Rear Hatch/Tailgate removal
 

Hoping someone can shed some light for me.. I have been trawling google for days. Found some info in the service manual but not the key bit I need!
So I am removing my tailgate to do a respray. I have the roof lining down and the washer jet pipe off but I cannot see how to get the wiring out. looking in the service manual I need to disconnect the grommet/rubber sleeve from the tailgate and then I should be able to pull some wiring out to reveal a plug which I can disconnect? However when I pull the rubber sleeve back it reveals a plastic ring clipped into the tailgate that the wires pass through. I cannot for the life of me see how to get this out? There looks like a bit of a tab sticking out on the side I can see but not enough to press and release it? I don't just want to prise it out in case it breaks as that is what holds the rubber sleeve in place.
Do I need to remove some trim from the tailgate to reveal and access point I will be able to look through and release the clip?
Please help. it is the last bit stopping me masking up!

Thank you
Lee

No one?!

I removed mine(japanese spec)about a month ago also for respray. Removing the wiring was straight forward.

Here is is what I did:

First off, at least two persons are needed for the lifting part of this procedure , and a third person who could undo the bolts while the others are lifting make it even easier.
After removing all of the plastic trims on the hatch, unplug the connectors for the defroster and antenna that go on the glass. Remove 10mm bolts for grounding wires on l & r sides of hatch frame. Unplug white 4 pin connector on the L side of hatch frame. Pull out the rubber boots from the hatch frame that house these wires then pull the wires out of the frame. Pull of the hose for the rear washer nozzle located at the top center of hatch. At this point the only thing connecting the hatch to the car is the hinges and hatch struts(not sure of the correct name for these).

Bolts for the hatch hinges and bolts for the outer ends of the hatch struts can be loosed almost all the way out, but leave a few threads in to keep it from falling off. While hatch is fully open have two persons, one on each side, hold the hatch in place while another removes the bolts completely.

Installation is done in reverse order.

Hope this helps

Cheers for the feedback. I sussed it out today. I had it most of the way there. Just got stuck getting the plastic clips that hold the gaiter into the tailgate out. Could not see anyway to release them in the end I used a pry bar and wriggled it about until they popped out. Just need a second pair of hands to help with the lift now!

Glad you're getting through.