Hi, on my '04 4tec the hatch cover just in front of the steering wheel is broken.
The main problem is that the spring/piston/shock thing that holds the hatch open is too weak...the hatch EASILY comes down clonks you on the head when you're rummaging around in there.
To make it worse, I wedged something in there to hold it open - then my kid tried to close it - and ripped the plate right out of the fiberglass hatch. The top part if fine, just the unseen bottom part has the plate ripped out.
So, I think I can handle re-embedding the plate using a fiberglass repair kit. Since the repair is on the bottom, it won't be seen anyway.
What I'd LIKE to replace is the spring/piston/shock thing that ultimately is the source of the problem. I've priced it at $50 at snow city, but I've got NO guarantee that the new one I buy is going to be any stiffer then the old one. And stiffer it needs to be, or else I'll continue to get bonked on the head & I've had about enough of that.
There is a clue on the snow city site, it says "AMORTISS.GAZ *SHOCK-GAS Includes Items 19 to 22 204620322 (replaces 204620272)" I'm thinking that "replaces" bit implies the new one is better.
Anyone have experience/insight into this?
The main problem is that the spring/piston/shock thing that holds the hatch open is too weak...the hatch EASILY comes down clonks you on the head when you're rummaging around in there.
To make it worse, I wedged something in there to hold it open - then my kid tried to close it - and ripped the plate right out of the fiberglass hatch. The top part if fine, just the unseen bottom part has the plate ripped out.
So, I think I can handle re-embedding the plate using a fiberglass repair kit. Since the repair is on the bottom, it won't be seen anyway.
What I'd LIKE to replace is the spring/piston/shock thing that ultimately is the source of the problem. I've priced it at $50 at snow city, but I've got NO guarantee that the new one I buy is going to be any stiffer then the old one. And stiffer it needs to be, or else I'll continue to get bonked on the head & I've had about enough of that.
There is a clue on the snow city site, it says "AMORTISS.GAZ *SHOCK-GAS Includes Items 19 to 22 204620322 (replaces 204620272)" I'm thinking that "replaces" bit implies the new one is better.
Anyone have experience/insight into this?
I have replace the piston (re-attached the plate with fibreglass) and the wounds on the back of my head are better. Neither are pretty, but, both are hidden - one under the hatch and the other behind my sunglasses.
