My deck lid keeps popping open

[gint]

Is there a common failure mode/part and repair?

If I adjust the rubber bump stops in the corners to even out the lid, it pops open on bumps. I can't make it out of the driveway without having to stop, get out and close it. Had to do that 5 times on the way to work today.

If I screw in (shorten) the bump stops, the deck lids sticks up on the left side and down on the right. If I gently push down on the left corner to even it out, the latch releases.

I'm going to take the spring pin assembly off and clean it up. Is there supposed to be bit of lateral adjustment in that thing? Right to left that is... I suppose it could be bent, but the quick look I had earlier didn't seem like it was.

[schumicat]

the "male" part of the latch on the lid adjusts with a big screwdriver. loosen the locknut first with large pliers. you need to find sweet spot where lid stays closed over bumps but still pops open when you pull the release.

[gint]

"Male" part. I get it. Thanks. I'll have a good luck at it when I take it off and clean it up.

[gint]

I expected more of a challenge. All fixed. At least it seems that way for now. I'll find out for sure tomorrow.

[tazzieman]

Look at the alignment of male & female parts from the back and the side. When that's OK it's just a matter of getting the male part the right length

[ClickClickBoom]

Lube, mine was doing the same thing until I douched it(reciever) with spray white lithium grease.
eric

[Jdub]

I will guess old gummy grease on latch slide and a lazy cable. Douse and scrub can do wonders. That's what I'd do before adjustment since that is something of a black art!

[Two Rivers]

It sounds like the male part is to short. Adjust it so you can close with a slight free play. The spring will keep the lid from bouncing around.

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by Two Rivers

It sounds like the male part is to short. Adjust it so you can close with a slight free play. The spring will keep the lid from bouncing around.

funny, thats what she said last night.......couldn't resist.

[Daves911L]

Could very well be that the cable stop for the lower (female) part is incorrectly adjusted as well. There is a correct way to set them up, involving a drift through that little hole next to the big one, so that the engaging latch has the proper relationship to the male part (please no jokes here!). The design is carefully intended so that if the cable breaks the latch automatically releases itself. The latched position winds up being in the middle of the full range of travel for the moving piece.

By the way, you do mean a 911 deck lid, and not a 914? Noticed the image next to your user name, and of course 914 engine lids are notorious for doing exactly as you described.

[Two Rivers]

Funny. After I reread it.:-}

Had the same problem once.

[gint]

Originally Posted by Daves911L

Could very well be that the cable stop for the lower (female) part is incorrectly adjusted as well. There is a correct way to set them up, involving a drift through that little hole next to the big one, so that the engaging latch has the proper relationship to the male part (please no jokes here!). The design is carefully intended so that if the cable breaks the latch automatically releases itself. The latched position winds up being in the middle of the full range of travel for the moving piece.

By the way, you do mean a 911 deck lid, and not a 914? Noticed the image next to your user name, and of course 914 engine lids are notorious for doing exactly as you described.

911 This isn't a problem on the road in a 914 because the deck lid doesn't pop up when the latch is released. If the latch doesn't work, the lid just lays there.

Thanks for the info all. I'll be doing a drive here shortly to test the adjustment I made last night.

[gint]

Originally Posted by Daves911L

Could very well be that the cable stop for the lower (female) part is incorrectly adjusted as well. There is a correct way to set them up, involving a drift through that little hole next to the big one, so that the engaging latch has the proper relationship to the male part (please no jokes here!). The design is carefully intended so that if the cable breaks the latch automatically releases itself. The latched position winds up being in the middle of the full range of travel for the moving piece.

By the way, you do mean a 911 deck lid, and not a 914? Noticed the image next to your user name, and of course 914 engine lids are notorious for doing exactly as you described.

Thanks, that was helpful.

My first attempt didn't work. Drove great for about 20 minutes and then started popping up once I got far enough away from home to make a real PITA.

Since then I've adjusted the latch/cable tension somewhat and also shortened the pin. It was too long, causing the deck lid to bounce up and down slightly when the bump stops were shortened, allowing travel. Now I have it adjusted so that the bump stops keep tension on the lid, the pin is shortened so that the spring can do its job, and the latch should be in the right position as nearly as I can approximate. Can anyone provide a scan of the procedure for adjusting the latch? All I have is a Haynes book that doesn't describe it in detail.

I'll go for another drive today and see how well all of that works out.

[mrehrer]

Originally Posted by gint

Thanks, that was helpful.

My first attempt didn't work. Drove great for about 20 minutes and then started popping up once I got far enough away from home to make a real PITA.

Since then I've adjusted the latch/cable tension somewhat and also shortened the pin. It was too long, causing the deck lid to bounce up and down slightly when the bump stops were shortened, allowing travel. Now I have it adjusted so that the bump stops keep tension on the lid, the pin is shortened so that the spring can do its job, and the latch should be in the right position as nearly as I can approximate. Can anyone provide a scan of the procedure for adjusting the latch? All I have is a Haynes book that doesn't describe it in detail.

I'll go for another drive today and see how well all of that works out.

I don't have a picture but I had this same problem at both ends and the same solution worked in both cases. The cable that moves the latch is fairly obvious and has a single screw for setting the length/tension. You can work the latch mechanism by hand near the set screw. As you do this you may see, as Dave mentioned, that there is a tiny hole that will align the stationary and mobile portion of the latch. I found a tiny torx wrench (could use a jewelers screw driver or the like) to temporary pass through this alignment hole while I adjusted the set screw and wire to more or less correspond to the smallest possible latch opening.

I could take some pictures later if that would help.

The deck lid latch opening is irritating. The bonnet latch opening is worrisome at speed even though there is a safety catch for that.

[mrehrer]

Railroad track crossings are good for testing

[gint]

Looks like I've fixed it! I'd still like to know the actual factory procedure for adjusting that latch.

[gint]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Except if it's an engine lid....

Except I said deck lid.

[Mitch Leland]

Sometimes it's not the male plunger that needs adjusting, it's the female latch that needs adjusting. In time the latch arm slides open because there's not enough tension on the cable set screw. You need to loosen the set screw, then push the arm "slightly" to the drivers side, hold it in that position, then re-tighten the set screw. At least on my "84" the latch is fail safe since the more the cable slips on the latch arm the less chance the lid will stay closed, i.e. R/R tracks and hard bumps...

[914/6]

Popping open is the rare check your oil level reminder option..

[gint]

I've checked oil on this thing over and over again. It doesn't ever change.