Spoiler Contacts or Binds on the Roof When Opening When Hot - keywords adjust adjustment body bow exterior liftgate rear rub trim

This PI has been revised to include digital pictures and updated repair instructions. Please discard PIT4059A.

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

The customer may complain the spoiler contacts the roof or binds on the roof when opening the liftgate. This will happen after the vehicles as been sitting in the sun on a relatively warm day. The spoiler can bow in the middle and contact the roof when opening. This can happen if the spoiler was not installed correctly.

Identifying Spoilers that are not fastened correctly:

Method #1 (Sun Load Exposure):

In the event that the vehicle in question has been sitting out in the sun in a relatively warm day for quite some time (1 hour or so), if the spoiler hasn't been installed correctly, it will bow out in the middle as shown in Figure 1 below:

Figure 1. Spoiler Bowing Out Due to Incorrect Installation

A correctly installed spoiler will more likely be sitting lower than the roof as shown above, due to manufacturing variations, some spoilers sit higher than the others. Therefore, it is important for the checkers to always open the liftgate gently and see if it binds against the roof of the vehicle.

Identifying Spoilers that are not Fastened Correctly:

Method #2 (No Sun Load Exposure):

If the vehicle has not been exposed to the sun, then the following method of checking should be employed:

STEP 1:

Check if the spoiler sits line to line or over flush with respect to the roof.

If it does, then continue with steps 2 and 3.

If not, then the spoiler has been attached correctly to the vehicle and hence, no repair is needed.

Figure 2. An Example of a Spoiler that May Have not been Fastened Correctly (Shown by How High It Sits with Respect to the Roof)

STEP 2:

Open the liftgate and remove the three 10 mm bolts that attach the spoiler to the vehicle as pointed out in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Bolt Locations

STEP 3:

Close the liftgate and, using a flashlight, check if the three snap clips are engaged properly. This can be accomplished by gently lifting the spoiler as shown in Figure 4.

If one or more of the 3 clips appears unengaged, then proceed with the repair procedure.

Figure 4. Checking for Clip Engagement

Note: If you do not see any contact to the liftgate or the body panels while fully opening and closing the liftgate then NO REPAIRS NEED TO BE DONE.

Spoiler Repair Procedure:

1. Remove spoiler.
2. Remove the three yellow clips from liftgate.
3. Use 3 new white clips part # 5484954 on the lift gate.
4. Clean the three pins on the spoiler from any glue residue.
5. Clean the top of the liftgate of any trace of glue.
6. Reinstall the spoiler.
7. Use the appropriate labor operations for liftgate or spoiler.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.