I can't open the hatchback door!

[Walter Moore]

Ok, this may sound stupid (in fact it does sound stupid...) but I can't get the hatchback door open on the 240Z that I just bought.

Saturday I bought a 1971 240Z, beat-up, and with 20 year old tires... and I can't get the hatchback door open. My son crawled into the back and removed all the interior panels, and I tried to remove panels from the outside, but no matter what we tried, we cant get the latch to open.

(Yes, we tried the key... ;-) )

The car has been in storage (indoors thankfully) for more than 10 years, so I think the latch may be rusted shut. Perhaps it was broken all that time...

Anyway, if you have any suggestions, please help...

[Daniel]

Removing your tag light will let you access the screws that hold the latch catch.Removing those will allow access to the two screws that hold the (#10) latch to the hatch. Have fun!! Daniel

[ZSource]

If your son removed the interior panel that mounts on the hatch, he should have been able to see (with a flashlight) a latch to pull that would have unlatched the hatch. Then by pushing the hatch (not the glass) from the inside near the bottom, he should have opened it.

[Walter Moore]

Well, we tried to remove the "tag light" but the part that hold the light bulbs is held in place with screws that can only be accessed by opening the hatch. I can't get to the latch mounting screws without drilling through the plastic bulb holder assembly.

We did not see anything to pull from inside to release the hatch, but I will look this evening.

Thanks for the suggestions. If there are any more ideas out there I would appreciate the input.

[Daniel]

I'm sorry.I overlooked those screws.The lock is a simple unit.All it does is turn180 degrees so when pressed down it misses the release.With the panel off of the interior hatch you should be able to reach in and push down on the release.The exterior lock should move freely if inlock position.If it doesn't press down it is either unlocked and frozen by rust or internal problem.The lock is held in place by a horseshoe type clip.If you remove that clip you could then see the release thru the lock hole.

[Walter Moore]

I crawled back there from the driver's seat and searched into the area with a flashlight. The release is pressed down as far as it will go. I think that either the latch is broken, or the mechanism is so rusted that it can't move.

I squirted some 0W-30 (Mobil 1) motor oil onto the latch in the hope that it is just rusty and a little oil will free it up. I will be too busy to look at it for a week or so, perhaps that will give the oil time to disolve the rust.

[Walter Moore]

For the record, just in case anyone else ever needs to know, I finally got the hatchback open today. This is how I managed to get it open:

Step #1,

searched on E-bay until I found another license plate light assembly.

Step #2,

purchased said light assembly.

Step #3,

After the replacement assembly arrived, I "removed" the old license plate light "tag light" assembly with a hammer. ( It is plastic. )

Step #4,

Used a punch and a hammer to force open the latch, which was rusted shut.

Now all that I have to do is find a new latch, I haven't seen any of those for sale on E-bay...

:disappoin

[owenk]

I think I have a working latch on parts 260 are you intrested?

[Walter Moore]

I have the old latch sitting in a jar full of automatic transmission fluid. That should eventually free it up, if it is just rusty...

But if the thing is actually broken I will be looking for a replacement.

Only time will tell.

[Walter Moore]

After being submerged in ATF for two weeks I was able to get the latch cycling with a punch and a hammer.

Now it seems to work pretty smoothly. After I got it cycling with what seems like normal effort I put it back in the ATF, to finish off what little rust is left.

That stuff is amazing!

[Daniel]

There are those that say marvel mystery oil is ATF. No more mystery huh?