New and need help!

[99FE]

So I picked up this 99 Explorer XLT 4 by 4 for 1300 bucks and the only thing that's still bothering me about it is this gap for the hatch and how everytime I open it, it catches on the top of the car and I can't figure out why it's sitting so far out and up. My first guess was that the hinges were on backwards or upside down, but I compared it to hinges at my Pick and Pull and it seems to be okay. My next guess was that the gas shocks that hold the door open were too long, so I took them off to see if that would lower it, but now I can't get them to compress to put them back on!

Any ideas?

 

[SupaSwope]

Hello, Use Imgur to upload pics online and bbcode to post them here.

 

[99FE]

Hello, Use Imgur to upload pics online and bbcode to post them here.

Ugh. What a pain.

 

[RangerX]

Yeah, pics need to either be linked from an external site, or members can upload directly.
Or just hang tight and someone can probably give you an answer without seeing pics.
Welcome to the forum.

 

[99FE]

I have to pay to be a member?

Let me blow the cobwebs off my photobucket

 

[RangerX]

Its $20 a year. You can still read everything and post without joining.
You'll be in for a surprise when you get to your photobucket account, they've made some changes...

 

[99FE]

Its $20 a year. You can still read everything and post without joining.
You'll be in for a surprise when you get to your photobucket account, they've made some changes...

Yea, filled it with spam

 

[SupaSwope]

I have the same issue as you with the hatch, but my hatch has always been messed up since I got mine. Mine would not open when I got mine and I had to swamp mine out. But the alignment with the shocks on is off and there is always a gap no matter what. But I notice not many others have this problem. I am curious to see if this might get solved. I will give the little info on mine after playing with my hatch for a few hours the other day.


Only one of my latches actually latches and I have tried to get it to where both would. I tried to adjust it but could not get much moment. I took off the shocks and and got it where both worked great. But could never really get rid of the gap. So I put it where both latches work but every time I put the shocks on it does not latch perfectly anymore. Don't know if your having the same issues with it closing but I think the shock placement might be bent? I don't know. Just wanted to give my information of my own situation on the subject.

 

[99FE]

I just got this thing today, and at the guys house, I noticed it popping, but it wasn't till i got home that i noticed it hitting the roof... I need to make sure it's aor and water tight.

The hinges look ok... But now that i have the shocks off i can't compress them to put them back on...

Luckily my pick n pull has like 20 explorers

 

[SupaSwope]

The way I put the shocks on is I put one side on and lift the door all the way up as high as it goes and you should be able to get the other side on without compressing it.

 

[99FE]

The way I put the shocks on is I put one side on and lift the door all the way up as high as it goes and you should be able to get the other side on without compressing it.

But I'd have to compress one to get it on. And i can't