216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

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ashy90
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216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by ashy90 »

I've recently bought a 5 door 216 GTI. I have noticed that the tailgate sticks out above the roof on the drivers side. Looking at it from the rear of the car, it doesn't appear to be too mis-aligned. Has anyone else experienced this?
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RoverRevival
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by RoverRevival »

Pics? :blink
Paul_1978_yorks
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by Paul_1978_yorks »

My old 216 had a misaligned boot. I can’t imagine it was like that from new so I could only think it had been involved in a shunt at some point in its life before I bought it.
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2018 Volvo V40 Cross Country
Former:
214 SEi x4, 216 SLi, 216 Cabriolet, 416 GSi, 420 GSi Tourer, 25, 45, 75
Cromp85
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by Cromp85 »

From my recent experience it could be slightly bent hinges or a bit of distortion in the panel they mount onto.
The other week i started the task of geting my boot to fit flush and watertight.
After a gust of wind caught my open boot back in 2015, no matter what i adjusted i could not get it to sit right.
Upon investigation i found cracked spot welds around the strut mountings, and the upper edge of the aperture (Part the hinges fit on) was not angled as it should have been. After a good session of hammering i got it all back level and finished up with a few small welds along the seams and over the cracks on the spot welds.
The whole job was less work than it sounds, removing the hatch itself being the worst bit. Its now all sealed, painted and reassembled with new hinges. This has fixed my leaky and misaligned boot. :cool
My Rovers to date:
1995 Rover 216 Coupe in Nightfire red
1994 Rover 220GSI in Tahiti blue
2002 MG ZR 105 in Solar red
1995 214i in Nightfire red
ashy90
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by ashy90 »

I did try to upload a photo, but I had no luck with photobucket which is what I used to use.

I cant add a photo directly on to here can I?
JOHNDQ
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by JOHNDQ »

Use Flickr, copy and paste the BB code from the share option
214 Sprint track car
216 GTi track car
216 GTi DOHC
216 GTi Dunlop challenge race car
ashy90
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by ashy90 »

I think this should display the pictures
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220 GSi turbo
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by 220 GSi turbo »

A partially seized hinge will put the tailgate out of alignment and also cause flexing of the panel that the hinge is fixed to.
1995 220GSi Turbo: owned for 24 years
1994 216SLi
2000 25GTi

Daily: Honda Civic Type R GT

Previously: 216 Sprint (1988-91)216 Coupe(1993-95) 214SLi(1995-96) 420GSi Turbo L955UKV(1997-2004) 214SEi M884BMR(2004-11) 420GSi Tourer (2005-6) 214 SEi M103BCW(2011-12)
Kriss707
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Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof

Post by Kriss707 »

Speaking with my Panel Beating hat on, when you run out of adjustment and it still ain't right you call in Mr Bruteforce and bend it the way you want it to go, then try adjusting again. Repeat as necessary. If this method isn't possible you remove the offending panel and 'tease' with a block of wood and a hammer, if your gentle enough you may even get away with out breaking the paint.
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