Hello all,

I just replaced the hatch motor in my firebird, unfortunately it doesn't work perfectly. Granted this was a used motor so maybe some part is worn out, but I don't know which part it would be. The motor is in the exact spot as the original so i know it is not out of alignment, however the hatch is off to the right a bit. I don't know if this could acuse the problem I am about to describe... anyways on to the issue, the hatch will go down but then sometimes, not all the time, when I unlock the hatch the hatch will go up but the motor won't, it will just stay down and the only way to bring it up is to push the little toggle switch on the thing that grabs the hatch hook. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

anyone? I'd really like to fix it this weekend hopefully.

 

Top Down Solutions has quality parts for what you're looking for. Look it up in the searh as Top Down Solutions.

 

I would love to just buy a part, but i don't know which part i need.

 

Man I didn't even read your whole post the first time. I would check every wire, and make sure there is no intermittent shorts or disconnections happening. Then check that toggle and make sure everything is up to par with it in the same manner.

 

There aren't any shorts anywhere that i can see at least. I'm wondering if it is the reversing switch(I think that is what it's called) itself. Would this cause the problem I am having?

 

I just put the Top Down Solution kit in my 88. There is a clear gear that is in the middle that needs adjustment prior to installing (before removing the old one you have to count how many turns it takes until it comes out. When you reinstall it you have to go up the same number of turns). Yours is our of alignment. Since it is out of alignment it's not engaging the toggle switch fully or it is hitting it too much. Unassemble it and the clear gear needs to be adjusted either up or down 1-2 rotations. I had to adjust mine because it wasn't exact and when it would come up it would push the toggle to hard and actually unplug the reverse module. Sounds like what yours is doing.

Does this make sense?

 

I think so, I'll try and check it this weekend. But should it still be a problem being that this is a not a new hatch? it is used and I believe original from a trans am.

 

This is my attempt to show you w/ pictures. The clear gear threads into the clear cylinder of the pull down motor. I put a zip strip around the reverse module just in case. But the height of the gear will make a difference. Shouldn't make a difference if your pull down is used as long as the parts still work, which it sounds like it does.

 

Two things come to mind based on the symptoms you describe. First, if the pull-down motor is mounted a bit too low it can cause this symptom. Here's what can happen if that is the case. If it is mounted too low the motor can stall out before it has completed the down cycle. You must hear the CLICK of the reversing switch being tripped to end the down cycle. The motor only powers down ONLY while the striker-sensing switch is being pressed (that small switch you're having to press to re-start the motor). If the pull-down unit has stalled out before it comleted the down cycle and you later open the hatch by either key of hatch release button, it will unlock the hatch latch. At that point the pull-down unit should start the up cycle. However, if the down-cycle did not finish the unit won't start the up cycle. You need to re-set the pull-down unit. That is done by pressing on that striker-sensing switch to get the motor to finish the down cycle. Once it has finished the down cycle and tripped the reversing switch it will now start it's up cycle as it is supposed to. OK, that is the cause and solution to the first problem I suspect your pull-down unit could be having. Now for the solution IF that is indeed the cause. Mark the existing location. I know you wrote that you mounted the replacement in the same place as the original, but it could still be out of adjustment. Now undo the 3 13mm mounting bolts and move the pull-down unit up a bit and retighten the bolts. Now lower the hatch until it is close to latching and see if the hatch hook is centered on the latch. If not, loosen the mounting bolts and move the pull-down unit until it is properly centered and tighten the bolts. Now gently close the hatch and see if the unit powers down fully and you hear the CLICK. Keep adjusting the pull-down unit down until the hatch seal is sealed. That is all the further down you need to go. You don't want to hear the motor strain or change pitch (indicating it is slowing down).

The second problem could be a bad striker sensing switch. If the contacts in the switch are worn or corroded it could start acting up as you describe. As I mentioned before, the pull-down unit is supposed to atart its up-cycle once the reversing switch sensses that the striker-sensing switch has opened (hatch hook is no longer present becasue you opened the hatch by key or buton). If the contacts are bad it won't start the cycle. The striker-sensing switch includes all the wiring for the pull-down unit, so replacing it solves a lot of other problems such as wiring issues. I sell new striker-sensing switches, but order one soon as I am running finally out.

Lon Salgren

 

It works! i used Lon's suggestions to move the motor up and it worked perfectly! Thanks for the replies everyone!