I have an original hatch motor I just replaced the nylon guides to. I opened and closed the hatch a couple of times after the repair, and I noticed the hatch motor housing is VERY hot. No steam coming off, but you couldn't hold a finger on it for more than a second or so. Before checking the guides to make sure I shaved them down enough (which I'm sure I have...I spent all afternoon fine tuning them), I unplugged everything from the hatch motor and let it sit overnight. It was cool this morning. Without operating the mechanism, I crawled through the driver door into the hatch area and plugged everything back in. Within minutes it was very hot again. It works fine, but is this heat normal, or is the motor broken and burning itself up? Thanks!

 

No it's not, something's not right

 

Thanks for the quick reply. All I can think is that I may have gotten some WD-40 inside the motor's wiring plug connector when cleaning it, but it has since dried and wouldn't cause this anyway, would it? Just wondering before I buy a new motor from Top Down.

 

if its hot sounds like its not shutting off.

 

Hey any ideas on why a engine may be too hot? Because recently I just check out my fluids to make its full and found out its like piping hot!! Like the engine is the sun or sumthing. btw car is 85 camaro with new engine put in it. (V8)

 

retarded timing?

 

Have you checked the thermostat?

 

lol i cant even check that because my thermostat and oil dont work =S but i would like to kn what i need to do if it is too hot for the engine, and since i live in texas summer is only gonna get hotter which isnt good if my engine is hot the way it is. Help?

 

It may be a good idea to replace your thermostat anyway to make sure your engine doesn't get over 160 degrees. (I'm assuming you mean your dash gage is broken?) If your thermostat is broken the cooling system isn't kicking in at the right time. I haven't bought one in a while but they should be around $15? Cheap solution and even if this isn't the right fix at least you know this isn't the problem.

 

Yes I know i need to change the thermo, but its kinda common sense that you know something wrong like scorching hot engine. But according what you may be saying are you saying my cooling system isnt working properly?

 

I thought this thread was about a hatch motor getting hot, not an engine.

Either the hatch motor isnt shutting off as suggested, or maybe an internal short?

 

Nope, not normal. The guides are binding causing too much strain on the motor. Sand the guides until they fit your channels easily. Start with just two, inner or outer. Insert just two, slice the latch mechanism up and down by hand (without the motor attached) then remove them and sand where the dark spots or lines are. The dark areas indicate where they are making contact. Once you have that pair sliding easily remove them and work on the other pair of guides. Then install all four and repeat. The latch assy must slide easily in the channels.

Lon

 

I just had this same problem, yesterday. I was fine tuning my amp and smelled what I call an electrical burn smell. I thought some wires from the amp or capacitor came loose while moving around box and were touching. Come to find out it was my hatch motor was scorching hot. Not sure why, haven't had any problems with hatch motor recently. I unplugged the battery for now until I can figure it out. Any suggestions?