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[SOLVED] Hatch lever won’t open the hatch

2562 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  RikRong
This has been frustrating me in every possible way.

The hatch lever only allows me to open the hatch if I put something under to keep the lever up. It’s annoying as hell. I’ve tried to fix it on my own using multiple methods:

1) Tried readjusting the hatch latch position (Reference link:
)

2) Replaced the stock shocks with stronger aftermarket shocks (Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMX3NC9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)

3) Put in bigger rubber bumpers (Link: Nissan / Infiniti Nissan OEM Rear Hatch Rubber Bumper - Nissan 240SX 89-94 S13 01658-00112 - Concept Z Performance)

4) Cleaned the latch with WD40. That didnt work, so I bought a new hatch latch altogether from ebay

5) Tried to tighten the latch cable

6) Tried readjusting the latch lever

After all these, nothing has worked. When I replaced the latch, it actually worked normally for 2 uses then it went back to being busted and having to hold the lever up to open the hatch. So something tells me it’s an issue with the latch but I just can’t figure it out.

Has anyone else encountered this? Does anyone have some knowledge on this issue? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone
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Bump but also relevant question. Does anyone know how the hatch lock is supposed to connect to the latch? There’s 2 tiny divots where the arm ring sorta fits into the lock, but the divots are so small I have no idea how Nissan intended for this to stay together. It just falls right off. Not sure if I’m missing a part because I can’t find much info on this
May just be the cable is stretched or a faulty latch. Try looking it up in the FSM For the way it should attach, it should have some picture. Try to properly attach it first before anything else. Honestly sounds like you just pull the cable and slide it in with the wire and let the t end sit there.

As for checking if the cable is stretched try to rig up some spacer to where you have little to no slack and then try to open it a few times and see what happens.
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May just be the cable is stretched or a faulty latch. Try looking it up in the FSM For the way it should attach, it should have some picture. Try to properly attach it first before anything else. Honestly sounds like you just pull the cable and slide it in with the wire and let the t end sit there.

As for checking if the cable is stretched try to rig up some spacer to where you have little to no slack and then try to open it a few times and see what happens.
The spacer is a great idea, I’ll try that out. Thanks!
Update: After some tedious messing around with the latch, I finally fixed it and now my hatch opens first try every time. Here’s my whole process for anyone in the future with a similar problem:

1. Replace the hatch shocks (link provided above)
2. Replace the hatch rubber bumpers (link provided above)
3. Take out the latch and spray it with some WD40 and clean it as best as you can
4. Regrease the latch points of contact, doesn’t need that much
5. When you’re reinstalling the latch, make sure it sits as low as possible

That should solve it unless the issue is in the cable.
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Glad you got it sorted out.
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