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Rear Hatch Problems

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Old Oct 10, 2006 | 08:43 PM
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Default Rear Hatch Problems

I have an '86, my first vette and I haven't had it long. The rear hatch won't open - appears to be a lose connection to the solenoid. Anyone any idea how you access this. I can't figure it out.

a
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Old Oct 10, 2006 | 08:48 PM
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If I remember correctly....crawl inside toward the rear hatch and inside the panel under the glass should be a thin metal wire. Give it a tug.
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Old Oct 10, 2006 | 08:59 PM
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 09:14 AM
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Here is a little diagnosing help http://members.shaw.ca/dankai/Hatch%20Release.pdf
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by ~db~
If I remember correctly....crawl inside toward the rear hatch and inside the panel under the glass should be a thin metal wire. Give it a tug.

On that note, once you get it open, get a little lead bead fishing sinker and crimp that on the end so you can reach it easier while fishing (no pun intended) around under the rear shade for that little wire.
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by GIJoe
On that note, once you get it open, get a little lead bead fishing sinker and crimp that on the end so you can reach it easier while fishing (no pun intended) around under the rear shade for that little wire.
...or -
i crimped a 18-22 awg terminal lug on to the end of the thin metal cable. i then installed a 3/4 inch key ring -

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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 04:57 PM
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The wire is there like everyone above mentioned.
I had an 88 with this problem. Once I determined it was the mechanisim I used a trunk opener from an oldsmobile until I could get the right part. NOTE- only the Corvette mechanisim has the manual release wire.
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 06:30 PM
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You have to remove the trim around the hatch to reach the wire. The handle for the top latch just pulls off. When you get off the trim, you'll see the wire. The relay is located under the trim.
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by HG
You have to remove the trim around the hatch to reach the wire. The handle for the top latch just pulls off. When you get off the trim, you'll see the wire. The relay is located under the trim.
You mean you have to remove the trim to reach the RELAY (and solenoid), not the pull-wire to pop the hatch. The wire (or cable) is accessible by reaching up under the pull shade just left of center as you're looking at it from inside the car.

When my hatch wouldn't open, the relay was fine. It turned out to be the solenoid, which has the pull-cable attached to it for manual release.


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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 12:31 AM
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the relay in that general area is for the radio antenna. to make sure you differentiate that you got the right relay, have someone turn your radio on and off after you take the trim off around the latch.
pull the cable take off the rtim, and change the solenoid.
put a little lube on the mechanism before you bolt it down.
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 12:54 AM
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Originally Posted by coupeguy2001

the relay in that general area is for the radio antenna. to make sure you differentiate that you got the right relay, have someone turn your radio on and off after you take the trim off around the latch.
pull the cable take off the rtim, and change the solenoid.
put a little lube on the mechanism before you bolt it down.
The hatch relay is next to the latch assy. The antenna relay is further outboard towards the fender. Never hurts to doublecheck though.

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