I've finally got around to fixing my hatch pulldown. My trunk hasn't been closed in probably over a year.

I got the instructions off of topdown solutions and I took apart the whole thing. The plastic housing was cracked in couple places and some of the guides were broken. I've got the new housing and guides ordered but I'm just wondering if theres a way to test the reversing switch and relay? I know the motor works and the gear nut seams to be ok.

Btw it's off an 86 firebird

 

If the assembly is in the car already, then your ready. Push down the switch at the latch. It should begin to plunge the assembly. Once it clicks at its down position, let go of the switch and the unit should come back up. If it comes back up, then it works. As for testing while out of the vehicle, then I dont know.

 

My latch has always been stuck in the down position. Ive tried pressing the switch while it was in the car and nothing happened. Would a broken housing / guides cause the problem?

 

while you push on the switch, does it atleast make a sound (the motor rotating)? If it doesnt make any noise, then go to the fuse panel under your driverside dashboard. If you have a volitmeter, use it. What you want to do is pull the fuse that is labeled "LID". I it burned? If not, ground the multimeter and touch each side of the female ends to see if you get any power. If nothing, insert the fuse back in and touch the contacts (on back side of fuse) to see if there is any power. If ther is power, then ground the multimeter at the trunk area. Use the multimeter by checking to see if there is any power at the main power lead that powers the pull down motor. If there is no power, then you have a break in the power wire somewhere in between the fuse block and the pull down motor. use the following picture to reference the pull down motor wire. I can tell you that it may be the switch right at the latch, the relay, but more than likely is going to be the reversing switch.
Here is the link for the pull down motor here in our very own thirdgen.org.... https://www.thirdgen.org/tech/hatchpulldown.pdf

Also here is a place to get a reversing switch. Hawks has tons of pull down motors and accesories. http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ha...omponents.aspx

 

I've checked all the fuses not too long ago but I havent checked if its getting power. I assumed it is since the light in the trunk works. I'll be checking what you said when I get the chance. I appreciate the help