "fingers" which engage into the tailgate at the base of the rear window.
Gilly
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10-28-2003, 09:23 AM
Linear Mode
