[s-cars] Interior Tailgate Removal

[Airbil at aol.com]

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Chris
Here's my write up from last Sept.
<A HREF="http://www.audifans.com/pipermail/s-car-list/2002-September/004909.html">http://www.audifans.com/pipermail/s-car-list/2002-September/004909.html</A>

It's not the greatest quite frankly but it's more than I had to go on.
Additional notes \
The inside latch is actually two pieces.  Its a concave inner portion with a
plastic frame around it.
IIRC the frame should be gently pryed out and then the larger concave portion
should be pryed from the BOTTOM.  There is an excellent chance you will break
some inner plastic tabs while doing some of this, but dont be too dismayed as
they arent real critical for re assembly IME (though understandably this
would really bother Igor and others here.)
In addition; I believe the big leap of faith pull part could be greatly eased
by carefully looking inside the hidden flaps on each side of the inner
tailgate to have a clue as to the type of clamp holding the panel on.  If you
can reach in and pinch the inner portion of the clamp together while pulling
that portion of the panel out it would be far better than the big yank.
These metal clamps/clips simply slide through a small racetrack shaped oval
stamped in the tailgate sheetmetal and then expand a eight or quarter inch to
hold it in place.  IIRC there are about four on each side, or eight all
together (maybe).  Some are easier to see than others and once you see one
release it its just a matter of finding the others.  A couple may be real
hard to reach and pinch.
Also while you're in there ..attack some of the rust and make sure the rubber
gaskets around the inner latch are intact.
Anyway pay attention and maybe you can document it, as I think Darin should
add it somewhere to his website as its sure to come up again.
Sorry this is not more detailed and filled with pix.
Good luck and fear not what you break cause its
1  Practically impossible not to break something.
2  It doesnt matter too much anyway.
HTH
Bill m