Rear Hatch Opening Fix

43185 Views 33 Replies 27 Participants Last post by Abraham111, 3 mo ago

dave079

Discussion Starter · Dec 12, 2004

Anyone who has been having problems with their hatch not unlocking all the way when they press the button this will be the cure for it. And it only costs 4 cents and less than 10 minutes of your time.....

Rear Hatch Opening Fix

Here is a very simple fix for the rear hatch not opening and it costs just 4 cents....
1. remove the springs on the car you can just twist and pull it to remove them 1 on each side under the hatch.

2. Now that you have them off twist and pull till the top part seperates from the bottom once more

3. Now drop 2 pennies on each one.. After the pennies are in you must now push the pieces together till it comes together and then replace the springs back in..

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

z_man46

· #2 · Dec 13, 2004

I have found that by simply removing the weight undernight the plastic fixture in the hatch fixes the problem quite nicely too.

cedusett

· #3 · Dec 13, 2004

I have found that by simply removing the weight undernight the plastic fixture in the hatch fixes the problem quite nicely too.

x2 - plus you have to remove it anyway if you get any type of aftermarket spoiler.

Dr. Z

· #4 · Dec 13, 2004

Where's the weight? I just got my spoiler installed on saturday, and I'm having this problem.

Derek

z_man46

· #5 · Dec 13, 2004

Once you remove the plastic cover the weight is in the middle held on by 4 bolts.

buzam

· #6 · Dec 14, 2004

I did not know about the weight. Used the 4 cents, but over time the problem comes back (spring fatigue)

smoothz

· #7 · Jan 2, 2005

I don't know if this is a coincidence, but after washing the car yesterday and letting her dry sufficiently, the hatch opened up easily for me. The Z was really dirty before the wash, and my hatch was slightly stuck on the first try. Never had that problem before, but then again my Z was never that dirty.

buzam

· #8 · Jan 2, 2005

smoothz, ure killin me!! JK

not only did the rear wing make the deck heavier, but when cold the shocks give way and the hatch will not stay open.

I am taking the weight out on Sunday.

texaszcar

· #9 · Feb 6, 2005

Thanks! Used this tip and the lid opens without problems! Took only 1 beer and 5 minutes!

toykilla

· #10 · Feb 6, 2005

**** i never ran across this thread before.. i will trying this out soon

Ed 718

· #11 · Apr 23, 2005

Dave that was my fix you posted but after a while when it's cold it does not open like it should. I then dropped a extra penny on each side but wonder if they may make a small dent because of the added pressure.....

kslerch

· #12 · Oct 5, 2005

There is a TSB for this. Nissan will install new spring/shocks.
http://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/Bullet...4/NTB04-042.htm

buzam

· #13 · Nov 29, 2005

I have had the new "springs" put in today, although the hatch pops much more solid, the weight of the wing still keeps it from lifiting all of the way. I finally removed the weight on the underside of the hatch and all is working Grand.

I also convinced the dealer to replace my struts with the heavy duty version as when it is cold the rear struts do not hold the hatch open.

Sevnn

· #14 · Dec 22, 2005

I've had my struts replaced by Nissan before and I'm waiting on new ones to come in to replace them again. They have done the spring fix and it helped the problem with it not fully releasing but its cropped back up. I don't understand what is so difficult about building a car to not have these kind of problems...

t4g63

· #15 · May 25, 2006

I'm glad I came across this thread, I just removed the weight and my hatch now pop's perfectly!

southgachik

· #16 · Jun 7, 2006

hmmm.. must get rid of the weight. It's so agravating when you already have a armload of stuff and have to put it down to use both hands to get the decklid open.

I've got to go back by the bodyshop anyway... something loose after rear wing installed.

Unkie_Z

· #17 · Jun 28, 2006

Why is the wieght even there you think? :dunno:

gregorylee709

· #18 · Sep 1, 2006

Thanks for the post.

Really annoying "little" problem. i wonder if the 4 pennies will be effective for long period of time.

Will the problem reoccur? I hope not...

06Firebase

· #19 · Sep 4, 2006

Why is the wieght even there you think? :dunno:

I understand that the weight is supposed to counterbalance the rear hatch. Without the weight, it would be more difficult to shut the hatch.

Problems arise if you have the "Nismo spoiler" added to the lid. This is supposed to weigh an extra 10 pounds or so. Between the extra weight of the spoiler, the weight inside the hatch, and the weaker original springs, the hatch won't pop open the way it was intended. And it won't stay open.

I found this out about a week after I bought my car during a cleaning session. Got crowned good and solid on the head when the hatch suddenly slammed down!

I would also like to remove the weight on the inside. But I'm unsure of how you get the plastic liner off the inside of the hatch without damaging it. Can anyone give me some tips on this?

Thanks very much! This is a really great site and I'm glad I joined up!

:yourock:

All best,
Joe

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smoothz

· #20 · Sep 4, 2006

I understand that the weight is supposed to counterbalance the rear hatch. Without the weight, it would be more difficult to shut the hatch.

Problems arise if you have the "Nismo spoiler" added to the lid. This is supposed to weigh an extra 10 pounds or so. Between the extra weight of the spoiler, the weight inside the hatch, and the weaker original springs, the hatch won't pop open the way it was intended. And it won't stay open.

I found this out about a week after I bought my car during a cleaning session. Got crowned good and solid on the head when the hatch suddenly slammed down!

I would also like to remove the weight on the inside. But I'm unsure of how you get the plastic liner off the inside of the hatch without damaging it. Can anyone give me some tips on this?
Thanks very much! This is a really great site and I'm glad I joined up!

:yourock:
All best,
Joe

The plastic liner pops out pretty easily. I looked at every angle before I started carefully prying it off. I popped the ends near the springs with a screwdriver, then slowly pulled the rest of the liner off, careful not to bend it. The clips are orange, I believe. The slide in sideways into the slot that is molded into the liner.

While you're doing this, you might as well take off the rear wiper. That's what I was doing originally. Got rid of the wiper, the motor, the weight, and now I have a nice, smooth window hatch.

1 - 20 of 34 Posts