1984 944 Odometer and back hatch

[scafidi130]

New around here and to the porsche world. I got a 1984 944 and the back hatch wont seem to open. Key goes in and turns but back hatch wont come up. Also the odometer clicker out. I was wondering the easiest way to get back there and see whats up. Thanks

[v2rocket_aka944]

give the hatch lots of bangs and wiggles with your hands as you turn the key - the latches often get stuck or misaligned.

worst case you climb into the back of the car from the inside with a 10mm wrench, pull down the carpet and loosen the 10mm nuts on each latch (2 per latch, total of 4) and give them a good wiggle and then you can push the hatch open from the inside...

once it's open get back out, go to the back and finger-tighten the nuts back down. eyeball as best you can the alignment of the pins to the latch receiver holes and then gently push the hatch closed. climb back inside the trunk and tighten the nuts on the latches down just "snug" not super tight. get out and test the operation of the key mechanism to open the hatch. you might need to do this a few times but its usually the easiest/best way to make it work right.

[grendiers]

Turn key and try lifting one side first.

[i944]

I have had success by climbing in and carefully disconnect the hatch strut and then try the turn key wiggle as above.

[princetonprep17]

The rear hatch latch on my last 944 was always an issue. Try pushing down on the top of the rubber wing on the hatch while you turn the key. If your latch is really tight, you might need to do this on each side near the latch itself individually.

The odometer is another issue that my car had as well. The plastic gear that turns the odometer usually breaks from being brittle after years of use. The only way to fix it is to pull the instrument cluster out and repair the gear.

[scafidi130]

Originally Posted by princetonprep17

The rear hatch latch on my last 944 was always an issue. Try pushing down on the top of the rubber wing on the hatch while you turn the key. If your latch is really tight, you might need to do this on each side near the latch itself individually.

The odometer is another issue that my car had as well. The plastic gear that turns the odometer usually breaks from being brittle after years of use. The only way to fix it is to pull the instrument cluster out and repair the gear.

Do you have to drop the whole steering column to pop it out? I took the screws out and gave it a pull but it seems like that piece is in the way?

[princetonprep17]

Originally Posted by scafidi130

Do you have to drop the whole steering column to pop it out? I took the screws out and gave it a pull but it seems like that piece is in the way?

You don't need to take the whole steering column out, but you do need to remove the steering wheel. You may get lucky and be able to finagle the cluster out without removing the steering wheel, but removing it will definitely make the job as a whole quicker.

[scafidi130]

Originally Posted by princetonprep17

You don't need to take the whole steering column out, but you do need to remove the steering wheel. You may get lucky and be able to finagle the cluster out without removing the steering wheel, but removing it will definitely make the job as a whole quicker.

ok so I took the steering wheel off and still wasnt able to finagle the cluster out. The piece right behind the wheel is still in the way. I dont wanna yank to hard and break something. Suggestions?