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Closing the rear Hatch Problem

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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 04:15 AM
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Default Closing the rear Hatch Problem

I have a 02 Vette and unless I roll down a Window or open a Door, I cannot close my hatch all the way due to Air Pressure. Is this a normal feature?
....Rocket
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 04:19 AM
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very normal. nice avatar.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 04:33 AM
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Easiest way is to close the trunk before the door.

I use the problem in the opposite sense. Pop the trunk on the Vert and close the door which uses the air pressure to open the trunk wider.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 05:15 AM
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Not sure if you're trying to close it by slamming it shut or not. Easiest way I've found (for hatch and hood) is just lower all the way down until its resting on the latches and then just press above the latches.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 06:09 AM
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Originally Posted by foremaw
Not sure if you're trying to close it by slamming it shut or not. Easiest way I've found (for hatch and hood) is just lower all the way down until its resting on the latches and then just press above the latches.
I just lower and press on the rear emblem to latch.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 07:43 AM
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Open a door or a window before closing the hatch. I have herd of the edge of the hatch cracking from the force of trying to close it.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 07:53 AM
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Yes, it's normal. The air pressure is enough inside the car that the hatch just won't close fully unless you give it a little help.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 08:01 AM
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Originally Posted by 2k2C5
I just lower and press on the rear emblem to latch.
best advice! keeps oily finger prints off the car as well as keeps the pressure off the corners (and will save your paint around those edges as well if you close it by pushing on both corners).

it's nice to know that at least the vette doesn't have any areas where it isn't sealed very well...build quality maybe (slight sarcasm, lol)
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by 2k2C5
I just lower and press on the rear emblem to latch.
You shouldn't press on the emblem to close the hatch. A buddy of mine ended up cracking the hatch around the emblem doing this. ONLY press on each end of the hatch directly over the latches, or better still, with a window or door open, close by gently pushing the hatch when it's a foot or so from closing.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 09:23 AM
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Means you have a good seal on all your rubber around the windows! Pressure Good! Mine does the same.

Thanks,Matt
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 09:23 AM
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They have a vent on the driver side near the rear that's supposed to vent the air to the outside. They're pretty small, but check to see if you've got something blocking it. Or open the door a little, close the hatch and then the door.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 09:32 AM
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Get a Window Valet - it allows you to control the windows from your FOB. That way you can have them open when you close the hatch, then raise them via the FOB. www.topdowntech.com
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Bills03Coupe
You shouldn't press on the emblem to close the hatch. A buddy of mine ended up cracking the hatch around the emblem doing this. ONLY press on each end of the hatch directly over the latches, or better still, with a window or door open, close by gently pushing the hatch when it's a foot or so from closing.
I have used this method for over 4 years without a problem. It doesn't take much pressure at all on mine. There are simple adjustments for the rear hatch that make the force needed to close very easy. If the adjusters are out to far, the force needed to close can be harder than need be. With the hatch in the down position (but not latched) you are also displacing very little air in the car compared to trying to close it from a higher distance.

Same goes for the hood. My hood needed to be slammed down to latch both sides when I got the car. After adjustment, I now drop it from about a foot high and it latches.

Its a trial and error adjustment for the hood and rear hatch. You want it to securely latch but not be too loose and rattle when latched (an indication that the adjusters are too far in). I used a 1/2 turn on each adjuster untill I got the desired result.

Last edited by 2K14C7; Dec 29, 2006 at 10:29 AM.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 10:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom/99
Open a door or a window before closing the hatch. I have herd of the edge of the hatch cracking from the force of trying to close it.
Originally Posted by Bills03Coupe
You shouldn't press on the emblem to close the hatch. A buddy of mine ended up cracking the hatch around the emblem doing this. ONLY press on each end of the hatch directly over the latches, or better still, with a window or door open, close by gently pushing the hatch when it's a foot or so from closing.
So we just should not open or close the rear hatch
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 65GGvert
They have a vent on the driver side near the rear that's supposed to vent the air to the outside. They're pretty small, but check to see if you've got something blocking it. Or open the door a little, close the hatch and then the door.
True. Doesn't help as much as we'd like though.

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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 03:30 PM
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Hmmm? More options than I thought. However, I did make some latch adjustments as mentioned and it now closes alot easier. And.... instead of using the slamming method (which I guess I was doing....duhhh) I close it like a normal person and press where the latches are and it closes but....... I do like that Window Valet though, that is too cool. Especially on hot days and listening to the stereo with the doors open while cleaning or conditioning the leather and I always need to run back in the house after I start it. This Forum has a goldmine of Information!!
Thanks all ....Rocket
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Patches
True. Doesn't help as much as we'd like though.

This problem was addressed on a video I have, I guess that must have been on a Friday afternoon, because they sure as hell didn't remember on Monday AM.
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