Rep Power: 0

A week or two ago I was lifting the hatchback door in my Civic. I heard a blasting noise from the right side, where the door lift is, and I smelled a foul odor. Since then, the door has had no lift at all—if I want it up, I have to hold it up, and when I let go, it slams shut.

At any rate, how much is it generally, to replace those things—I’m talking about having a mechanic replace the door lift, unless it is SUPER easy (in which case, I’d be willing to take a crack at it, but only if it could easily be done, with basic tools).

 
Rep Power: 222

pretty easy to swap out, there's a metal clip you pop up with a small flathead screwdriver, and then the bottom end will pop off,or you can remove the bottom bracket with a bolt. The top is just a bolt i think, or it will be similar to the bottom. The canadian honda part website I sometimes use lists them for around $200 each.
Rockauto has them for $8 to $23

 
Rep Power: 0

I found one at the Napa site: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_8195681

The site says that it fits my civic.

That seems cheap enough.

Is Balkamp a reputable parts supplier? I suppose I can call my local Honda dealer and ask for a price on the OEM version.

Would there be any reason to go OEM here?

 
Rep Power: 222

if the picture is accurate then it looks like its bolts on both ends, that will make it super easy. I'm sure they'll be fine, if it lasts a couple years you're laughing. I wouldn't bother paying multiple times more for the oem ones, certain things you buy oem, I wouldn't for these.

 
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Sounds like a good deal then.

For what it's worth, scrolling down that page, the site says that the manufacturer is AVM. Not sure who that is, if this makes a difference.

 
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certain things you want to go oem on...parts that start the car...parts that keep the car running...things that stop the car....everything else...aftermarket

 
Rep Power: 0

Wait--I just realized that there is also a unit on the drivers side as well.

Can I ignore this--does this one also keep the hatchback lifted up? Or would I have to replace that one, as well? I am 100% sure that the sound I heard came from the passenger side, which is why I never bothered to look at the drivers side of the hatchback. So I am assuming that the passenger side lift was actually doing all the work, while the drivers side was simply acting as a hinge, of sorts, to ease teh movement up and down.

 
Rep Power: 222

you should do both, otherwise it may try to twist as you lift because there's only one good one