Has anyone tried to use the manual rear hatch locking mechanism from a 4thgen to replace the motorized 3rdgen latch? Mine still works .....knock on wood... , but I wonder if it would work?

Any takers?

 

Has anyone tried this or am I going to have to be the 1st to finger it out?

 

Looks like you're going to have to finger it out Mike and when you do please share.

 

Why would you want to try to make the 4th gen one work when you can just use a non motorized thirdgen one? Seems to make more sense, or at least to me. They were on the earlier cars, I think 87ish it beacme a standard option.
Matt

 

I swapped out my power pull down for a Manual altch like the 82-85 3rd gens had.

I had to weld in the mounting bracket from the manual car, but other than that it is pretty straight forward.

 

Can the older style thirdgen non-motorized hatches be open with a trunk switch?

The 4th gen hatch can be opened by a switch.

 

Good question! That is the reason why I suggested the 4thgen latch. I wanted to wire it to my hatch popper switch.

 

yes the non powered third gens ones still pop with the switch. my buddies 84 has the non power one with the same switch between the window switches.
matt

 

Cool. Then it would probably be easier to use one out of an '84.

 

not all of the manual ones pop by a switch, the one in my 85 doesnt

 

Fourth gen one won't work either. Aside from mounting differences, the way the lock cylinder works is completely different.

Kevin D.

 

A car not originally equipped with a hatch release, can have one added.

All you need to do is add the solenoid to the latch assembly, the relay and switch.