I tried searching but did not find the answer, so maybe someone could lend me a hand.

After being in the garage for the winter I was excited to take my TA out for some summer cruising. As I went to close my rear hatch after taking the t-tops off, the motor wouldn't go back down. The switch still unlatches the hatch, and the hatch locks into place, but in the up position. I tried replacing the 15amp fuse that says lid and tried replacing the relay that is right next to the hatch motor. Also tried resetting the motor with the little black switch. I'm not sure what to try next, all the wires look good, it didn't look like any were broken. If anybody knows what might be the problem I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

 

I think there's a fuse near the hatch motor itself in the wiring-to get to it you have to pull the rear plastic panel off. Also if you take the panel off you have a better view of the plastic housing on the motor itself--they crack alot from slamming the hatch down.
Lonsal sells a fix for them.

 

Yes, I have the same problem, but I know that mine is a blown fuse. The problem with mine is that I have seemed to blown a fuse that powers the dome light, hatch release, door locks, and my neon lights I have put in........I just want to know which fuse that this could be by any chance... ???...Please help me figure this out ....

 

Follow the Tech Article I wrote on rebuilding the 1986-91 hatch pull-down units that is on this web site. Begin with verifying you have +12v at the red with white stripe wire. Then disassemble the unit following my instructions and test the motor by applying +/- 12v to the terminals that the reversing switch mounts to. If you have power to the unit and the motor tests good, but it won't go up or down, then the gear nut is stripped. The symptom of a bad gear nut is the motor continues to run, yet the unit won't raise of lower. You may find that the connector has been disconnected from the reversing switch or the red/white stripe wire supplying power to the unit is disconnected. This is a common band-aid fix. If power is good, motor good, gear nut good (you can't tell unless you clean it and inspect closely) then I'd suspect the striker-sensing switch. This is the small switch next to the latch. It contains all the wiring for the entire pull-down unit. Just pop a relay on it and you have the complete wiring.

And yes I manufacture or stock any parts you'll need to repair it.

Good luck,

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

There is a seperate hidden fuse for the hatch pull down. It is not in the fuse panel, or by the hatch pull down itself. It is behind the dash, taped to a wire loom on the drivers side. It is basically right behind where your fog light switch is. If you pull the under dash trim panel that is under the steering column, and look up you will see it. It is almost all the way to the drivers side inner fender, half way up behind where the fog light or head light switch would be.
I replaced my hatch pull down assembly 3 times before I found ou the real problem, this fuse!!!

 

I've heard rumor that the 1986 model year (the first year that got the power pull-down unit) has an external fuse that is external of the fuse block. I don't have a 1986 HELMS manual to confirm this.

Lon

 

It must be because this was in an 86 TA.