Hatch Troubleshooting
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 40
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From: Kenmore NY
Car: 1986 Firebird S/E
Engine: 2.8L 173cid V6 MFI
Hatch Troubleshooting
Hi All -
Before someone hells at me for not searching, because there are several threads on pull-down related problems, let me first state that none of thee have helped me so far. While the article at TDS is really helpful if your motor is already *working* mine isn't working at all.
Let me also state that the common advice i.e. push down the switch in the back isn't working Either. I pushed the switch that swings horizontally. I pushed the button that moves vertically. I pushed both at the same time.The motor isn't doing anything, nor is it making any noises that would imply that it was trying to do anything.
What I'm looking for is steps to follow that can determine what needs to be replaced.
I know tht the hatch fuse is good, and I tested the incoming wires with a multimeter and it's definately carrying power.
How can I determine what is faulty? It could be a bad relay, a bad motor, a bad switch? Someone advised me to try running power directly to the motor, but what would that wiring look like? Do relays fail? If so, how could I tell if it was the relay that failed?
A bit of history on the car - I bought this car in November, and so I'm not sure of everything that has gone on with it. I do know it has had a lot of owners, and at one time had a poorly installed alarm system that caused an electrical fire in the car. The car has multiple electrical problems, and I'm not sure yet what the full extent of the damage is. Could the fire have damaged teh relay or motor?
At any rate, what would be a great resource on this site is steps to determine what's wrong with your hatch pulldown when the motor doesn't work at all, and you're not sure where the failure is.
I imagine it would be seomthing like this......
1) Check the fuse. If not, change th fuse. (Pass)
2( Determine if you have power at the relay. If not, you have a short in your body wiring. Change the wiring. (Pass)
3)Determine if you have a bad motor. (how??)
4) Determine if you have bad switches (How?)
5) Try a new relay?
6) Check for bad wiring between the switches/relay or relay->motor?
Please help....
Before someone hells at me for not searching, because there are several threads on pull-down related problems, let me first state that none of thee have helped me so far. While the article at TDS is really helpful if your motor is already *working* mine isn't working at all.
Let me also state that the common advice i.e. push down the switch in the back isn't working Either. I pushed the switch that swings horizontally. I pushed the button that moves vertically. I pushed both at the same time.The motor isn't doing anything, nor is it making any noises that would imply that it was trying to do anything.
What I'm looking for is steps to follow that can determine what needs to be replaced.
I know tht the hatch fuse is good, and I tested the incoming wires with a multimeter and it's definately carrying power.
How can I determine what is faulty? It could be a bad relay, a bad motor, a bad switch? Someone advised me to try running power directly to the motor, but what would that wiring look like? Do relays fail? If so, how could I tell if it was the relay that failed?
A bit of history on the car - I bought this car in November, and so I'm not sure of everything that has gone on with it. I do know it has had a lot of owners, and at one time had a poorly installed alarm system that caused an electrical fire in the car. The car has multiple electrical problems, and I'm not sure yet what the full extent of the damage is. Could the fire have damaged teh relay or motor?
At any rate, what would be a great resource on this site is steps to determine what's wrong with your hatch pulldown when the motor doesn't work at all, and you're not sure where the failure is.
I imagine it would be seomthing like this......
1) Check the fuse. If not, change th fuse. (Pass)
2( Determine if you have power at the relay. If not, you have a short in your body wiring. Change the wiring. (Pass)
3)Determine if you have a bad motor. (how??)
4) Determine if you have bad switches (How?)
5) Try a new relay?
6) Check for bad wiring between the switches/relay or relay->motor?
Please help....
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