I'm just curious about something... My 92 Camaro RS had a feature that automatically finish lowering and securing the rear hatch when it was closed.

That way, I didn't ever have to slam it... Did all Camaros have that feature? If not, when did it start?

 

My 85 Z28 didn't have it. My 87 IROC does. So it started in 86 or 87. Both my 85 and 87 had power hatches

 

Standard on the '86. I think it was an option in 85, but don't remember for sure, and am not near my thirdgen resources to check right now.

 

The pull-down hatch assembly became standard for 86 model year. 86-91 (first design), then there was a 2nd design for 91-92. I just read some interesting history of why they developed the pull-down unit in Michael Lamm's book "Camaro The Third Generation" published in '87. Lon

 

I'm curious as to what the 85's had. My 85 Iroc has a switch in the center console for a power hatch of some type, but it never worked. What did it actually do? Lift up but not pull down? I assume the motor is dead, but I want to eventually fix this.

 

The center switch is the hatch release. Easy to pull the rear cover off and look.

 

Any idea on how many cars didn't come with the remote hatch opener? The person who first biught my car decidd they didn't need one
As for the power hatch, my firebird doesn't have it, and my brothers old 85(?) IROC didn't have it either. didn't even know cars other than cadillac had that.

 

The years prior to 86 had a manual latch assembly. The switch is for a solenoid actuated hatch release. You should find a solenoid mounted onto the manual latch. There is a single wire to energize it. The latch solenoid is powered through a relay mounted below the latch assy (at least it is there on the pull-down style). The switch on the center column requires a ground to actuate the relay. The ground comes from the neutral safety switch on automatic equipped cars or through the parking brake on manual equipped cars. This is to prevent the hatch from being opened while the car is in motion. If the engine is on the hatch won't work unless the gear selector being in P grounds it or N (Auto) or the parking brake pulled on (T5). However with the engine off the hatch release will work regardless of the gear selected or parking brake position. It isn't easy to convert to an electric pull-down style or vice-versa because the mounting pattern for the latch assembly is completely different for each. I plan to make a conversion kit consisting of an adaptor plate and the necessary hardware. I just haven't had a chance yet. In the meantime I suggest you get a Service Manual for your make, model and year car from HELM Inc. http://www.helminc.com/. Then you’ll have the wiring diagrams you need to diagnose the problem. You can start with the relay and checking for hot to the switch in the meantime. I only have manuals for my 88 & 90 and they don’t cover the manual latch version. Good luck, Lon.

 

Thank you, that was just the info I needed. So I guess its just a release, no pull down.

 

I'll e-mail you a picture of each to compare. I picked up a manual latch at the Pick-a-Part recently so I'll have the bolt pattern for when I make the adaptor plate (if that's even possible). There are 2 versions of manual latch, but their only difference is the presence or lack of a guide pin to help align the hook with the latch. If yours lacks the locating pin and you are having trouble with it aligning I suppose you could convert to that version. Lon

 

On the auto cars, if you put the parking brake on it will allow the hatch release to work as well, even if its in gear.