After school today I open the hatch to put my backpack in there and when I start to push it down the whole thing just collapses and slams into the little bumpers. Fortunately, the power hatch still works so I'm glad about that. Anyway I go to look at what the problem was and it turns out the drivers side strut bolt came out. I tried to just thread it back in but the bolt isn't big enough for the threads to catch. I can push the threads into the hole and pull it right out without any resistance. Do you think I could use a new bolt to solve the problem or is this fix going to be a lot harder? Also, how can I get the whole thing bolted back together? I was pushing and pushing on that hatch strut but it wouldn't budge. It was nowhere near where the one end has to be by to bolt together.

Mike

 

a simple fix would be to drill the hole out and use the largest screw that will fit into the strut. youll need one with machine threads so you can put a nut on the back.
my screw ripped out as well, but i epoxied the strut on. im still going to put a nut and bolt on it one day, just keep putting it off.

 

How can you put a nut on the other side? I don't see any way of reaching back there.

 

I think what stage20 meant was to drill it out, tap it with the biggest machine screw size you could fit into the hatch strut, then use the same size machine screw to attach the strut to the car, then you would not need a bolt. That is, if there is anything behind there to tap into. I don't know, I have never run into this before.

 

i dont think you could tap that metal... maybe its thin and cheap and most are rusted slap out, depending on the lifeof your car.
with the interior panel off, i think there is enough room in there to get a nut behind. i have not done this myself, but its something im going to do.
i might do it this weekend and report back. im getting ancy for a decent fix for this now....

 

I wonder if you can weld a nut in there with the same threads that your strut bolt is. I have replaced my hatch struts a couple of times. If you had to do replace your struts again, what would be the best way to fix it now and not have to worry about it again?