I have an '89 IROC and the back hatch leaks near the roof when it rains. I usally keep it garaged, and don't drive on rainy days, but sometimes I get stuck.

It looks like the back hatch is missaligned since the gaps are not consistant across the top near the roof.

How best can I adjust it??


I took the plastic cover off from the inside roof a year ago, I saw the bolts, but it didn't look like it was adjustable.

Is that what I need to loosen and adjust?

Please Help!

 

I'd like to know this as well. My hatch has an 'overbite' and I was wondering which part needs to be adjusted, the hinges or the deck lid?

 

when you open the hatch look in the crack at the very top youll see 4 nuts in there thats where you adjust it at.
thats what im having to do to mine.

thomas

 

My brothers maro has an overbite also, but like chevy muscle said, it doesnt look like the are adjustable, there are no grooves to move it back and forth?

 

If you are going to adjust the hatch loosen where the hinge is mounted to the body not the glass,it may break that way.Also you'll have to unbolt the gas shock supports for the hatch glass too,makes it easier.Get somebody to help you with this too.

 

isnt it where its mounted to the glass where you adjust it at? i could be wrong but on my notchback thats the way it is.

 

See the problem,besides risk of breakage,is that there is a seal(gasket) plus some kind of caulking(around the holes in glass) where the bolts go through.When you loosen the bolts and the hinge moves around that will most likely break the caulking loose and will be no good.So then you will have to re-caulk that opening and at the same time later readjust the hatch,causing further headaches. This all just my theory/opinion but it's something to think about.

 

like i said i wasnt sure just going by how mine looked it doesnt have any caulking or seal around the big bolt thing that go through the top of the hatch on my notchback. just wanted to let you know that so there wasnt any hard feelings.

thomas

 

Changed the back hatch on mine before getting the car painted. The window glass has fairly large holes that allow adjustment when you loosen the bolts. Best to take the bolts clear out and clean everything up real good, light layer of RTV when replacing bolts, might paint the outer caps while off. The rear part of the hatch is a different story. The metal part seems to be glued as well as bolted to the glass. If the glass gap is even all around and the trailing edge is out of line, big problem.

 

My brothers seems to have the "trailing edge" problem. The glass seems to have correct clearance all the way around. Just seems to be the edge...

 

If the glass edge is off around the edges of the hatch then all you would need to do is adjust the hinge bolts to align it with the body. If the rear panel has the "overbite" from the rest of the hatch, and no water leaks in then you have to remove the metal part from the glass then reposition it so that it lines up with the rear of the car. Just depends on what is wrong with the hatch. I have not yet done the sencond one but will hopefully be doing it this summer to correct the overhang. I have attached a link for the tech article explaining how to do this procedure.

Hope this helps

Rear Hatch Alignment 101

 

Thanks for the link it looks very helpful!