So when the day started my hatch didn't close.

Replaced the reversing switch and now it pulls down flush and clicks. perfect.

pop the hatch, motor raises the hatch, pauses, pulls it back down.

ive had the pull down assembly out of the car multiple times while diagnosing why it wouldn't pull down anymore. it would always at least open.

so of course somehow i must have done something now that the hatch pull down works again the latch isn't releasing.

my main concern is that i have no access to the hatch assembly now because i put the interior back together.

any ideas?

 

Mine does that......As soon as you pop the switch or turn the key......give it a second and lift up on the hatch before it pauses and comes back down and you should be able to catch it. I have to do it this way most of time.....why? I really haven't checked into it.

 

You need to narrow it down. From the switch on the console you should hear the relay click by the drivers kick panel. If that works you should hear the solenoid at the hatch motor energize. If that works check for binding at the latch that won't let it release. If you don't hear any relay or solenoid you have a voltage or wiring issue. Check for missing voltage or grounds at the switch, relay or solenoid...possibly bad fuse. Also remember the car has to be in park or neutral for automatics or parking brake up for manuals. Also, if I remember right, if your starter is removed or wired wrong it won't work...your ground completes the path thru this circuit.

 

It is releasing the hatch hook. That isn't your problem. The problem is that the latch is re-latching onto the hatch hook while the unit powers up. If that happens, once the pull-down unit reaches the top of the cycle it will IMMEDIATELY power down because it now senses that the latch is closed. So, the problem to solve is why is the hatch hook staying in the vicinity of the hatch pull-down after you've popped it. If you were to manually release it with a key, there would be no problem because you'd just lift the hatch once you released it with the key. 1) Are your hatch struts weak? If so replace them. 2) You may be able to adjust the pull-down unit up or down slightly by loosening the 3 13mm bolts attaching it to the body. By doing this, when I press the hatch release button mine will release, but not start the "up" cycle until I walk around and lift up the hatch. Those are your options, Option 1: get the hatch hook to lift far enough when you press the hatch release button that it will be clear of the latch assy as it travels up. Option 2: always release it just with a key. Option 3: adjust the pull-down unit so it will release, but won't start the up cycle.

Lon

 

Hmmm...the solenoid isn't working. I did it with the key. It raised, paused, went back down flush, and clicked. I did it again, tried to grab the hatch as it raised and it didn't release.

If the key is "popping" the hatch, it should release if I grab and pull up on it, because thats the same mechanism right? The key pops the hatch and releases the latch right? I'm wondering if its stuck or something, which would be my luck. Because if its just stuck, I'm pretty much SOL, since the interior is put back together and theres no way to get to it.

 

In your case it is unlatching enough to release the striker-sensing switch to start the "up" cycle of the pull-down unit. First thing to try is to turn the key to unlatch it. Then grab hold of the hatch and shake it to try and get it to release. If that doesn't work I have a suggestion, but it will involve cutting the hatch hook with a hack saw. The hatch hook won't cost much to replace.

Lon

 

Okay sounds good, but my initial suspicion, that the key both pops the hatch and releases the latch is correct? So the fact that the latch isn't releasing could be that I somehow installed my hatch assembly at just the wrong height that it shuts correctly but does't release.

Thanks lon. btw I bought the reversing switch/nylon guides from tds, top notch service as always