Tips on hatchback door R&R [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: Tips on hatchback door R&R


Winch
Sep 16th, 04, 1:22 PM
Sorry for asking a non-Chevelle question here but you guys here and at Team Camaro have been sooo helpful in the past.
I "volunteered" to help my pastor replace the hatchback door on his 97 Caravan. He supposedly has found one from a 99 that is the same color (salvage yard said the two years are interchangable and the color is the same).
How hard is this to do? Seems like it will be just remove the door panel to get to the wiring and hopefully that will be a plug connector, then unbolt the hinges and do the reverse.
Any tips before we tackle it this weekend?

69ssmike
Sep 16th, 04, 4:29 PM
Not too bad of a job if your not replacin the inner stuff(wiper motor) .Make sure everything is disconnected before removing, washer hose comes to mind!! Remove shocks on both sides with a helper holding the gate then hinges. Helps a LOT to have 3 people as you will see with glass it is pretty heavy. Mike

Winch
Sep 16th, 04, 7:49 PM
I've got a 95 Windstar and I was looking at how it bolts up tonight. I can't see on it where the electrical wire would disconnect at (inside the door or back inside the vehicle). Then again that Caravan may be totally different. Any idea where that will disocnnect?

69ssmike
Sep 16th, 04, 8:03 PM
Most that I have seen disconnect inside the gate, they run through top of gate. Some have disconnect plugs right in top, others some of the wiring may have to be pulled out of gate. Mike

DG
Sep 16th, 04, 8:15 PM
I bought a hatch for my buddies 95 Caravan.

They are heavy!