Decklid comes open wen driving after removal/replacement

[r-mm]

Had the holes on my decklid filled at a body shop. Looks great but the lid comes open while driving. Guessing I need to adjust the strike or pin - can someone whose done this give me a quick pep talk on it? Easier to do it myself than drive 15 miles to the body shop.

[msterling]

The latch pin might be out of adjustment and not really latching. It has a slot in the end of it so you can turn it with a flat blade screwdriver. Mine tends to drift out of adjustment over time. You can also adjust the rubber bumper things on either side of the lid by simply turning them to raise or lower. Play with with these until you get a good latch that is held snug and pops up a little when you pull the release handle.

Another possibility is the cable release. Might need adjustment and/or lube. My bet is on the first case.

[r-mm]

Thanks - that explains it. I just didn't know how the pin adjusted, thought it had something to to with the bolts holding it to the decklid.

[Reifle]

Depending how long the pin has been left alone and not moved/adjusted it could be seized. I dismantled the assembly and cleaned/lubed everything and it adjusts nicely now. Unfortunately the vibration is what loosens it. Now every so often I need to readjust it. Just one of those quirks with some older cars...

[r-mm]

Originally Posted by Reifle

Depending how long the pin has been left alone and not moved/adjusted it could be seized. I dismantled the assembly and cleaned/lubed everything and it adjusts nicely now. Unfortunately the vibration is what loosens it. Now every so often I need to readjust it. Just one of those quirks with some older cars...

Well I thought I had the problem solved by adjusting the rubber bumpers but the trunk is still not catching. I took a screwdriver to the pin and indeed it feels pretty snug. Don't want to strip it so I'll probably remove the pin assembly.

1. Is it just the two hex bolts holding the pin assembly in place?
2. Is there a danger of adjusting the pin too deeply into the strike so that the decklid doesn't release with the cable?

[msterling]

A little lube and that pin should loosen up. I adjusted mine until it held the lid down snug. I don't think it will get stuck closed unless your cable pull is not providing enough travel of the latch.

[bill's911]

I had loosening issue too so I put a lock nut on the bolt to cinch it down. Does not vibrate loose any more.

[Reifle]

Originally Posted by Reifle

Depending how long the pin has been left alone and not moved/adjusted it could be seized. I dismantled the assembly and cleaned/lubed everything and it adjusts nicely now. Unfortunately the vibration is what loosens it. Now every so often I need to readjust it. Just one of those quirks with some older cars...

All you want to do is disassemble it and lube the heck out it. Let sit and then turn the pin until you can move it. The whole process could only need a half turn and snug things down again and try it for awhile. It gave me a reason to go for a drive and work on the car...

[r-mm]

Guys,

I meant to update this thread while back as my decklid consistently comes open when driving. Bumpy roads seem to exacerbate the problem. Looking closer, the P/S fit is not very good. There is a visible lip where the deck is not flush with the fender. The D/S is perfect.

I believe I see there are some shims between the cap screws and decklid. On both sides these are in the same position. Seem to be two of them in between the forward bolt and none on the rearward.



I should have just taken it back to the bodyshop when I noticed the problem, but now I'd rather just fix it myself. Any tips on getting this gap set right?

[snbush67]

If you are able to remove the grill it helps because you can then make adjustments to the screws with the deck lid closed. Also it will keep you from getting the lid stuck closed.

Start at zero, screw your rubber stoppers all the way in, loosen the tension on the spring, tighten the mounting bolts just enough to hold it in place but not so much that you can't adjust.

Close the deck lid and look at the gaps, left, right, top bottom.

Adjust the top of the deck lid so that it sits flush and has even gaps with the body. Tighten the bolts. Washers will help as well to get a decent angle and gaps

Adjust the bottom rubber stoppers and the spring height, so that the bottom of the deck lid is even with the body.

To adjust side to side, note what side has a gap, this is usually the result of the hinges being slightly bent. Open the lid and grab the deck lid and twist to adjust the alignment of the hinges.

Lather, rinse, repeat until perfection is achieved.

[r-mm]

Following up on this, I realized the other day that the latch seems to be of the two phase variety, ie it latches once then again. On a well adjusted closure I presume this happens without noticing, when I close my decklid with a reasonably assertive push I am only getting one click. I need to come back and massage it with mini jackhammer motions to get the second latch. Does this suggest I actually want the male pin on the body to be longer, aka turn it counter clockwise?

Originally Posted by msterling

The latch pin might be out of adjustment and not really latching. It has a slot in the end of it so you can turn it with a flat blade screwdriver. Mine tends to drift out of adjustment over time. You can also adjust the rubber bumper things on either side of the lid by simply turning them to raise or lower. Play with with these until you get a good latch that is held snug and pops up a little when you pull the release handle.

Another possibility is the cable release. Might need adjustment and/or lube. My bet is on the first case.

[mrdieseldude]

r-mm, I too have the same exact problem you are describing. I didn't realize this until I replaced the gas strut for the deck lid a few weeks ago. Since I only have a driver's side mirror on the '74, this presents a safety hazzard as well as a general annoyance.

Anyway, I noticed that the latch pin mechanisim on the '74 is a VW part. On my '87, it is a Porshe part. I thought maybe the older car used VW parts in that year, but a loot at the PET manual suggests otherwise. Now, this is not a cheap part (at around $200.00), so I have been messing with some of the suggestions in this thread. By chance, is your latching pin a VW (which is stamped right on the part if it is), or is it the similar (but different) Porsche part?


Michael

[mrdieseldude]

r-mm, I too have the same exact problem you are describing. I didn't realize this until I replaced the gas strut for the deck lid a few weeks ago. Since I only have a driver's side mirror on the '74, this presents a safety hazzard as well as a general annoyance.

Anyway, I noticed that the latch pin mechanisim on the '74 is a VW part. On my '87, it is a Porshe part. I thought maybe the older car used VW parts in that year, but a loot at the PET manual suggests otherwise. Now, this is not a cheap part (at around $200.00), so I have been messing with some of the suggestions in this thread. By chance, is your latching pin a VW (which is stamped right on the part if it is), or is it the similar (but different) Porsche part?


Michael

[911pcars]

After you fuss with the latch pin, take a look at the receiving end. The mechanism centers the catch mid-stroke. That is, if the cable stop is adjusted correctly, the spring-loaded opening is at it's closest adjustment. Outside of this, the opening increases which means the latch pin is less secured.

Move the spring loaded latch by hand and observe the opening when moving it through its range. Adjust the cable accordingly.

Sherwood

[lsf911]

r-mm,

Yes, what you described suggests the pin should be longer. Extend it a bit (counter clockwise) and keep trying to latch it. Don't be afraid of making it too long, that will not cause the deck lid to get stuck it just won't be closed flush with the fenders.