Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 11:36:35 -0400 Two things to try:
1: Re-adjust the latch in the back so it holds the hatch down more tightly. On
mine, I loosened the bolts on the latch and adjusted it down to the furthest
point. Helped, but #2 below really did the trick.
2: Get some white lithium grease and grease up the rubber stoppers toward the
rear of the hatch. Worked like a charm.
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Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 13:26:30 -0400 I'd like to thank everyone (more than 15 people) who responded to me
regarding the hatch lock tightening problem I was having on my 3rd gen.
Though I have not fixed it yet, I have determined that my hatch lock plate
is not slotted like most 3rd gen vehicles. All '93 3rd gen'ers who
responded _did_ have a slotted plate, with slots about 1/2 inch long on
each side. The lone '94 3rd gen'er who responded also had the slots,
though I'm not sure if build date had something to do with the changeover
from slotted to non-slotted hatch lock plate.
The other solution was to get some rubber strips and cut/drill them to
"shim" the rubber bumpstops that the hatch rests against (one on either
side of the hatch) effectively raising the bumpstops and allowing more
pressure to be placed on the hatch, alleviating any up-n-down movement of
the hatch. Other recommendations were to check the antenna motor for
rattle, check the hatch hinges for play, and replace the hatch struts with
heavy-duty units.
If further clarification is needed, please email me, I'd be happy to help
out.
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Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 10:16:08 -0500 >There seems to be some squeaking noise from the rear, and I can't seem It took me a while to fix this problem. Here is the solution. Cut 2 three
inch lengths of rubber hose (I dont remember what diameter). With the hatch
open, place each piece between the car body and the hatch (oriented from
left to right). Position the hose so that when the hatch is shut, the
rubber pushes the hatch upward.
This stopped my squeaking.
Actually, I used two concentric pieces of rubber hose (on inside the other)
for more stiffness.
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Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 10:21:54 -0500 (CDT) If you crank the striker plate down as far
as it will go, it will probably fix it. However, it will make the hatch
really hard to shut, and the hatch will be visibly out of line with the
rest of the body. ( I know this because this was the dealer's *fix*,
which I un-did ).
I found that some grease (make sure it's safe for rubber!!) on the bumper
stops helps a little. I eventually intend to shim them up a little
higher, as soon as I can figure out a good way to do it. Anyone done
this?
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Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 17:41:37 -0400 I had a similar problem that I thought was the rubber trim (hence inside the
car), but found out was not. Do you have the stock rear spoiler? Turns out
that some of the screws that held the spoiler to the rear hatch were
slightly loose. When driving the hatch would intermittently emit a high
pitched squeak like a cricket. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to
eliminate the problem by greasing the rubber hatch stoppers...I accidentally
stumbled upon the squeak while closing the hatch. It could be reproduced by
firmly pressing/pulling on the rear spoiler. In order to fix it, I had to
remove the rubber stoppers that cover the screwholes for the spoiler and
tighten the screws. Voila...no more crickets.
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From: jott@directlink.net I tried lowering the hatch release mechanism as far as possible. It didn't
help my problem, and it caused the hatch to sit lower in the back than the
taillight assemblies, so I put it back to where it was.
Then I removed the
two rubber stops that are on the back of the left and right quarter panels.
I put some dense foam weatherstripping I had underneath the base of the
rubber stops, effectively raising them 3 or 4 mm, and reinstalled the rubber
stops. I then put a thin coat of white lithium grease on the rubber stops
where they come in contact with the hatch. My hatch no longer rattles!
Before I raised the rubber stops, I could hear some slight play in the rear
hatch if I pressed down on it when it was closed. Now it does not move at
all when it is closed. I suspect the rubber just compresses over time. It
would probably be a more elegant solution to replace the rubber stops, but
this was free and did not require a 2 week wait from the dealership.
From: "Conrad J. Koch"
From: "Ryan W. Schlagheck"
From: "Jonathan Drewes"
>to trace it. I know it's coming from the interior - (sounds like a
>cricket). Any suggestions as to what it could be?
From: "Steven N. Burkett"
From: Jim Brickmeier
Date: February 21, 2000