A few months ago the automatic pull down on the hatch lid of my '86 Trans Am quit working. What is usually the problem with these things does the motor quick working? someone told me about a plastic gear that gets stripped. Obviosly I havent checked it out from the inside. The motors for these things are very hard to find I have checked ALL local parts stores & wrecking yards no one has them. Pontiac dealer only had the whole hatch assembly for over $400. dont want to do that. HELP

 

I'm sorry you are hving such a hard time with that damb hatch thingy.

Can you hear the motor run when you shut the hatch?

 

Mine on my 87 IROC was disconnected when I bought the car. Here a while back, I reconnected the wires. Everything seemed alright. It wasn't running or nothing. But when I went to shut the trunk, it still didn't do anything. I then shut the hatch fully and latch it manually, and then the motor started running. It didn't turn off either. I just unplugged the thing to later mess with it. Any ideas?

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1987 IROC,305 TPI Slush box G80,G92,143K+:Mint condition,K&N Filters, ADS Superchip, Stock Exhaust, Virgin Engine and transmission.

1968 SS Camaro, 350 built and shaved, Holley 750 Dual line double pumper, TH-400, 3.73's

Two other Thrid Gen Camaro's for parts ('84Z and '85Z TPI)

 

Here is a quick simple fix, that I have found to be a common problem. On the hatch motor, down inside the housing, there is a switch that raises and lowers the motor. When the motor is down it won't close the hatch, try hitting the switch and you will see and hear the motor raise. Now on my car the casing was already off so I could see down inside of it. Good luck.

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"Putting any amount of money into a RICE BURNER is like wiping your a$$ with a turd. "
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

In your case, since you hear the motor spinning, but it isn't doing anything, the gear nut is broken. It is available at the dealer for around $5 P/N 20160587. You will likely discover the motor housing is cracked where the screws mount it to the frame. Also available from dealer for around $30 P/N 20160581. Another thing you will discover is that the guides that the latch portion rides up and down on have broken into many pieces. GM never assigned a p/n for these and prefers to sell you the entire pull-down assy for around $400. I have them available for $12.50 plus s&h of $2.50. Good luck, Lon.


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90 RS Convertible
Owner: Top-Down Solutions
(626)369-0040

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