The Hatch pull down motor in my 91 T/A has recently started to malfunction. It cycles down then up without stopping at the down latched position. If I push down again the cycle repeats...

Does anyone know a fix to this issue? Everything is running, just not stopping?

Thanks in advance, cool site!

 

check the switch on the pull down assembly its a two position switch, the arm that pulls the hatch down has two tabs that stick out one at the top and one at the bottom when you open the hatch the arm moves up and the lower tab moves the switch arm up witch reverses polarity and and puts it in the down positon, when you close the hatch the reversed polarity causes the motor to move in reverse and pulls the arm down, as the arm comes down the upper tab on the arm moves the switch arm down reversing polarity again and prepares the motor to go up as soon as you open the hatch. i suggest you check the switch and arm and the tabs to see if they are operating correctly.

 

The hatch is going down and then back up? Does that not represent both directions, meaning the switch is working? Or, if one tab is not working correctly the cycle goes down/up at once???

 

how is the pull down motor bracket adjusted sometimes if the hatch doesnt go down far enough to activate the switch and lock the latch, when your hatch goes down rite before it goes back up. put you hands on the deck lid and push down not to hard though and see if it locks.

 

There's a round thing, with an arm on it - it's hard to describe. It rotates when the latch goes up, then rotates when it goes back down. It has a spring behind it - it's against the very rear of the unit. If it's popped out, or the spring has popped out, it may cause your issue. I wish I had a pic of it, it's maybe the size of a nickel (the round part) - it's hard to describe - look in there and you'll see it (or maybe not if it's popped off) - remove the rear plastic from the car and be careful if it did pop out it might be in the isulation of the rear plastic, or the spring might be stuck in there.

 

OK I've taken it all apart and it seems to be intact from what I can see...
When I trigger the motor with my finger (pushing on the top plastic arm trigger) the unit retracts downwards and continues until a metal tab flips the arm connected to the motor. This switches the motors direction and it immediately climbs back up to the top (open) position.

What tells it to stop? There must be a problem with that part of it? If I flick that motor switch down half way through a cycle it immediately goes back up as well.

The latch is working as the hatch is 'locked/pulled' until the cycle completes back to the top where it's released....

 

Check your fuse - I've never checked to see how exactly these things are wired, but when I yanked the 10A fuse for the latch mechanism once, it would do exactly as you described. It would operate when the switch was pressed indefinitely - up, down, up, down. Never stopping at either point. Also, it wouldn't go down automatically when latched.

 

Dont know if you got this fixed, but i had the exact same issue, and it turned out to be a faulty relay. Is post the part number but mine is worn off

 

There were two styles of pull-down unit used for the 1991 model year. To distinguish between the two, remove the hatch surround trim panel. Does the hatch pull-down unit have a metal frame (where it attaches to the car body with 3 13mm screws) or does it have a tan-colored plastic frame?

Lon

 

I just played with this again today. I found the trunk lid operated fine when I had fuse 11 out. It would sense the lid closure and the motor pulled down the lid stopping at the bottom. If I used the key to open trunk, the motor raised the lid. Now when I install fuse 11 when the lid is closed the motor raises the trunk lid? I go push it down again and the motor pulls down the lid but when it hits the bottom it cycles the lid back open. Down then up no stopping? This only happens when fuse 11 is installed. Any ideas? Is that the relay attached beside the pull down motor assembly? Fuse 11 has the hatch release switch in the description. I tried with the dashboard hatch switch disconnected, same behaviour.

Thanks in advance! Love this site!

 

I don't know why a dfuse issue would cause this behavior. Which of the two styles of 1991 pull-down unit do you have?

Lon

 

It is the later model, metal frame, with the newer style reversing switch.

 

OK, that helps. Is your hatch aligned properly or does the hatch stick out (towards the rear) further than the adjacent spoiler trim pieces? If it is not adjusted properly, then the hatch hook won't be pressing on the striker-sensing switch correctly.

Lon

 

alignment seems ok. I don't see any issues.

 

I'm beginning to lean towards a Hatch release issue? Like something is always triggering the hatch to release (open). As soon as I plug fuse 11 in, the hatch opens instantly without any input from me. I see from a wiring diagram that the hatch release relay is off this fuse. Could this be malfunctioning, making the hatch release continuously? Does anyone know where I can find the 'hatch release relay' in a 91 Firebird T/A? 5.0L Auto.

 

I just double checked today. My pull down unit has the Tan plastic frame. Sorry I posted bad info earlier.

If I pull the Hatch release relay under the dash (passenger side). The motor pulls the hatch down and stops. I can't open with switch in car anymore. If I go out and use the key, the motor pushes the hatch up. When the relay is connected, the hatch pulls down all the way, then immediately cycles up when the reversing switch is triggered. I just bought and replaced the Hatch Release relay last night. The new part acts same as old one.

Any thoughts?

 

Problem solved. I ended up taking the dash apart, tracing the wires from the release switch. I found a spot where wire was rubbing against frame of car (cutting the insulation), shorting the circuit. Taped up and good to go!

 

The hatch is going down and then back up?