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

'94 Back Hatch Won't Open! HELP please!

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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 06:43 PM
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Default '94 Back Hatch Won't Open! HELP please!

I purchased my Corvette a little over a month ago and fixed my radio problem (purchased a whole new one), purchased custom seat covers, and now onto the bigger things.... MY BACK HATCH WON'T OPEN SINCE PURCHASED.

I press the button in the console.. no noise, no nothing. I've crawled in the back and got my dear old dad pushing the button while I try to push the hatch open carefully with my hands on the glass and it's a no go. I'm no rocket scientist, but the interior lights won't come on by the rear view mirror, only on the passenger door panel.. does the hatch work on the same relay as the interior lights? I swear I read that somewhere..
Oh, I should mention the weather stripping all over the car needs to be replaced.. Recommendations based on past purchasing would be appreciated too

Thanks for your comments and advice, totally appreciated. I would like to try to fix this problem myself, I'm one of those hands on kind of girls.
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 09:37 PM
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There's a small cable under the center of the trim panel that will manually release it if you pull it. There is also a hatch release on the drivers door. It is exposed when the door is open.
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 09:42 PM
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If it turns out to be a failed solenoid I have a spare for sale.
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 09:56 PM
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try to use the hatch switches on the doors. See if it opens by using them
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 09:58 PM
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I just noticed your year Im not 100% sure you have a switch in the door panels maybe some one else can pitch in
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Bobby Brewsky
There's a small cable under the center of the trim panel that will manually release it if you pull it. There is also a hatch release on the drivers door. It is exposed when the door is open.


Once open remove the surround panel and check for power to the solenoid.
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 11:03 PM
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First thing in the morning I'll do some poking around before it gets too hot out there..I'll let ya'll know what I find :thumbs

Thankies.
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Old Jun 16, 2014 | 01:15 AM
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Originally Posted by KodiJane
I press the button in the console.. no noise, no nothing. I've crawled in the back and got my dear old dad pushing the button while I try to push the hatch open carefully with my hands on the glass and it's a no go. I'm no rocket scientist, but the interior lights won't come on by the rear view mirror, only on the passenger door panel.. does the hatch work on the same relay as the interior lights? I swear I read that somewhere..
The courtesy light delay module supplies the ground to the hatch release switches in the doors. Basically that means the door has to be open to open the hatch (kind of stupid since you can't get to the switch anyway with the door closed).

The center console hatch release switch gets its ground in one of two places, depending on whether you have an auto or manual trans. With an auto trans, the trans must be in either Park or Neutral to open the hatch. With manual trans cars the parking brake must be on.

There is a relay that powers the hatch solenoid to release the hatch. You should be able to hear the relay clicking if it is OK. There is a hatch circuit breaker on my car. It had a bad habit of falling out of its socket pins before I fixed them. Check the fuse panel.

You can release the hatch by pulling this steel cable. Mine was pretty tight and I needed pliers to grab it tight enough to release the hatch -- my fingers weren't strong enough:

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Old Jun 16, 2014 | 03:04 AM
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Originally Posted by hooked073
I just noticed your year Im not 100% sure you have a switch in the door panels maybe some one else can pitch in
94's definitely DO have the door switch!
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Old Jun 17, 2014 | 03:17 PM
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Found that tiny, itty-bitty release wire in the back and gave it a good pull..



It popped open no problem! It took a pair of needle nose to give a proper pull, but all good. After doing a little looking around back there, stumbled across a wire that has been cut. Have a feeling this is the problem as to why I can push the rear button all day and nothing happens.

A solve to first problem and now on to another. haha
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Old Jun 17, 2014 | 03:19 PM
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Thank you so much! Hope to figure out this NEW issue. Hahaha!
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Old Jun 18, 2014 | 03:12 AM
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Something might be shorted back there, which would explain why the wire was cut.

There is a relay that operates the hatch solenoid. When you have things hooked up again, if the hatch doesn't open you should at least hear the relay clicking. On my car it is buried in the foam rubber under the rear surround molding, next to the hatch solenoid on the passenger side.
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Old Jun 18, 2014 | 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Cliff Harris
Something might be shorted back there, which would explain why the wire was cut.

There is a relay that operates the hatch solenoid. When you have things hooked up again, if the hatch doesn't open you should at least hear the relay clicking. On my car it is buried in the foam rubber under the rear surround molding, next to the hatch solenoid on the passenger side.

Going to setup a line rig until I can have the proper maintenance time. Climbing in and out of that back to pop up with a pair of pliers gets mighty tiring in 90 degree weather

I'm really glad to have found this forum and all the helpful people!
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