removing engine hinge springs

help how do you remove the rods that keep the engine lid up? :banghead:

come on guys someone must have had to replace rear deck lid springs? a dozen of you have read this and none of you have had to replace them.

ok now 2 dozen and no one has changed hinge rods?

LOL I did it the "hard" way. :screwy:

I was working on my Fiero, trying to get to the motor so I could lift it a tad and hold it up while I drop the tranny out from underneath. I let the decklid all the way up, removed the security screws that hold in the tortion rods into the decklid, and they popped all the way up against the lid. I then removed the hinge nuts on the actual hinges, pulled them off the brackets, and lifted the decklid straight up with the tortion rods pressing against it the whole time, slowly so when they came off they just didnt go right thru the rear windshield.

I had a 4-cy at one time that I tied those springs down and took off the decklid, and they broke the straps and went thru the back windshield. :nono: :grinno:

Anywho, once the decklid is off, you'll have to take out the retaining pins, theres one on each of the hinge assemblies...from there they should be loose and moveable, and will simply be able to be worked to the point where they slide out of the brackets.

That should do it...see if it works. If your windshield becomes a victim, its not my fault!! LOL Feel free to email or IM me with questions, [email protected] .

Bill Stecker, DJ BLADE
Aurora Automotive

______________
1977 BMW 320i FOR SALE
1982 Chrysler LeBaron Convertable Prototype
1984 Chrysler LeBaron 2.6SE
1986 Pontiac Fiero SE/GT V6 (NEED A TRANNY!!!)
1986 Plymouth Voyager
1989 Lincoln Town Car
1989 GMC Suburban SLE 1GKGR26N4KF509600
1990 Dodge Grand Caravan :loser:
1996 Saab Turbo(Oops, U think u can beat me? Such a schmuck!! :evillol: )

A friend of mine almost bled to death when a screwdriver went through an artery in his arm when he was trying to remove one of thes things.
Be careful!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've done it a long time ago and it's not an easy 1 person job. I think they were installed in the factory before the rear body sail panel went on. The roof wings get in the way when you try and pull them out to the side. It is possible though...

Take the trunklid off first.
If I remember correctly I used a long pry bar to unload the spring off of the adjuster pin. The pin for the right side spring is on the left and vice-versa.
Put a large screwdriver (securely) in the hole for the lowest tension setting and pry the spring down - remove the pin with something long. Don't get your fingers in there in case something slips. Let the spring come up to the screwdriver. If the pin is already in the lowest setting you should be able to do it in one shot without the screwdriver. You'll have to do this in steps or the pry bar will just get jammed in the spring.
Once that tension is off of both sides the contortionist act begins of worming these things out of there - and then the new ones back in. I'd suggest changing one at a time and check to see which one is over and under the other. - unless you just want to get rid of them and install gas struts...

I'm working off of a ten year old memory of this so it will have to be taken as a suggestion only...