Trunk Lid

• A trunk lid is different from the car trunk as it’s the “door” that keeps debris from getting in and your stuff from flying out.
• Your trunk lid not closing, it having dents, or being deteriorated are signs that you might need a replacement trunk lid. However, minor damages may usually be addressed by a repair rather than a replacement.
• There are two types of trunk lid replacement, OE replacement parts, and OEM parts. Both may be of the same reliability and quality, however, the latter is more expensive and less available.
• Whether you purchase an OE replacement or OEM trunk lid, what matters most is that it fits your car. CarParts.com has search filters that can help you have search results tailor-fit to your needs. Just input your car’s model year and make onto the dedicated filters and the website will do all the other work for you.

When someone talks about the trunk of a car, they usually pertain to the lid that covers the trunk itself. However, the car trunk itself is the actual empty space located either at the front or at the back of your vehicle. The trunk lid is what covers this space, protecting its contents from both the elements and other debris.

There may be various reasons why you may need a trunk lid replacement. Some are obvious while others are a little less obvious that you may be able to put up with them. However, in order to help you figure out whether or not you should get one, listed below are some of the symptoms of a bad trunk lid:

Dents or bumps - Regardless of whether your trunk lid is located at the front or at the back of your car, it’s still an external part. It’s precisely because of this that your trunk lid is more prone to damage from accidental bumps and impacts. When the damage is too bad, you will have to look for a replacement trunk lid.

Trunk lid won’t close

In connection to the reason listed above, if your car trunk has recently been damaged to a point where it won’t close anymore (even if there is nothing inside of it), it might be high time to purchase a trunk lid replacement.

You can see holes or other signs of deterioration

Another thing that could lay waste to your car is deterioration through natural causes. Iron oxidizes, causing rust. When iron rusts, it gets brittle and frail, ultimately resulting in a damaged trunk lid. When this happens, your trunk lid’s functionality is compromised, rendering it useless.

Scratches and other minor damages aren’t listed here because it might be cheaper and more efficient for you to go to a repair mechanic and have the part repaired instead of replaced. You can have it either repainted, remodeled, or restored. Your car trunk or trunk lid might only be in need of a little tender loving care instead of a huge overhaul.

If and when you decide that the damage to your trunk lid is enough to purchase a replacement and you’ve come to look for one, you may stumble upon two very similar acronyms. These are OE replacement parts and OEM parts.

OE replacement parts

Original Equipment (OE) replacement parts are parts made by third-party manufacturers that aren’t officially linked to the carmaker. For example, this is what you call car parts made by a company other than Ford for a Ford Fiesta. This is because Ford is the only official manufacturer for its automobiles. Despite this, however, OE replacement parts can also have the same quality and value for money their counterparts have.

If you’re looking for a trunk lid replacement made out of a special material like carbon fiber, then an OE replacement trunk lid might be for you. Customized products are mostly OE replacement parts due to the fact that official manufacturers only make stock products for their dedicated model lines.

OEM parts

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, on the other hand, are made either by the carmaker itself, or third-party manufacturers that are recognized and officially dealt with by the carmaker. It’s because of this that OEM parts are more commonly known as stock parts.

Compared to OE replacement parts, OEM parts are usually more rigid when it comes to design. You might notice a tweak here or there, however, if you’re looking for a major overhaul on your car’s overall design, an OEM might not be for you. However, if you love how your car looks with stock parts, then, by all means, purchase OEM parts.

When it comes to price and availability, OE replacement parts are more affordable while being more easily available. OEM parts are what they use if you have your car repaired in-store and their availability is almost always limited, resulting in longer repair periods and the like. So if you’re in a pinch and need your car almost immediately, an OE replacement part might be the better choice for you.

Regarding quality and reliability, both may be equal. You as the purchaser have to be wary about the brand you’re purchasing when you choose OE replacement parts. This is because some brands sacrifice quality for the chance to undercut other competitors. If you’re purchasing at CarParts.com, this would be no problem for you as the only brands listed are those proven and trusted by the public.

Whether you go for an OE replacement trunk lid or an OEM one, you have to purchase a part that fits. It’s not enough that you search for a Honda Civic trunk lid, you have to consider the year, and the exact variant. Not to worry though, CarParts.com has dedicated search filters located below the search bar where you can input your car’s model year and make, ensuring that the search results that come up are tailor-fit to your needs.

As the name implies, the trunk lid covers the trunk of your car, protecting the items stored inside from dirt, harsh weather and the sticky fingers of thieves. If you're reading this, your trunk lid is either broken or ugly enough to warrant a replacement so keep reading on.

Before everything else, make sure that the trunk lid you'll be getting will fit into the back of your car. Fortunately, almost all trunk lids being sold today are always made for a specific vehicle make and model. Be sure that you know the model of your car and the year it was produced so you can find the appropriate trunk lid.

Some trunk lids give buyers a certain amount of allowance in how they can be installed to better fit their vehicles. You should look into these trunk lids if you're unsure about the lid's fit or if your vehicle's trunk was remodeled or was warped because of an accident.

Nothing says that you've got the money more than having carbon fiber components in your car. They were considered futuristic as they first rolled of the labs back in the day. They were extremely tough and very light, the best of both worlds for every automobile manufacturer. Prices were through the roof back then but have since dropped down to a respectable level, respectably expensive that is.

If you have the cash and want to brag about it to the whole world, then a carbon fiber trunk lid should be in the top of your list.

If you're the more adventurous type, there are trunk lids with additional features built into them like spoilers and wings. There is some debate whether they could really improve the performance of your vehicle but they are, without a doubt, really good to look at. Just like the carbon fiber lid, if you're more into style, then you should consider getting one of these.

Trunk lids don't come cheap. The most basic trunk lids could set you back a little more than $100 and can get as high as $400 depending on the type of vehicle you're getting the trunk lid for. Toss in the carbon fiber material with the other bells and whistles and you could be spending anywhere from $700 to around $1000.

If you particularly love to slam your trunk lid shut in a fit of rage from time to time, you may soon notice the trunk lid refusing to close properly. This is because the lid is now misaligned, a phenomenon experienced by plenty of trunk lids after years of use and abuse. The process of realigning the lid a simple on paper but it would be best if you had a partner around to help you out.

• Trunk lid
• Wrench
• Socket
• Ratchet

Step 1: Park the car in a cool, shady but adequately illuminated area.

Step 2: Open the trunk lid and push it halfway out.

Step 3: Loosen the bolts on the trunk lids supporting arms while your assistant supports the lid. This will give you clearance to manipulate the trunk lid.

Step 4: Lower the trunk lid but don't close it on the latch.

Step 5: Measure the seams to the left and to the right of the trunk lid. If the measurements are not the same, adjust accordingly until they are.

Step 6: Measure the gaps on each side in the front and in the back of the trunk lid. Adjust accordingly until the measurements of the gaps are the same.

Step 7: Enter the trunk from inside the car by folding the seats in the rear. Make sure your assistant is still supporting the lid since any movement can misalign it.

Step 8: Tighten all the bolts little by little, one after the other. Do this by tightening one bolt a little on one side of the car before doing the same to its corresponding bolt on the other side. Tighten another bolt on one side of the car little and tighten its corresponding bolt on the other side as well. Repeat the whole process until all the bolts are tight.

Step 9: Shut the lid of the car to see if it's aligned.

When tightening the bolts on your trunk lid, be sure to have your assistant alert you whenever the trunk lid is misaligned. Either have your assistant adjust the lid or adjust the way you tighten the bolts of the lid to compensate for the misalignment.