Hatch doesn't "pop" open.

[BenKenobi]

Up until today (fixed the lock in the back), I've had to wedge something under my hatch release since the rod connecting the latch to the lock was broken.

When I got the car, I was hoping replacing the gas lifts would solve the problem, but it didn't.

It's not really an important thing now that I've got the key working (can turn the key and pull the hatch open now), but it'd be nice if it would "just work" yanno?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[nitsujvg]

i've got the same problem.. used to "pop" till i replaced the lifts..

do you think it has something to do with the lifts not being bolted in perfectly?

[BenKenobi]

Hm... or defective lifts?

It seems like the lifts want you to do roughly first 5 inches of work before they will take over. I'm hoping that's not the problem since I bought them over 6 months ago, so probably no warranty on them. "MONROE Part # 901112 {Max-Lift Gas Hatch Lift Support}" is what I bought from Rock Auto.

I guess I'll check the installation again. There wasn't much to it though. The ball screws into the lid and the lift pops on and locks into place. The other end just bolts onto the car.

[BenKenobi]

In case anyone else searches and finds this thread:

Problem Solved... and completely by accident!

I took apart the latch Sunday to reinstall the rod that goes from the latch to the lock and had reinstalled the latch. I noticed it could slide up/down, but put it back where the wear marks were (towards the top of its range of motion).

Today before going to my night job, I opened it up and checked the installation on the lifts... Every thing looked fine. So I close the hatch and I'm about to head out when I pushed down on the hatch and noticed it had a lot of play in it. That was the lightbulb moment. I opened it back up, loosened the latch and moved it all the way down. Closed the hatch, turned the key and *POP!*

[Wc240]

glad you figured it out. was just gonna post about the latch adjustment

[BenKenobi]

I guess a good question would be... Should it be adjusted all the way down or just enough to make it perform correctly?

I'm thinking 100% down will cause the latch to wear out prematurely (since all that extra and possibly unnecessary pressure is constantly pulling up on it) ... Any thoughts?

ETA: I hope nitsujvg comes back to this thread and tries this fix. It'd be nice to finally solve someone else's car problem instead of it being ME who needs the fix

[Wc240]

i wouldnt put it all the way down. plus if you look at your hatch the door will be farther down then your fenders

[james-dean85]

I'm having the same trouble. I'll have to check the play in the latch. Thanks for information.

Paul