Guys,

We fitted a new TDS hatch pull down unit tonight but
can't get it to work. I've tried the new relays and
the old ones. I've pulled the fuses under the
dashboard and still things aren't working.

The two wires that come from the loom to the motor
have no voltage when I connect the multimeter. The
courtesy light always won't come on. Are there any
other relays or fuses further forward that I should
check? Do you know where the loom wires come from?

Any advice you can give me as regards what to check
would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Dr G / Gordon

 

Sounds like you've checked everything except the wire. I'd try to follow it back & look for everything from heat damage to wire chaffing (years of vibration can cause the protective jacketing to wear off on metal edges & screw heads, etc...). Lastly- Consider the possibility of a wire puncture from someone not being careful during stereo component installation. A few years ago I had an installer run a screw into a chassis harness on one of my Vette's...

 

Thanks 400. I've been told by Lon at TDS that the fuse for the Firebird hatch pull down in not in the fuse panel but a separate unit beside it. I'll change that and then I'll trace the wire if there is still a problem.

 

I found the other fuse that Lon at TDS had directed me to, and found it to be the culprit. I replaced it and immediately had power and the hatch pull down mechanism worked perfectly and came down no problem.

When I then went to release it, it wouldn't pop. I cleaned and lubed everything and now it works after two or three attempts - I wonder if the solenoid is a little weak or if the unit just needs used again a few times to loosen up?

 

Yeah the power or fuse to the hatch is located next to the fuse box. I had the same problem. There is a black wire that goes into the solenoid in the back. Make sure its hooked up cuz i forgot one day and had trouble getting it opened.

 

Take a look at the alignment of the hatch hook to the latch. The hook should be centered in the latch. There is a lot of adjustment both side-to-side and vertically that you can adjust the pull-down unit.

It is important to mark the location of your old pull-down unit before you remove it from the car (which is why I mention it in my instructions). I know you got advice to move the pull-down unit up from another well intentioned person prior to calling me about your pull-down unit. Since you don't have the luxury of having the original location marked it's going to take a bit of adjustment trial and error now to get it right.

I suspect that the hatch hook isn't centered with the latch. That could cause the latch to bind and fail to release. Also take a look at the hatch alignment and make sure that it isn't being pulled to one side as it lowers. That would tell me that the hatch pull-down unit isn't vertically aligned properly, but is angled. This too will cause the latch to bind. Do you have a small level? You could park the car on a level surface, then put the level on the outside of the track vertically to check for vertical plumb.

I sprayed the latch assy with silicone and tested that it latched and released so it should be OK.

Lon