about rear hatch i have some good news

[1988redfordfestiva]

i just used liquid wrench and waited and bam door opens so yeah but one thing is wrong when i close it heres the issue the latch gets stuck and i have to open it from inside ? and some times does not lock either ?

[Tim]

Sounds like the grease in the latch mechanism is to blame.

Pull the latch out, and either replace it (see if you can get one from an LX, since it has the switch for the trunk light) or try to loosen it up with your favorite penetrating oil, regrease it, and reinstall.


Good luck!

-Tim

[1988redfordfestiva]

well i need a new latch piece to the door and i need the black trim on the top of the license plate its cracked and water is leaking in it thank god it in the garage or it would be worse

[hotrodin4me]

i have the black trim you need

[1988redfordfestiva]

i alsp need the internal latch also but tony said he had one how much for the trim and how to remove it ? cause i have to sand a rot spot by the the key also

[batstiva]

i alsp need the internal latch also but tony said he had one how much for the trim and how to remove it ? cause i have to sand a rot spot by the the key also

Okay, for the black plastic trim piece over the tag. If you open your hatch about halfway, so you can see up in there, you will see that there are 4 phillips head screws that hold that trim piece in place. You will need to take those out. You will also need to remove the 4 phillips screws that hold the tag lights in place. Then the whole trim piece just slides out. Once you get the screws out for the tag lights, you can just tilt them so the trim piece comes out. You'll see what I mean when you do it.

As far as the hatch latch. 2 10mm bolts hold it in place. You will also have to removed the gray/tan (not sure which color interior you have) interior hatch cover so you can access the point at which the rod from the latch connects to the handle. (again, you will see what I mean when you open it up). You will need to disengage the mechanism at the latch that allows it to lock. It's kind of a PITB to get off, and worse to get back on the new one. I just did this on my 89, and the entire job took less than 30 minutes. Once you get the interior hatch cover off, you will see the rod coming from the latch. Follow it to where it attaches to the mechanism that works the handle. There is a plastic piece that connects these two. Flip the top of that plastic piece open (again, you will see what I mean when you get in there) and pull the latch/rod combination out. If possible, mark the rod before you take it out, so you can mark the new one and put it in to the same point. Otherwise, you can try to eyeball it, and play with it once you get the new one in place. In too far, and the door handle won't work properly, in not far enough, and it leaves a lot of freeplay in the handle.

To get the interior hatch cover off, use a flat blade, like a putty knife. Slide it under the edge of the cover, and move it along the edge until you meet resistance. When you do, give the blade a little twist to pop out the plastic pieces that hold the cover to the car. Be carefull how much pressure you exert here, as the "board" on the inside of the cover may be rather soft, depending on how much water has been leaking in there, and for how long. I think there are either 8 or 10 of these connection points you will have to pop. Then the cover comes right off.

Hope at least some of this helps. BTW, I paid 5 bucks at my local junkyard for the latch. But that's with me pulling it.