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216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:23 am
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?
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:08 am
by RoverRevival
Pics?
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:57 am
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.
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:33 am
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.
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:20 pm
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?
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:27 pm
by JOHNDQ
Use Flickr, copy and paste the BB code from the share option
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:16 pm
by ashy90
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:24 pm
by ashy90
I think this should display the pictures
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 5:45 pm
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.
Re: 216gti tailgate misaligned/higher than roof
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 6:43 pm
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.