I tackled the rear hatch problem that i had posted about a couple of days ago. I ended up taking out all the trim, but that wasn't too bad. After taking out the wiper motor i found the problem. The long pin in the handle mechanism had fallen out of it's carrier on one end and the other end was coming out of all the linkages. If you ask me it's kind of a bad design, mainly the end that rides in a C shaped carrier that seems to have only been taped in with some masking tape. i looked closely to see if something might have broken but everything look as original. when putting things back together instead of masking tape i used some duct tape.
Thanks for all the insight and help on this minor problem.

I spent half a day taking it apart, putting pads everywhere and making it quiet......and most of the last 2 years bird-dogging my wife to finally quit slamming it from the full open position........@#$%^&#@%!!!

Then I replaced both air struts. Cured the problem. Dunno why.

and cringe when someone does so. My wife was in the car when the glass exploded originally, so she is just as careful as I am!

I'm working on fixing the handle (same problem as you had) and have been trying to do it without taking the wiper motor out - what is the trick to getting the moter out without breaking the glass?
It looks like the wiper arm needs to be pried off but I have a vision og the whole window shattering if I pry on it.

Thanks
John

It was a friend slamming the hatch that broke the handle. ggrrrr!