1. Disconnect the ground wire from the battery.
2. Open the inspection cover on the left side of the luggage compartment. Pull out and disconnect the tailgate wiring connectors. Tie a string to the wiring harness and pull it out through the hole in the top of the frame. Untie the twine, leaving it in place for later pulling the wiring harness into place.
3. Disconnect the rear window washer tube (if installed) (see photo).
4. Loosen the tailgate hinge bolts, but do not remove them yet.
5. Ask an assistant to support the tailgate. Disconnect the ball joints of the bead stop by pulling out their locking tabs. Remove stop (see photo). Remove hinge bolts. Remove tailgate.
6. Installation of a back board is made in reverse order. If necessary, adjust the buffers on the stop mounts and the tailgate latch rod so that the tailgate opens and closes well (see photo).