hatch wont open unless.... help please

[johnshop]

so today i went to work after my z just being sitting for a couple of days, when i get to work i go to open the hatch and surprise surprise it wont open, my boss says "it's an old car, here look" so he grabs the hatch and sort of like pumps it? if that makes sense while i was inside pulling the little lever, and it opens. but it wont open if you don't play with it a little while someone else pulls the lever...

has anyone else here has had this problem? any idea on what could it be?

[bartZ32tt]

probably weak hydraulic hatch struts. easy fix.

[johnshop]

the black tubes on each side? but how does that prevent the hatch from opening besides manhandling it while another person has to pull the lever inside?

[bartZ32tt]

because when you pull the lever, there's not enough "umph" in the hydraulic struts to push the hatch open beyond the locking mechanism without physically doing it by hand. I could be wrong, but your description is kind of vague - could you describe in better detail what you mean by having to "manhandle" it open?

[johnshop]

like pushing it up and down? you know, by grabbing it by where you would normally grab it to open it and then another hand over, and then going up and down... is the best description i can think off? (english isn't my first language so, you know lol )

[itsa300zx]

If you don't hear the latch mechanism "pop" and unlock the hatch, when you pull the handle then it is probably up too high. The latch can be adjusted by removing the center interior panel. When you close the hatch, does it take alot of force to engage the latch/lock or does it latch/lock if you lower it slowly? If it is the latter then adjust the latch lower.
Hope that helps.
Also, can you open the hatch if someone holds the lever up??

[johnshop]

If you don't hear the latch mechanism "pop" and unlock the hatch, when you pull the handle then it is probably up too high. The latch can be adjusted by removing the center interior panel. When you close the hatch, does it take alot of force to engage the latch/lock or does it latch/lock if you lower it slowly? If it is the latter then adjust the latch lower.
Hope that helps.
Also, can you open the hatch if someone holds the lever up??

it closes no problem smoothly no need to be forced. i got some lubricant on the movable parts and that seemed to have helped.

[H1tman]

I can only open my hatch if someone holds the level up or if I use the the key, it really sucks if my car is on and I need to open it.