'02 Rear Cargo Hatch Panel Problems

[Crew Chief]

Hello All! This is my first post on the forum. We love our '02 XLS but have one irritant that we can't seem to fix. Back about a year ago, we got the panel immediately below the rear window whacked by the ladder hanging on the side of a service truck (They left without contacting us ) I'm not sure that even matters, though. We've taken it to a local body shop THREE times now to have it reglued!!! Has any one else had a problem with this panel or having it reglued? Any help/advice would be much appreciated...thanks in advance!

 

[MONMIX]

I am unsure what panel you are talking about.
Can some one post a pic ?

 

[Crew Chief]

Thanks for the reply, Monmix! Unfortunately, I haven't the ability to post photos yet but it's the panel, about 8" high, directly under the rear hatch glass. It's plastic and covers glass, as well. But there's some framework that the glue is applied to before the panel is reinstalled. We've had a local body shop reglue it three times now and it just doesn't seem to stick. We usually only open the hatch once or twice a week and rarely put more than 50 miles a week on the vehicle. So it's not like it gets heavy duty usage... The last time we had it reglued was baout three weeks ago. Hope this gives you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

 

[MONMIX]

I'll see if I can spot an 02 wile I am out and about today. You are refering to the interrior pannel correct ?

 

[MONMIX]

Okay, I know exactaly what you are talking about. We had an 04 in the shop yesterday and I gave it a good look see. With this type of pannel with out seeing it first hand, I am gonna have a hard time giving any good advise.

I have dealt with panels as such on other vehicles and I can say for a fact they can be quite trouble some. The key is having a clean panel and a clean mounting surface. I will assume this was not the case when the shop glued the panel on.
Another possibility is that the panel may be splitting. Either way, take it back to the shop. Most shops are fair and decent when it comes to standing by their work.

Good luck and let me know if I can help any further.

 

[Crew Chief]

Sure appreciate it, Monmix! It does seem that as long as the surfaces are properly prepared and the job has plenty of time to set, that it would be a permanent fix. I just don't understand why this time will be the THIRD attempt to get it right. This last repair only lasted a month. The panel is on the outside of the vehicle and has the "FORD" logo glued to it.

 

[Crew Chief]

Monmix, I just saw you are from Glen Burnie, MD . When my dad retired from the Navy in 1966, we moved to AA County, first living in an apartment complex behind Harundale Mall. After that, we lived in Riva then finally bought a home in Severna Park. In '69 we moved to FL. (I like MD better!)

 

[MONMIX]

wow, small world
Yeah Harundale Mall doesnt even exist any more. It is a strip mall now.
It was sad when they bulldozed it. It was the ( at the time ) oldest exisitng, first enclosed shoping mall east of the Mississippi and like the third in the US.

Good luck

 

[Crew Chief]

Thanks, Monmix! Yeah, small world. Malls all over America are changing. I know we already have TOO much retail here in Dayton, OH. And there's more being built now...

But, anyway, thanks for the help! I hope to get to Baltimore next May for the American Truck Historical Society's annual convention. It'll be held in Carroll Park

 

[MONMIX]

Drop me a line when you come back this way.
We'll get some lunch.