Luckily there's only a chance of rain in the forcast for tomorrow My rear hatch is currently taped and chained down because the motor is not engaging. I checked the LID fuse, it's not blown. I took the rear panel off and the grounds all looked secure, but it would be worth double checking if there's one specifically that everyone has a problem with. I tried to clean off the little metal connections that I think are supposed to engage the motor (or are those just for the remote hatch-release switch?), but how exactly does the pull down motor work?

Just FYI, the courtesy light that indicates the hatch is OPEN was on, until it burnt out. the Rear Hatch switch on the center console DOES function properly (it releases the latch itself if I force it closed without the lid down).

The hatch motor had made a funny clicking noise and never closed the hatch absolutely completely (it didn't leak tho); I've only owned this car for 2 months.

How can I tell if my motor is stuck "down"? I've read on this board that there might be a "reset" button that will push the motor back up if it's stuck down.......On my '87 Camaro, I can just push the hatch down very hard and it will latch, the one I'm having a problem with right now is an '89.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've read through a bunch of old threads on this but none seem to draw any conclusions.

James

 

James,
Is your motor currently stuck in the down position? Mine's an '89 and had done so. (previously had worked fine, I don't know how it managed to get in the down position with the hatch up.) Anyhow I was trying everything to test the motor, and whilst probing around the switch (randomly, because I'd run out of ideas) I accidently pushed a small black switch which raised the motor.

 

Yes, push that tab that will make it come back.

 

Ok, I think that the pictures below show pretty clearly that the motor is stuck in the down position- but where is this magical tab you guys are talking about?

Here are two shots of the motor with the interior panel removed




Thanks guys..

James

 

If the top casing isn't off, take it off. Down inside there will be a type of lever that you can pushdown with your finger. You will hear and see the motor raise up. Happened to me several times.

 

For some dumb reason on this old computer I can't save the pic and circle it for ya. Basically on the overhead shot it's right in the middle. Sorry for the little bit of help.
On the second pic, right above the big shiney thing, that U shaped thing, right in the middle of it, is the black lever that you have to hit.

 

from a similar post

 

I stick my finger to the right of that arrow.

 

maybe it's because I live in the UK!

 

Thanks for the help with the little black tab/switch/level/button (as it's been called)... I found it... I had already tried that, but I must've blown the fuse sometime between the time I checked it and the time I tried the little black lever because it worked this time..

I did end up dismounting the entire motor housing... the little white plastic tracks that the motor slides on are broken on the passenger side and slightly off track on the other... I believe I've read that someone makes some of his own parts for these hatch motors..

anyone know off hand if that particular piece is one that he produces?

James

 

Damn, I guess I'm the dangerous one then, because I work the lever that's inside the center of the latch.