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https://autopapyrus.com/guides/izh/izh-2126-oda/liftgate-removal-installation-and-adjustment/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

IZH-2126 Oda (1st generation): Liftgate Removal, Installation and Adjustment

The liftgate on the Oda (hatchback) hangs on two hinges at the top of the opening and is held up by two gas struts. The liftgate position is adjusted through the slotted hinge mounting holes and an adjustable latch. A precise step-by-step procedure for this model is not documented in publicly available service materials, so what follows is the general principle for a liftgate of this type. Check tightening torques against the manufacturer's specifications.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 1-1.5 hours Steps: 14

Parts

5
№Part
01 Tailgate opening weatherstripif worn
02 Tailgate gas strutspair, if worn
03 Tailgate hingesif worn
04 Tailgate stopif worn
05 Tailgate latchif worn

Tools

8
  • socket and wrench set (10 mm, 13 mm)
  • flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers
  • marker or pencil
  • shop rags
  • helper
  • stand or prop to support the liftgate
  • masking tape
  • thin flat-head screwdriver for trim clips

Step by step

14 steps
  1. Park the vehicle on level ground, turn off the engine and disconnect the negative battery terminal. Open the liftgate fully.
  2. Remove the liftgate trim panel. Pry out the clips with a thin screwdriver and remove the mounting screws. You need the panel off to reach the wiring harness and fasteners.
  3. Disconnect the connectors for the rear window defogger and the rear wiper motor, if equipped. Disconnect the license plate light wires if they run through the liftgate. Note their routing and label the harness with tape. Carefully pull the harness out of the conduit in the body pillar.
  4. If the vehicle has a rear washer, remove the hose from the nozzle or from the tube in the opening. The hose may drip, so place a rag underneath.
  5. Trace the outlines of the hinges on the liftgate (or on the body) with a marker or pencil. You will use these marks to restore the original position during installation.
  6. Have a helper hold the liftgate in the raised position. Remove the gas struts: press back the spring clips or retainers on the ball studs and pull the struts off the balls. The struts are pressurized, so do not disassemble or heat them.
  7. While the helper holds the liftgate, remove the bolts or nuts that secure the hinges to the liftgate (or to the body, whichever is easier). Lift the liftgate off with two people and lay it on a soft pad with the inner side facing up.
  8. Installation is the reverse of removal. Start the hinge bolts by hand, aligning them with your marks, but do not fully tighten them yet. Install the gas struts and reconnect the harness, the washer hose and the connectors.
  9. Before tightening the fasteners, check the liftgate position. The gaps between the liftgate and the opening should be even all the way around. The rear window and the roof should form one line, and the liftgate should neither stick out nor sit low. To check, close the liftgate without force.
  10. Height and fore-aft adjustment. Loosen the hinge fasteners and shift the liftgate within the slotted holes. A shim between the hinge and the body (if fitted) can be used to correct how far the liftgate sits proud of the roof.
  11. Latch adjustment. Loosen the mounting of the latch striker (the bracket or catch) on the body and move it. The liftgate should close without slamming and without excessive force, compressing the weatherstrip evenly. There should be no rattling or play when it is closed.
  12. Tighten the hinge and latch fasteners. This is not an invented figure: for M6-M8 bolts the torque is typically in the range of 8-25 N·m (6-18 lb-ft). Confirm the exact value in the manufacturer's specifications for your vehicle.
  13. Check the seal. Place a strip of paper between the weatherstrip and the body at several points, close the liftgate and pull on the paper. It should hold with slight resistance all the way around. If the paper slides out easily, readjust the latch or hinges.
  14. Reinstall the trim panel, reconnect the battery terminal and check the rear defogger, wiper, washer, license plate light and latch operation.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • The liftgate is heavy, especially with the glass installed
  • Remove and install it with two people only, or you may break the glass or damage the paint
  • The gas struts are pressurized: do not puncture or heat them, and never leave the liftgate unsupported once the struts are removed
  • If the hinge mounting areas on the body are corroded or torn out, the repair must be done at a body shop, because simple adjustment will not fix it