Hatch Won't Stay Shut

[1985 5.0]

Serious problem...my hatch wont stay shut. It is not latching when I shut it, meaning I do not have to have a key to open it up. I went to the Ford dealership and they said they do not carry the latch to the hatch (lol) anymore I have tried searching on 50resto but i cant find it anywhere

Funny story....i was taking off at a stoplight the other day with both windows down and the wind was blowing very hard. well i get on it when i take off and when i look back and the hatch has come up in the air- i had to pull over and shut it on a very busy highway

 

[gunmetal5.0]

Snaps i'm having the same problem but it doesnt have good struts so I don't think the wind would be strong enough to hold mine up on its own. Is it possible you could just grab one that still works Ok at the wrecking yard? I get a lot of good parts there.

 

[S_Charged306LX]

that sucks but it sounds like the lock(junkyard 5-10 bux), usually it is the other way around damn shocks go bad and trunk lid wont stop closing.

 

[1985 5.0]

thats what i figured i would have to do....it really sucks knowing that my car is always unlocked

 

[gunmetal5.0]

Lol yeah s charged im having Both issues =/

 

[Aliate X]

You can adjust the striker up and down, move it up a tiny bit. (the peice attached to the car, not the hatch)

 

[JGT]

aliate x, how would one go about moving it up? the question's not for me...its for a friend!

 

[FrankenStang]

Don't get me started on MY hatch problems...

 

[Turkey Sammich]

Damn, and I thought my hatch rattling was bad.

 

[Aliate X]

aliate x, how would one go about moving it up? the question's not for me...its for a friend!

theres a little allan key head on the tip of it, you just loosen it and it will move up and down.

 

[BK_CAULEY]

AHHH the great ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979...ItemQQcategoryZ34206QQitemZ200093882909QQrdZ1

 

[Demented4.6]

Have you guys checked the condition of the striker bushing?? i had same problems and all i did was replace the bushing. was 2 bux from the help section at pep boys

 

[brian15]

Have you guys checked the condition of the striker bushing?? i had same problems and all i did was replace the bushing. was 2 bux from the help section at pep boys

striker bushing was also my problem , replaced it yesterday , no more rattling hatch and no more slamming it to get it shut !

 

[90_Red_LX]

Check to see if theres a striker bushing on the striker itself. Mine shattered, while driving and I kept hearing a noise in the back and smelling exhaust fumes so I thought something was messed up. Got home looked around, found the bushing was torn up.

 

[j and v]

Striker bushing, tell me more!

Guys,

My son and I took the striker off his car, and we could not seperate the striker from the large washer. I was considering slicing the washer to seperate it from the striker, but if I don't have to that would be great.
How does one change the striker bushing without slicing the washer?

TIA

 

[Demented4.6]

Guys,

My son and I took the striker off his car, and we could not seperate the striker from the large washer. I was considering slicing the washer to seperate it from the striker, but if I don't have to that would be great.
How does one change the striker bushing without slicing the washer?

TIA

I cut mine cuz i couldn't figure it out either. Works fine though

 

[TN89LX5.0]

Fixin this same problem this weekend. I bought the bolt and bushing just to simplify things from Late Model Restoration. The previous owner wrapped electrical tape around it..doesnt work that well..lol..The bolt and bushing were pricey but at least it will be fixed!

 

[GSXRMIXXER]

I cut mine cuz i couldn't figure it out either. Works fine though

put it into a vise and whack it with your hammer. that's how i got mine out.

 

[UMDSmith]

I just changed out my pistons and now I'm having the same problems closing it. Not related I know, unless the old pistons kept it closed just due to the weight and them having no push.

Looks like I need to check the bushings as well.

 

[TN89LX5.0]

I put the new bolt with the bushing in and everything works properly now...yeah!! Also had to adjust it as I remember someone mentioning in a previous post. Tomorrow, new headlight, parklight and turnsignal assemblies go in.