S212 power liftgate strut broken
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 85
Likes: 36
From: Birmingham, Alabama
'11 E350 4Matic Wagon
S212 power liftgate strut broken
Hi all, my '11 E350 wagon's power liftgate won't work. Can hear motor running, two gas shocks are both recently replaced OEM, latch and Keyless Go work fine, but the lateral strut in the roof feels broken (I can wiggle the shaft and it feels unattached) and there is no power function. I assume that part needs to replaced, headliner removed (partially), etc. Can't find this in the WIS or part number for the power strut. Any help would be appreciated: thanks!
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
I can't find a dedicated procedure in WIS for the lift motor unit, only a procedure that references removing it. Obviously removing the D-pillar trim and headliner would be minimum. The unit contains a clutch mechanism, which engages the motor with the lift rod. That might be the issue, but regardless its one unit.
Also search for: 204 820 30 42
Also search for: 204 820 30 42
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 85
Likes: 36
From: Birmingham, Alabama
'11 E350 4Matic Wagon
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 85
Likes: 36
From: Birmingham, Alabama
'11 E350 4Matic Wagon
I wonder how important the mounting tab is. https://www.ebay.com/itm/23358188554...4AAOSwuj1etKre
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 85
Likes: 36
From: Birmingham, Alabama
'11 E350 4Matic Wagon
I can't find a dedicated procedure in WIS for the lift motor unit, only a procedure that references removing it. Obviously removing the D-pillar trim and headliner would be minimum. The unit contains a clutch mechanism, which engages the motor with the lift rod. That might be the issue, but regardless its one unit.
Also search for: 204 820 30 42
Also search for: 204 820 30 42
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 85
Likes: 36
From: Birmingham, Alabama
'11 E350 4Matic Wagon
I wanted to thank everyone again for all the help. I finally got a chance today to work on this. I'll try a tl;dr...
-Took apart headliner and rear trim as in the docs above. My headliner doesn't fit quite right (it's pretty clear someone's been in there before), so that took a while.
-Unclip exterior cover above weatherstrip
-Loosen two big 1/2"/13mm bolts on the exterior
-Loosen 1/2"/13mm nut inside securing lift motor to chassis bracket.
-Remove its corresponding screw from bracket
-Lift motor is now free. Disconnect SAM module (I believe that's what it is) from lift motor, unclip connectors.
-*I used the old lift motor; simply unscrewed about 10 torx screws; lift rod socket had come off of ball (which is connected to pivoting part of the mechanism) and ball had come off of pivot! Hammered it all back together.
-*I thought liftgate was fully open when rod broke; it was not. The clutch locks the motor mechanism, so, to reconnect, it's necessary to power up the motor and extend the rod fully by using the interior rear hatch button. Then, you just reconnect the rod to exterior ball socket.
-reverse operation; I had to reposition the three 1/2" bolts/bracket just a bit (bracket to chassis bolt is also 1/2".
It was pretty straightforward; hope it keeps working: thanks again for the help!
-Took apart headliner and rear trim as in the docs above. My headliner doesn't fit quite right (it's pretty clear someone's been in there before), so that took a while.
-Unclip exterior cover above weatherstrip
-Loosen two big 1/2"/13mm bolts on the exterior
-Loosen 1/2"/13mm nut inside securing lift motor to chassis bracket.
-Remove its corresponding screw from bracket
-Lift motor is now free. Disconnect SAM module (I believe that's what it is) from lift motor, unclip connectors.
-*I used the old lift motor; simply unscrewed about 10 torx screws; lift rod socket had come off of ball (which is connected to pivoting part of the mechanism) and ball had come off of pivot! Hammered it all back together.
-*I thought liftgate was fully open when rod broke; it was not. The clutch locks the motor mechanism, so, to reconnect, it's necessary to power up the motor and extend the rod fully by using the interior rear hatch button. Then, you just reconnect the rod to exterior ball socket.
-reverse operation; I had to reposition the three 1/2" bolts/bracket just a bit (bracket to chassis bolt is also 1/2".
It was pretty straightforward; hope it keeps working: thanks again for the help!
