ok.. i did a search and found the tech article called "hatch alignment 101". i have all of the screws and nuts out and i am trying to seperate the hatch from the glass. the article skims over this step and it is proving to be a pain. i have been using a heat gun trying to loosen the old 'adhesive' as well as using a small thin piece of metal to run betwwn the glass and hatch. it doesn't seem to be working out very well. any ideas on how to seperate the two pieces??

 

When it's cold enough, I've been able to use a razor knife to cut it in half. If the temp is too high, it will stick to the sides of the blade.

 

i think the adhesive goes back far enough that the blade can't cut through all of it. i tried fishing a small wire through and using a sawing motion to try to cut through.. my wire broke though.. so i guess i will get some more wire and give it another try tomorrow.

 

I've done it a couple of times at the junk yard. IIRC, I may have pried it up with something and it may have taken a couple of swipes to break it free. I'm not sure if that's an option for you since it may take some force to widen the gap enough. Once you get part of it loose it's much easier to pull it up from there.

 

i got it! it was just a pain. i was not really wanting to pry on it for fear of busting the back glass. thanks!

 

I Use a Folded Match Book under either end of the tail panel while I Cut the adhesive with a long blade Knife. if warm, I Spray the Blade with WD-40, Or Equivalent......