ok, i just bought a car yesterday, and the hatch wont lock at all... here's why...

The guy who had it before took the hatch assembly apart, and then jsut left everything hanging. I can't find a good picture of how everything goes back together, and I'm hoping somebody here can help me put this jigsaw puzzle back together.

I've labled some parts that I have no idea what they are, could you take a look and help me?

This is a 89 RS, no hatch release

1. this is PROBABLY the relay, but I can't find where it goes.. little help?

2. large flat elecrical connector, but nothing I see plugs into it. Is itthere for a hatch release (if I had one)

3. what in the world? I bunch of wires screwed down under a fender washer? that can't be GM original

4. large brass... something.... looks like a set of wings, don't know what it is

5. Some kind of round shield? no clue




thanks, if I can't some help I'm going to have to drive an hour in the rain tomorrow to go to a junkyard, in the rain, and take photos of a car there, which HOPEFULLY will be intact and hopefully I'll be able to even get the hatch open... hopefully.

If anybody can hook me up with instructions or photos, I would be so greatful

 

I think that's about it

 

thanks... I asked my wife yesterday when I bought the car if the brake lights were on, and she said yes.... she just admitted she may not have noticed if the third light was burning...

If anybody has any clues on #4 or #5, please let me know.

 

i think I know what #5 is.. It probably goes on the spare tire when it's held in place. notice the wing nut is right there with it

 

yeah, I was going to say that #5 is not part of the pull down assembly. I'm not sure what #4 is. Does it have a wire attached to it? If not, it might be the wing nut that holds down the spare tire and jack in place...

 

You are right on #5 - holds the spare - the wing nut is just above the arrow for #4.

 

thats right, I see.... (I don't have the spare in car anymore)

 

ok, i'll also need to figure out how the 3rd brake lights hook up. I see the part in the above picture, but I can't find what it plugs into

 

These pics should help. The pic I added shows a complete hatch harness for the early version. Don't quote me on anything; I'm going off of memory from at least a half a year ago.

EDIT: There are two red arrows in the modified version of your pic that show where:
*The pin inserts into the arm
*The module plugs into the harness. (Also shown in the pic I provided)

There is also an individual ground strap (16 inches) with the same connector on both ends as the one shown labeled “ground”. IIRC it grounds (connects) the part of the metal body (that moves or where the latch is located), to where the 8mm bolt attaches to the car.

The ground wires all have a common connector like the single one labeled “ground” in the pic I provided. IIRC, there's something like three ground straps that meet at the 8mm bolt. This bolt connects to the car body off to the left a little when looking down at an installed unit IIRC.

The ground bolt is more like an 8mm; and the bolt shown in your picture is instead one of three that attaches the unit (structurally) to the car. They are not involved in any electrical connections.

Sorry for the confusing comments, I didn't have a lot of time. lol

 

It plugs into the plastic panel/piece that covers that whole back section...Do you have that? The pull down assembly is not exposed, theres a big trim piece that goes on the back. On the top of the trim piece, there is a striker plate. Look on the bottom of your hatch when its up and you'll see a small plastic...flap with 2 metal tabs. That flap connects to the striker plate on the back trunk trim piece (when the hatch is closed) and the plug goes into the striker plate...

 

thanks a lot for taking that kind of time!

I'm still wondering what in the world #4 is, and where the other half of that 3rd brake light harness is....

I need to find out if the motor works... can it be hot wired to see if it will spin if given a charge? I know the gear is broken, and I think the housing is good, so I might get by with just the guides and the gear.

I'm still thinking of bolting the whole thing in place and have it function just like my 85... I guess they did this system to improve the integrity of the hatch sealing to the body...

 

Not sure if this will display or not, but:

Edit: The other half of the harness should be attached to the above.

 

yes, i have the big plastic piece, and the contact point with the striker plate
I'll look tomorrow morning


big help, thanks!

 

Try getting a better picture of #4.

I'm surprised you haven't seen this yet, but I went through some things on the motor. >>>Link
There's an image of the motor with the two contacts. I use a couple of wires with alligator clips to test it. It will jump when it starts up and you can reverse the polarity.


If the gear is broken one of the switches may have failed causing the motor to drive the gearing down until it ground it into powder. I just took one apart like that today but haven't checked the switches.

 

here's a slightly better pic of # 4

thanks for that other link,... i'll go read it now

 

I don't know what you have there, it looks like the inside of some kind of connector or something.

I'd be careful about those black wires being connected to ground also. I think some things like the hatch popper goes to a positive connection and if it was removed but the wire still went to the switch it would at best blow a fuse.

 

I drove an hour today in teh rain and cold to get to this car...

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pts/1522785057.html

I found the entire assembly in place,totally pristine! I don't know yet if it works or not, but I pulled off the entire unit, including wiriing harness and relay, and took pictures of it before I took it apart

I'll post some of the "intact" pictures later, just to make this thread complete

BTW, I paid $35 for the entire unit, including the hatch opening actuator, which the one I have one my car doesn't even have. I also grabbed the Fog lights and brackets, and the hatch popping switch.

My total costy for getting all of that? $71 including tax

I'm thrilled!!!!

 

Congratulations on the find!

 

#4 is a ground also.The gold end is normally screwed to the body. The "wings" that you see on it should be bent down and it fits into a rectangular hole on the rear body panal ,normally just to the lower drivers side of the assembly

 

yeah, I see exactly how it works now... I'm so glad I went to the junk yard today

 

here's a good shot of the unmolested car... at least until I stripped it bare hehe

 

Good idea! I never thought of taking a pic of it.

 

No clue on 4.
But 5 is for your spare tire to hold it in place.

 

4 is a ground i think