Lift-gate question

[koda2000]

Someone backed into my '00 Mountaineer a while back and damaged the lift-gate. i just found one on Craig's list in the right color and in perfect condition. it is complete w/glass (which i don't need) and i can get it for $100. i figure i can sell the glass for maybe $50, which makes it a good deal. the seller isn't sure what year it's off of. does anyone know what the differences are between the 98-01's. it looks correct from the picture.

 

[masospaghetti]

As far as I know the 98-01 liftgates are identical, the ones on my 98 and 2000 matched and had no functional or cosmetic differences.

 

[koda2000]

As far as I know the 98-01 liftgates are identical, the ones on my 98 and 2000 matched and had no functional or cosmetic differences.

thanks for the reply. the only dif i see between my 2000's and 2001 is a little plastic pocket handle in the bottom. the guy said he'd take $100 for it and that the paint was good (bodyshop bought it for a customer and the guy never came back) so he may even take less if i'm waving cash in his face. i think i'm gonna go check it out tomorrow. anyone need a rear glass, hinges, wiper, lock parts or door guts? PM me.

 

[X~FACTOR]

While we're on this subject... can the 98-01 lift-gate bolt on to a 95-97? Assuming, of course, that I get a 98-01 tail lights.

 

[delexploder]

Yes but the wiring is different, I swapped mine on the 97 sport for one from a 99 or 2000 along with the front bumper

 

[MAS Tequila]

thanks for the reply. the only dif i see between my 2000's and 2001 is a little plastic pocket handle in the bottom. the guy said he'd take $100 for it and that the paint was good (bodyshop bought it for a customer and the guy never came back) so he may even take less if i'm waving cash in his face. i think i'm gonna go check it out tomorrow. anyone need a rear glass, hinges, wiper, lock parts or door guts? PM me.

Glass Hinges?

If the price is right I could use the glass hinges.

MT

 

[koda2000]

Glass Hinges?

If the price is right I could use the glass hinges.

MT

sure. i'm going to look at the lift-gate tomorrow to make sure it looks good in person. the pic looks great. if so, i'll be hauling it home with me tomorrow. i see you're in FL. i'm in north GA. are you planning on coming to get it, or ship it? i have no idea what shipping would be for the glass and hopefully it would arrive in one piece.. or do you only want the hinges?

 

[MAS Tequila]

sure. i'm going to look at the lift-gate tomorrow to make sure it looks good in person. the pic looks great. if so, i'll be hauling it home with me tomorrow. i see you're in FL. i'm in north GA. are you planning on coming to get it, or ship it? i have no idea what shipping would be for the glass and hopefully it would arrive in one piece.. or do you only want the hinges?

Just the hinges.

MT

 

[koda2000]

Just the hinges.

MT

yeah, okay. when i get it home i'll check them out (should be good). care to make me an offer?

 

[koda2000]

yeah, okay. when i get it home i'll check them out (should be good). care to make me an offer?

well, the good news is i was able to get the complete lift-gate (less the interior panel) in the right color at a really good price. the bad news is it's off a Sport/2-door and i need one for a 4-door. i don't know how i missed this fact, but when i opened my rear side door to pull it out of the back of my truck, there it was in big chrome letters, mocking me... "SPORT"

Update:
So, i've now heard from several people that the 2000 2-door Sport and 4-Door tailgates are the same and are interchangeable. so i guess i will be able to use it after all. i will still have a bunch of tailgate parts left over, so PM me if you need something.

I have the following spare parts:
1. privacy glass with defroster
2. window hinges
3. wiper motor
4. wiper arm
5. window and lift-gate latches with rods
6. rear glass handle & latch bar
7. rear glass gas struts
8. latch push button & switch (no matching key)
9. lock actuator motor
10. tag lights with lenses
11. plastic lift-gate handle w/Ford emblem
12. misc wiring
13. LED 3rd brake light

bump

 

[koda2000]

well, the good news is i was able to get the complete lift-gate (less the interior panel) in the right color at a really good price. the bad news is it's off a Sport/2-door and i need one for a 4-door. i don't know how i missed this fact, but when i opened my rear side door to pull it out of the back of my truck, there it was in big chrome letters, mocking me... "SPORT"

Update:
So, i've now heard from several people that the 2000 2-door Sport and 4-Door tailgates are the same and are interchangeable. so i guess i will be able to use it after all. i will still have a bunch of tailgate parts left over, so PM me if you need something.

I have the following spare parts:
1. privacy glass with defroster
2. window hinges
3. wiper motor
4. wiper arm
5. window and lift-gate latches with rods
6. rear glass handle
7. rear glass gas struts
8. latch push button & switch (no matching key)
9. lock actuator motor
10. tag lights with lenses
11. plastic lift-gate handle w/Ford emblem
12. misc wiring
13. LED 3rd brake light

bump

 

[SoNic67]

I am interested in wiper motor assembly (mine doesn't wipe all the surface of the glass), but I am not sure how much would be shipping from you to zip 23608.

 

[koda2000]

I am interested in wiper motor assembly (mine doesn't wipe all the surface of the glass), but I am not sure how much would be shipping from you to zip 23608.

i'd be happy to sell it to you and i don't think shipping via USPS would be very much, however if your problem is that the wiper blade misses the glass in the middle of its sweep, i've found the issue isn't the motor, or the arm, but that the motor doesn't stay straight in its mounts. this is because of 2 design problems...

1. the rubber motor mounts are too soft and allow the spring tension of the wiper arm, against the glass, to push the motor out of alignment.

2. the thin sheet metal of the inner lift-gate allows the wiper motor to twist on its mounts.

if you look at where the snout of the wiper motor protrudes through the lift-gate (through the rubber sleeve thing) you'll notice it appears to be pushed to the left, instead of being centered and straight. this is what causes the wiper blade to miss the center of the glass during its sweep.

i've seen this on all 4 of my Explorers/Mountaineers. i've had some success shimming the right-most motor mount to center the wiper motor.

if you want the motor, i'll check with the P.O. about the shipping cost between our zips.

 

[MAS Tequila]

yeah, okay. when i get it home i'll check them out (should be good). care to make me an offer?

Shoot me a price on the glass hinges and the glass struts with the mounting parts.

I'm in zip code 33486

Thanks.

 

[koda2000]

Shoot me a price on the glass hinges and the glass struts with the mounting parts.

I'm in zip code 33486

Thanks.

I PM'd you a price. if we agree, i'll get a cost on shipping USPS this week.

 

[SoNic67]

...i've found the issue isn't the motor, or the arm, but that the motor doesn't stay straight in its mounts. this is because of 2 design problems...

1. the rubber motor mounts are too soft and allow the spring tension of the wiper arm, against the glass, to push the motor out of alignment.

2. the thin sheet metal of the inner lift-gate allows the wiper motor to twist on its mounts.

if you look at where the snout of the wiper motor protrudes through the lift-gate (through the rubber sleeve thing) you'll notice it appears to be pushed to the left, instead of being centered and straight. this is what causes the wiper blade to miss the center of the glass during its sweep.

i've seen this on all 4 of my Explorers/Mountaineers. i've had some success shimming the right-most motor mount to center the wiper motor.

I think you are right, the snout 'moves' out (while wiping) without any reason from outside forces. I thought it is the bearing inside the motor - I will take off the liner and take a look.
Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[koda2000]

I think you are right, the snout 'moves' out (while wiping) without any reason from outside forces. I thought it is the bearing inside the motor - I will take off the liner and take a look.
Thanks for the suggestion.

the only "outside force" is the spring in the arm pushing the blade against the glass. it's not much force, but it's enough to move the motor around on its mounts. if the snout moves in/out then you do have a motor problem. let me know what you find.

 

[SoNic67]

Oohh, the joy of older cars. Today I had to rescue my wife - her Sonata started to have white smoke coming from under hood when she stopped. So no time for investigating my Exp...

PS: Radiator plastic seam/weld started to leak.

 

[koda2000]

Oohh, the joy of older cars. Today I had to rescue my wife - her Sonata started to have white smoke coming from under hood when she stopped. So no time for investigating my Exp...

PS: Radiator plastic seam/weld started to leak.

no problem. let me know when you have the time.