Hyundai Santa Fe (3rd generation, DM): Liftgate Assembly Replacement

Part numbers are from the manufacturer's original catalogue. Check them against your VIN before ordering.

• Plastic trim clip remover (plastic pry tools)
• Phillips and flat screwdrivers
• 10 mm and 12 mm sockets with a ratchet
• socket wrenches
• masking tape
• rags
• marker
• a helper
• a stand or soft padding. After installation
• a scan tool is needed to check the liftgate if it is a power liftgate

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and disconnect the negative battery terminal. Wait 5-10 minutes. This is important because the liftgate has electrical components: latch, camera, license plate lights, rear window defogger.
2. Open the liftgate and secure it in the raised position. If the struts are weak, prop the liftgate with a support or ask a helper to hold it.
3. Remove the lower and upper plastic trim panels on the inside of the liftgate. They are held by plastic clips and, in a few places, by screws. Use trim tools so you do not break the clips. It is best to replace any broken clips with new ones right away.
4. Remove the handle trim (also the frame around the latch) and the side glass trim panels. Underneath are the latch mounts, the power latch actuator and the connectors.
5. Disconnect the connectors on the liftgate: rear window defogger, latch, wiper, license plate lights, rearview camera and the release button, if equipped. Be sure to photograph where each one goes.
6. Carefully pull the corrugated conduit with the harness out of the liftgate, and then out of the body. It has retainers and a rubber grommet, and the harness must be pulled out without jerking. Tie a cord to the harness if you need to pull it through the same path on the new liftgate.
7. Disconnect the rear washer hose from the nozzle or the T-fitting. Plug the end of the hose so the fluid does not leak out.
8. Remove the gas struts. They are attached to ball studs with spring clips. Pry the clip with a thin screwdriver and pull the strut off the ball stud. Support the liftgate with your hand or a helper.
9. Mark the position of the hinges on the liftgate with a marker or tape. This will make adjusting the gaps much easier.
10. With a helper holding the liftgate, remove the hinge fasteners (usually 12 mm head bolts, two per hinge) and take the liftgate off. The liftgate is noticeably heavy, especially with the glass, so do not hold it by yourself.
11. Lay the old liftgate on a soft pad. Transfer all attached components to the new liftgate according to the list: latch, handle with button, camera, lights, nozzle, weatherstrip, moldings, spoiler, wiper, strut ball studs, trim panels. Check that the glass and weatherstrip of your new liftgate fit.
12. Install the new liftgate on the hinges, threading the bolts in by hand. Do not tighten them fully yet. Install the gas struts so the liftgate is supported.
13. Route the harness back into place, connect all the connectors and reconnect the washer hose.
14. Reconnect the battery and check operation: rear window defogger, wiper, lights, latch, camera, washer, power liftgate (if equipped). Only after that, install the interior trim panels.
15. Adjust the liftgate position. Close it without slamming and check the gaps: they should be even all the way around, and the liftgate surface should be flush with the fenders and the roof. Adjust the position by loosening the hinge bolts and shifting the liftgate. Then tighten the hinge bolts. The hinge bolt torque is usually around 10-15 N·m (7-11 lb-ft), but verify the exact value in the manufacturer's specifications. Also adjust the position of the latch striker so the liftgate closes without effort and does not rattle.
16. Check that the weatherstrip seals tightly: with the liftgate closed, pull a strip of paper along the perimeter. The resistance should be even. It is best to check for leaks with a car wash or a hose.
17. Install the trim panels onto the clips. If you have a power liftgate, make sure it works without errors and, if necessary, perform an initialization (learning the end positions) with a scan tool. If the drive does not respond, this is a job for a repair shop with diagnostic equipment.

• The liftgate is heavy, with the glass and attached hardware, so it must be removed and installed by two people: dropping it will damage the liftgate, the hinges and the paint
• During replacement, do not crush the harness or pinch it in the opening
• If you have a power liftgate and are not sure about the position learning procedure, take it to a repair shop
• Any signs of impact on the body around the opening should be checked for body geometry, otherwise the new liftgate will not fit properly in the gap