jpr210

iTrader: (1)

Hello,

Tried removing the passenger rear tow bracket (hook) and was able to remove the two lower bolts. But the top most just spins. Tried to find the bolt head without luck, any ideas?

TIA

Jpr

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Did it start spinning with a small amount of effort or did you have to he-man it then it was spinning?

I don't know if that fastener has a nut on the other side is just a nut or a captive (welded on). You may have to pull back some of the trunk plastics and have a look on the inside.

Dale

jpr210

iTrader: (1)

came out half way and then it started spinning. I tried feeling the cavity on the side of the rear hatch but did not feel any nut for the bolt.

Jpr

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

That sucks. I don't know where the other side of that is, if it's inside or inside an internal frame rail somewhere.

If you can get to it it would probably be VERY deep in the back well of the hatch. You'd have to remove the power antenna to get down in there.

Dale

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

OK, I just went to the garage and looked at my car. That top fastener is screwed into a captive nut - the nut was welded to the inside of that body panel. The welds must have broken free.

It isn't going into the antenna well like I thought, it MAY go into the very back inside of the hatch. You would have to remove the panel around the latch for the hatch and get deep in there. Get a good flashlight.

Worst case you'd have to cut the bolt off and you'd have a broken nut flopping around the inside of the car somewhere, which would suck.

Dale

jpr210

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info Dale Ill let us know what I can figure out.

Jpr

gdub29e

iTrader: (16)

I had the same thing happen to me. Unfortunately you are unable to access that. It’s welded on the back of the panel. I moved in 1 inch from where the bolt comes out and cut a slot wide enough for an open end wrench to fit and two small cuts on the ends to create a C shape. Bent the center of the C cut to gain access. When finished ( I mounted a tow hook) I just hammered the bent tab back and seam sealed the panel. You can only tell if I was to point it out. Good luck, it’s a pain.