Cracked Hatch

[alphabets13]

apparently this is an epidemic with this generation explorer/mountaineer. i have the famous crack right below the rear window near the mountaineer symbol. my question is, what is the hatch made out of...fiberglass or plastic?

thanks!

 

[Exproblems]

, what is the hatch made out of...fiberglass or plastic? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Not 100% sure on this, but I would say from the way it looks at the crack edge in my Explorers rear applique is it is made out of fiberglass. Some in here have said it won't do any good to repair the crack or install a new applique, it will still eventually crack again. Ford F'd up on this one. One person in here named "Not8taxi", removed the rear applique and the adhesive used to hold it on and left it off completely, exposing the rest of the tailgate window pane that extends beneath applique.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Plastic.

You need to use the correct/better adhesive than Ford used to reattach that allows for expansion. The Ford adhesive did not allow for expansion/contraction of the glass panel nor the panel stuck to it due to weather conditions.

Lots of info online about it, I believe there is a class-action lawsuit in CA about it also.

Nothing is going to leak, as the rear window does extend below that panel, it is not leaving space open to the tailgate.

 

[SyberTiger]

I'm curious to know how this piece cracks...specifically under what conditions. Does it crack on it's very own just sitting there?...Under extreme hot/cold?...Slamming the hatch hard or closing it while pushing in on a certain area?

 

[Joe Dirt]

Glass expands when heating/cooling. Trim piece held on with non-flexible adhesive. Glass expands or shrinks, trim does not. Crack.

Some had water under them, freezing, then cracking and thought it was the ice. The expansion makes more sense since it also happens in warm climates.

 

[Exproblems]

I'm curious to know how this piece cracks...specifically under what conditions. Does it crack on it's very own just sitting there?...Under extreme hot/cold?...Slamming the hatch hard or closing it while pushing in on a certain area?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mine broke right after I washed the truck in my driveway back in September. I remember opening the tailgate right after I washed it to put some things away and I closed the tailgate by holding the wiper arm, just let go of it a few inches from closed so it would latch properly. It was still warm here, in the 70's. I parked the truck for the day right after that and noticed the crack the next morning as I walked behind the truck. When I first noticed it, I thought I was looking at a trickle of water running down the tailgate till I ran my finger across it and felt the crack. I was pissed because it made it 6 years from new, before it finally cracked only after I owned it. The crack ran down the right side of the Ford emblem/badge. I'd say it is the vibration/jarring motion of the tailgate closing that causes it to crack, not heat or cold. In Buffalo, I live in extreme weather conditions either very hot and humid 80's - 90's temps in summer or very cold, average 0-30 temps in fall and winter and it broke on a pleasant day in the 70's. Right after I bought it last January, we had a good month and a half of very cold weather, as low as -14 degrees and it didn't break then, so again, I feel it is not from temp issues.

 

[SyberTiger]

So do you think you are likely to minimize the risk by opening the full hatch instead of the half hatch when you need to get into the back?

 

[Exproblems]

So do you think you are likely to minimize the risk by opening the full hatch instead of the half hatch when you need to get into the back?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

No, opening the half hatch/tailgate window only, may reduce the risk of breaking the panel. I had opened and closed the full tailgate when mine broke. The weight of the full tailgate along with the vibration of closing it is what I think caused my panel to crack. I seldom open the half hatch when I need to get into the rear of the truck. I think for it to break, you just have to catch it in the right spot and force and it cracks.

 

[BigRondo]

The glass, adhesive, & plastic piece all expand and contract at different rates. I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent it, short of mentioning it when you hit your knees before bed each night.

 

[alphabets13]

Plastic.

You need to use the correct/better adhesive than Ford used to reattach that allows for expansion. The Ford adhesive did not allow for expansion/contraction of the glass panel nor the panel stuck to it due to weather conditions.

Lots of info online about it, I believe there is a class-action lawsuit in CA about it also.

Nothing is going to leak, as the rear window does extend below that panel, it is not leaving space open to the tailgate.

thanks. my father-in-law owns a body shop so he is going to fill it in and cover it up the best he can when the weather gets a bit nicer. he asked me to find out if it was plastic or fiberglass. i could not believe what i found when i googled this issue. it's sad.

 

[abarkl]

You might find other cracks develop after the cosmetic repair. It's the adhesive that was originally used and would not flex with the glass. The replacement I installed several years ago was put on with 3M sponge type auto molding tape. I haven't had any problems since.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I would also suggest the foam based tape, or a 3M "DP100 Plus" type of epoxy if you prefer that.

 

[friscorental1]

maybe this is too radical but has anyone heard of replacing the entire hatch with one from a 2006 which was redesigned or trying to get the body shop to replace the plastic with a stainless steel fabricated piece ro something metal that won't crack? Never buy another Ford!!!!!!!

 

[drdoom]

Both have been done.

 

[friscorental1]

So not so crazy - could you help with some specifics. thanks. About to address with a body shop and would like to know if this is the right approach or if I should be doing something different. We all know spending $1,000 to have it crack again is just wrong!!

 

[drdoom]

There is a thread about the 4G hatch swap, not much technical info, last I read the wiring needs to be modified, and the interior trim had to be remolded with a heat gun. So it can and has been done, but not a direct fit. If you are handy just order a pre-painted Doorman applique for <$100 USD.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225206

 

[96firephoenix]

For what it is worth, since this got resurrected, Rockauto has them for explorers, not sure about mountaineers. They are listed under "Body>Rear Panel" and can be gotten paint to match by code or one of the 5 most common colors.

As for the adhesive, I would think that silicon caulk would do the trick? Others mentioned the foam-backed 3M tape...