Liftgate Latch - Rattles and Does Not Fully Latch

90ford04

Article No. 90-4-3

^ LIFTGATE - LATCH RATTLES AND DOES NOT WORK

^ NOISE - "RATTLE" FROM LIFT GATE LATCH

MERKUR: 1988-89 SCORPIO


ISSUE: A liftgate latch that "rattles" and sometimes does not fully latch may be caused by the latch not properly engaging the striker.

ACTION: Install a new latch, striker and bumper assembly to improve latch operation. Refer to the following procedure for service details.

1. Remove the liftgate latch, striker and bumper assembly. Refer to the 1988-89 Scorpio Shop Manual, Section 44-13 for service details.

2. Install the new latch assembly. Refer to the 1988-89 Scorpio Shop Manual, Page 44-13-5 for installation information.

3. Tighten the latch attaching bolts to 7-8 lb.ft. (9-11 N-m).

4. Position and align the new striker assembly. Make sure to have equal gaps between the liftgate and body at the sides of the liftgate (liftgate closed).

a. Provide a 1 mm underflush condition of the rear horizontal surface of the liftgate to the rear quarter panels.

b. Make sure the latch engages the striker cleanly. If necessary, adjust the striker.

c. Tighten the attaching bolts to 7-8 lb.ft. (9-11 N-m).

Figure 1:

5. Remove the sidewedge rubber from each new bumper assembly, Figure 1.

6. Loosen the locking screw and fully extend the vertical bumpstop.

7. Fit the two bumper assemblies less sidewedge rubbers to the liftgate.

8. SLOWLY press the liftgate closed to the fully latched position. The vertical bumpstops should ratchet into position.

9. Open the liftgate and extend each vertical bumpstop by two "clicks" on the ratchet. This gives about 2 mm interference of the bumpstop to body when the liftgate is closed.

10. Re-tighten the bumper assembly locking screws and fit the new sidewedge rubbers back to the bumper assemblies.

11. Check to see that when the lift gate is closed, the interference of the new sidewedges and bumpstops pushes the rear horizontal surface of the liftgate into a flush condition with the rear quarter panels. If it doesn't, re-adjust the striker height as required and repeat steps 2-9.

12. The lift gate slam effort should be increased over the previous condition because of the increased bumper assembly interference. Check to see that this effort is still acceptable. If it is considered too high, raise the striker slightly and repeat steps 2-10.

PART NUMBER PART NAME CLASS

E7RY-5843200-B Latch Assembly C
E9RY-61404A42-A Striker Assembly C
E7RY-5843634-A Bumper Assembly C

OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: None
WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under Basic Warranty Coverage
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
900403A Install New Latch 0.7 Hr.
DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
7043200 56
OASIS CODES: 1200, 7100, 7111