Opel Frontera UE. Manual - part 1718

BODY STRUCTURE

8F–49

Removal

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable.

2. Remove the tailgate trim cover assembly (3).

• Remove the two screws (2) holding the hatchgate 

lock assembly (1) first and the two screws fixing 
the trim cover assembly. Pull up the trim cover 
while detaching the clips from tailgate panel.

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3. Remove the tailgate trim brackets (2).

• Remove the three fixing screws (3) and screw 

grommets (1).

4. Remove the waterproof sheet (4).

• Remove the waterproof sheet, taking special care 

so as not to break it.

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5. Remove the hatchgate lock.

• Disconnect the lock link and connector and 

remove the three fixing bolts.

6. Remove the key cylinder.

• Disconnect the locking links.

• Remove the key cylinder retaining clip with 

screwdriver to remove the key cylinder.

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7. Remove the hatchgate lock actuator assembly.

• Disconnect the actuator harness connector.

• Remove the two nuts holding hatchgate lock 

actuator assembly from inside.

8. Remove the outside handle.

• Remove the two bolts holding the outside handle 

from inside.

9. Remove the tailgate lock assembly.

• Remove the three screws holding the lock 

assembly.

10. Remove the dove tail.

11. Remove the tailgate locking links.

12. Remove the rear wiper arm.

• Refer to Rear Wiper Arm/Blade in Wiper/Washer 

System section.

13. Remove the rear wiper motor.

14. Remove the tailgate harness cable.

15. Remove the spare tire carrier.

• Refer to Spare Tire Carrier in this section.

16. Remove the tailgate stopper link.

17. Remove the tailgate assembly.

• Remove the tailgate assembly, taking care so as 

not to damage the hinge. Tailgate assembly is 
heavy and removal operation require two people.

18. Remove the tailgate waist seal.

SECTION

8F–50

BODY STRUCTURE

Installation

To install, follow the removal steps in the reverse order, 
noting the following points:

1. When setting up links, pay attention to the position 

and direction of the links.

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Legend

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2. Tighten the tailgate hinge fixing bolts to the 

specified torque.

Torque: 34 N·m (3.5 kg·m/25 Ib ft)

3. Tighten the tailgate stopper link fixing bolts to the 

specified torque.

Torque: 34 N·m (3.5 kg·m/25 Ib ft)

4. Tighten the dove tail fixing bolts to the specified 

torque.

Torque: 25 N·m (2.6 kg·m/19 Ib ft)

(1) Tailgate Lock Link
(2) Outside Handle
(3) Key Cylinder Lock Link
(4) Cancel Mechanism

SECTION

BODY STRUCTURE

8F–51

Rear Hatchgate

Parts Location

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(1) High Mount Stoplight
(2) Hatchgate Hinge
(3) Hinge Collar
(4) Hatchgate Glass Seal
(5) Hatchgate Gas Stay
(6) Hatchgate Ball Stud
(7) Ball Stud Spacer
(8) Ball Stud Fastener

(9) Hatchgate Glass

(10) Hatchgate Striker
(11) Striker Fastener
(12) High Mount Stoplight Fastener
(13) Outside Handle Collar
(14) Outside Handle
(15) High Mount Stoplight Spacer

SECTION

8F–52

BODY STRUCTURE

Removal

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable.

2. Disconnect the high mount stoplight and rear 

defogger harness connectors.

3. Remove the hatchgate ball stud (LH and RH).

• Remove gas stay fixing screw and pull up the gas 

stay assembly (3) from the ball stud by spreading 
the retainer (2) holding the ball stud at the end of 
the gas stay with screwdriver (1), etc.

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4. Remove the hatchgate hinge nuts from body side.

5. Remove the hatchgate glass.

• When pulling down the hatchgate glass, exercise 

special care so as not to damage it.
Hatchgate glass assembly is heavy and removal 
operation requires the two people.

6. Remove the two screws to remove hatchgate striker 

and fastener.

7. Remove the outside handle.

8. Remove the hinges.

9. Remove the high mount stoplight.

10. Remove the hatchgate finisher.

Installation

To install, follow the removal steps in the reverse order, 
noting the following points.

1. Attach the upper seal (1) to the hatchgate glass (2) 

indicated portion (3) so that the end of the glass 
contacts the bottom of the upper seal.

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2. When installing the hatchgate glass, first attach the 

hinge to the hatchgate glass. Align the stud of the 
hinge to the hole at body while supporting the 
hatchgate glass with two people at indicated 
positions (1), and then partially tighten the hinge to 
body nut (2).
After adjustment (refer to Adjustment in this section) 
is completed, fully tighten the nut, hinge to body nut.

• Hatchgate hinge assembly for left and right sides 

from each other.

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SECTION