C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Rear hatch-Cant open (89)

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Old Feb 15, 2006 | 08:28 PM
  #1  
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St. Jude Donor '05
Default Rear hatch-Cant open (89)

Hasnt been opened since Ive had it. now that Im driving it daily I need it to work. Pressing the release button gives only the slightest noise, really have to listen for it. Upon reading some other threads I decided to look for the cable in the hatch area thats supposed to open it. I must be blind, I dont see anything. Imagine Ill need a PN for a new solenoid too.
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Old Feb 15, 2006 | 08:37 PM
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My cable was behind the carpet. My interior was half apart when I got the car so I can't say exactly what you would have to remove from a stock setup to get to it.

I'm pretty sure it's not visible when the interior is together. The cable runs out of the release mechanism to the right (drivers side). Once you get it open remove the rear valance across the back of the trunk area and you will be able to see the release mechanism work when someone in the car presses the button. Could be something is just loose and not fully disengaging.
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Old Feb 15, 2006 | 08:43 PM
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Feel around under the sunshade in the center near the latch. Its a small cable and not that long.
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Old Feb 15, 2006 | 10:19 PM
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'14
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I tried to open mine once this winter and could hear it unlock but it wouldn't open. I finally had to have the wife hold the button while while I pulled up on the glass (I had to pull really hard). It had stuck to the rubber. I cleaned the seal really good and lubed them up with some Son-of-a-Gun or some such junk. I've tried it several times since and it opens great. It was amazing how hard it was stuck to the rubber seal though. Just a thought that this might have happened to yours.
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Old Feb 15, 2006 | 10:23 PM
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Reach under the sunshade for the cable. I never had to use mine, but I did have the panel off once and noticed that the loop was broken off. That would have been difficult if I had needed it.
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Old Feb 15, 2006 | 10:41 PM
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Ill have to crawl around (6'3" ) and see if I can find it. All I saw last time was a button thingy that releases the targa top I believe.
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Old Feb 16, 2006 | 03:34 PM
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From: Tucson, AZ. L98-85 AUTO COUPE: 120k MILES: daily driver. SOUND OFF IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE. Ex-Jumpin' Junky-82nd Airborne-2/505 PIR: 1st ID-1/16th Inf: Recon Marine Retread. GOD BLESS GRUNTS.
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my car sat for two years in the arizona heat, and some of the rubber had re-formed around the glass--stopping its release. have somebody push the button while you jimmy around. if you're lucky, that will be your problem.

at least the solenoid is making a noise.


froggy.
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Old Feb 16, 2006 | 03:42 PM
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This happened to my '88 after I had put it up on jack stands to change my calipers a few months back. Turned out that the body flexing caused the hinge to move over a little bit and not unlock itself. I heard that small buzzing you're referring to.

I ended up pressing on the rear glass to get it to shift and it finally let free.

Hope this helps!

~Derek

(Darn those fiberglass, flexible bodies!)
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