rear hatch on a 944

cytefx · May 15, 2008

Ok, I have the 944, its Ron Smith's old car, and I have been looking at the electronic boot release last night to see why the release does not open the boot.

I have seen that the electrics all work, the motor spins and pulls both leavers, when I use the key it seams to follow the same process (the leavers turn etc) but I do have to still physically lift the boot to open when the key is in the unloacked position.

Here is the question, would just new boot gas struct fix the issue (they do hold the boot, but sometimes fall down) or is there something that pushes the boot open once unlocked, like a spring thats broken (have looked and can not find anything)

And I know I have to post a picture at some time but I dont have one with me at present.

Riverside · May 15, 2008

ORIGINAL: cytefx
Here is the question, would just new boot gas struct fix the issue (they do hold the boot, but sometimes fall down) or is there something that pushes the boot open once unlocked, like a spring thats broken (have looked and can not find anything)

There is no spring, the struts should lift the boot all the way up when you press the button or turn the key but they perform less well in the cold & need replacing every few years (as do the bonnet ones).

Pair of struts should cost £20-£25 from e-bay or a specialist, fitting has been described on here & other places a few times, it can be a bit of a struggle because you need to compress them slightly while you fit them.

cytefx · May 15, 2008

cheers for the replys, will get the rear structs replaced...and then we will see.

Diver944 · May 15, 2008

Definately the struts, that hatch is a heavy bu66er and after just a few years the struts lose their 'boing' (technical term [

])

Wigeon Incognito · May 15, 2008

Ahh, I though not popping up was normal.

In that case, I will strive to get my 'boing' back.

Diver944 · May 15, 2008

If you have a fancy shmancy remote alarm with a seperate channel for the boot you can press the button as you walk across the supermarket car park and have the boot rise majestically ready to accept your carrier bags as you arrive.

I haven't got a fancy shmancy alarm [

]

cytefx · May 15, 2008

used to have one of them on my bmw, dont open the doors remotly in a multistory carpark, if you get the wrong button the tailgate rises and hits the roof, not good

George Elliott · May 15, 2008

John,
"or is there something that pushes the boot open once unlocked" - as you asked above, the answer is that there is, but yours is missing - as mine was.

The other points above are fine, I dont disagree, but the spring effect you can have which is missing is the compression of the rubber seal. The seal ages and the pop as you release the hatch pins is lost.

I released the two lock nuts on the pins, tightened the pins half a turn at a time, relocking the nuts each time, and closed the hatch to re-test it. As you do this the hatch will need a more agressive slam to close. But you only need a small adjustment to sort it, it worked for me. The other thing you can do is fit a new rubber seal, it will be the original shape and that will give you the initial pop you need so you dont have to grow arms long enough to reach the release switch and lift the spoiler with the other hand.

good luck whatever you do...especially with the threads on the pins, they can be tight[8|]

George

944t
964