I didn't know what else to call it. I was flipping through a parts catalog yesterday, i think it was Year One....but i've been wrong before. Anyway, in their 82-92 camaro accessory parts was a deal called the "Hatch Helper" or something similar to that name. It was a device that hooked onto your hatch loop and extended down 2" and the bottom of it was supposed to be latched into your hatch lock. Basically what it does it extend your hatch lock loop deal 2" with the idea that, in the summer, when your cruisin with the windows down, you get some air flowing through the car and out the hatch (which would be open 2" as a result of this device).

This was the first time i've heard of anything like this, and i was wondering if any of you had one and knew how well they worked.

 

Be sure your license and registration are up to date. The Paramedics will find it handy after you've crashed from CO poisoning.

Seriously, if such a thing exists it should not be used while driving. I can see such an item being used when the car is parked to help keep the car from getting too hot due the the greenhouse effect of the hatch. I just hope they warn the user to remove it before driving.

Lon

 

excuse my ignorance and lack of sleep, but where and how does the carbon monoxide come into play?

 

The hatch sucks it in due to the vacuum formed at the rear of the car. I've had customers with a poor sealing rear hatch seal (due to an inoperable hatch pull-down unit stuck in the up position) complain of smelling the exhaust and getting headaches. Once the hatch was repaired problem was gone.

Lon

 

oooooooooooooooooooooh, that makes sense now. is there still a problem with vaccuum if the windows are down?

 

What you would need to do is run the pipes out the sides of the car, instead of out tthe back. They do that on wagons, so you won't suck up to much exhaust and kill your self. still even with them out the sides, you can pick of some smell.

Matt

 

Another spot that gets people. When the exhaust system leaks and the spare tire area has rusted out in the bottom. or really any rust holes in the back end. It will suck the exhaust through, around the plastic and in the cabin.

Matt

 

i have a dump under the car... and i dont have that prob...

athough i also have a convertible....... and no rust holes for it to leak inside.... *shrug*


how is the air diffrent in a vert then a coupe? in a vert(with a normal exhaust), the exhaust doesnt flow back in.. even though you can feel the air curl back by the rear seats.... (my hair usually gets messed up from behind.. thats teh only draft)

 

ok, it was The Paddock, not year one, and it was Ventmaster not hatch helper...but it does seem to be sold with the idea that it's tobe used on the highway as well as in the parking lot. It's paddock part number is VM3219CA

 

Ever notice the amout of dirt on the rear bumper even after just a few minutes of driving? Thats dirt from the ground, that made it 2-1/2 feet up to the bumper. same with the tailpipes. give it an opening and then you get a headache and a loooong nap.