Hatch Problems

[anotherblack944]

On my 84, one side of the hatch keeps popping open whenever I go over railroad tracks or a stiff bump. Besides being real annoying the torque is causing the frame at the top to completely separate from the glass (I know it does that anyhow). Is there any adjustment possible on the latch side or do I need to replace the locking pin, which of course is rusted tight?

[Scott R]

My locking pins are threaded and can be adjusted up or down with a locking nut. I repleced my release motor a while back and had to adjust everything before it worked. But you may have a bad release unit on that side, they are individually replaceable.

[scottmandue]

My 1984 had that problem Intermittently, I think the car had been sitting for awhile and many things on the car were sticky when I got it. You may try spraying a little lubricant (WD-40 or like) into the holes that the pins fit into and work the mechanism with your key to loosen it up. I also sprayed the rusted pins and cleaned them up as best as I could.
Seems to be working okay now.

Good luck

[anotherblack944]

Thanks for the thoughts but, already tried that before when it wouldn't open with the release. The latches appear to work correctly. That was taken care of by replacing the shocks. In fact if I tug on the hatch it won't open, only with a hard bump. The whole thing went up on me going down the highway last week! This problem started after I replaced the rear seal late last year.

I know the pins adjust up and down but I was wondering if the latched themselves adjust laterally so that they grab more of the pin?

[ae1969]

try and adjust the pin so it goes in deeper. The latch is grabbing enough to hold it but not enough to lock it into place.

Once you have adjusted the pin so it locks properly, you may notice that the hatch squeeks as you go over bumps. At that point its too loose..... add a 1/4 turn to tighten and it should be just perfect.

Good luck

[thoen]

hi,
i just found this post and i have the same problem. where are the latches. are we talking about the two that are attached at the top? they seem difficult to reach. do i have to unbolt the latch with the four inside-of-the-car bolts to get to them?
thanks,
ernest

[SoCal Driver]

The pins are attached to the hatch. The latches are in the body of the car opposite the pins.

As the weather seal ages and shrinks or if you put a new one on, these units will need adjusting. Most likely just the length of the pin rather than the location of the latch in the body. Use a wax based door catch lube on them. Comes in a super size chapstick tube.

Should the latches need adjusting because the pin is not hitting them dead center, your hatch glass is coming out of the support frame at the top next to the hinges.

[thoen]

forgive my ignorance but i am new to this. the latches are attached to the car by the two sets of bolts that are hidden in the liner by a plastic rectangle thing?
can i get to the pins without unbolting the four bolts?
i wish i had a diagram but the latches are hard to reach on the hatch. thanks.

[many944s]

thoen,
As Socal explained. the pins are on the hatch. When you open the hatch they will hang down from above like fangs. Once you begin adjusting them, it is a trial and error of adjusting, closing, then checking firmness of the lid to the rear of the car body.

-Nick

[SoCal Driver]

Is your hatch stuck closed?

[thoen]

I got it. the latch is the part on the bottom that secures the hatch right?
I only have a great amount of squeeking. i just put in two bilsteins in the rear and now instead of the road, i hear squeeks from the hatch.
ernest

[SoCal Driver]

Here is a parts diagram that can be found here on Pelican.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/944/944_parts/944_83-85.htm

Yours may not have the motorized opener but everything else is much the same.

[thoen]

the pin that is not in enough or rusted is #14 and the adjusting screw is #15?
these are hard to get to?

[many944s]

Pin is #17, nut is #18 as seen here:


-Nick

P.S. please ignore the reflection of the NOS bottle in the photo.... It is a figment of your imagination...

[thoen]

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
ernest