Rear hatch solenoid or latch
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Rear hatch solenoid or latch
Iam sure most every one but me know about this, but here goes. I need help learning how this thing works or in my case sometimes works. Neither of the door swithes work, and the button in the center console only works when it feels like it. I suppose the door cables are disconnected or cut, because I pulled the rear cover off of the latch to find about a 4" piece of cable just attatched to like a swing arm that doesn't seem to do anything. When I push the button in the center console I can hear a relay under the dash make noise, and some times a click in the latch and even once in awhile the rear hatch will actually open. Please let me know what I need to fix or replace thanks e-mail- hi.plains.helo@att.net
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 48
From: Lakeport CA
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (406 vette)
That little 4" cable is the manual/emergency release for when the electrics fails, thats all.
Sounds like you need to get a good volt/ohm meter & start tracking the power to your door switches & then back to the hatch.
A helms manual would take you though the testing tree & also show where the wires run inside the car.
Sounds like you need to get a good volt/ohm meter & start tracking the power to your door switches & then back to the hatch.
A helms manual would take you though the testing tree & also show where the wires run inside the car.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (Trog)
Thanks Trog, I will see if I can find a helms manual for the wiring diagram.
I guess I should take the door panels apart first to see if they are even plugged in. ( Duh ) Sounds like everything is electrical, except the emergency releace.
I guess I should take the door panels apart first to see if they are even plugged in. ( Duh ) Sounds like everything is electrical, except the emergency releace.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (406 vette)
No sooner did I get my 86 home, the hatch quit working. I used the manual cable release until a replacement solenoid could be bought. Sounds like the solenoid release is gone. 15 bucks plus shipping on Ebay for a used unit. Search for "corvette hatch" on Ebay Motors.
:thumbs: -JRC-
:thumbs: -JRC-
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (JrRifleCoach)
To save pulling your doors apart ,the door switches earth out on the same switches that operates the interior lights when the doors open , which are the ones located in the front pillar by the hinges. Both of these on mine were marginal which gave intermittent hatch operation when using the door switch.
Cleaned up the earths and all was fine.Button in console uses different wiring path to the solenoid
[Modified by rodj, 3:39 AM 3/10/2004]
Cleaned up the earths and all was fine.Button in console uses different wiring path to the solenoid
[Modified by rodj, 3:39 AM 3/10/2004]
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 1
From: Irwindale Ca
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (rodj)
i had a problem with my door lights. When the lights didnt come on. I coulndnt release the rear hatch, only from the center button. just a bad contact. as for the rear hatch. Mine went bad. You are hearing a relay near the rear hatch when you hit the release buttons. Its probably your solenoid that controls the hatch release. Its actually not hard to take of the hatch mechanism. I took it off and tested it across a 12volt battery. Of course there was no release. I purchased a new solenoid and now it works just fine. Before you install it, dont tighten the mounting bolts fully. Close the glass so it will be properly alligned, then fully tighten the unit. Hope this helps :smash:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (madmike)
Thanks everyone for the information. You guys are correct, the only interior lights I have is when the hatch is open (rear pillars only), nothing up front at all. I will check the grounds, the contacts, and get a new solenoid as well. Thanks for the heads-up on the alignment too.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (406 vette)
Just another heads up - the center button should only work when the E-brake is pulled (or car is in P if you're an Auto). That way, your hatch doesn't open when you're on the road and are fishing around in your center console. You probably already knew this, and clearly your problem lies elsewhere, but just a reminder so when you get the doors fixed you won't think something's still broken if the center button doesn't work! :cheers:
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (Perfusion)
Just another heads up - the center button should only work when the E-brake is pulled (or car is in P if you're an Auto).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Rear hatch solenoid or latch (JasonL)
Thanks "perFusion" I did'nt know about that, do now, more info for the memory banks.
Thanks "JasonL" went and got a new solenoid, put it in, and now the passenger side works, as well as the center console button, but the drivers side won't. I still need to check the ground, but if thats not it, I can look at the door ajar switch. Or next step is the volt/ohm meter like "Trog" suggested
Thanks "JasonL" went and got a new solenoid, put it in, and now the passenger side works, as well as the center console button, but the drivers side won't. I still need to check the ground, but if thats not it, I can look at the door ajar switch. Or next step is the volt/ohm meter like "Trog" suggested
