The latch on the hatch is stuck

[Uncle Ben]

Over the years with my 1999 OB, this latch has more and more often
stuck shut. I have learned to remove the inside upholstery and squirt
lubricants blindly into the space near the latch and fix the problem
temporarily. I think it is caused by rust.

This is getting annoying now that it happens every month. Has anyone
been bold enough to replace parts in the latch system to restore the
performance it had when new? If so, I'd like to hear how you gained
access to the vital parts.

Uncle Ben

 

[kaplan3jiim]

Over the years with my 1999 OB, this latch has more and more often
stuck shut. I have learned to remove the inside upholstery and squirt
lubricants blindly into the space near the latch and fix the problem
temporarily. I think it is caused by rust.

This is getting annoying now that it happens every month. Has anyone
been bold enough to replace parts in the latch system to restore the
performance it had when new? If so, I'd like to hear how you gained
access to the vital parts.

Uncle Ben

I've actually had some luck blindly spraying WD-40 into the rusty mess
from the outside. Improves things for a couple months at a time.
Also...whenever it does stick, it will unstick if I turn the key all
the way to the left before turning it right to unlock it.

Assuming you were talking about a keyed rather than electronic lock.

 

[hippo]

Over the years with my 1999 OB, this latch has more and more often
stuck shut. I have learned to remove the inside upholstery and squirt
lubricants blindly into the space near the latch and fix the problem
tem****arily. I think it is caused by rust.

This is getting annoying now that it happens every month. Has anyone
been bold enough to replace parts in the latch system to restore the
performance it had when new? If so, I'd like to hear how you gained
access to the vital parts.

Uncle Ben

I assume this is the OB wagon and not the "Impreza hatch with bod
cladding" we're talking about here?

Handle failed internally on mine about a year ago. Lots of blind fumbin
with parts to r&r the *entire* latch assembly, which is all that'
available in Oz. I had problems either connecting or aligning one bit -
think it was a clip, can't remember now! - but even so, worst cas
scenario should still see you finished up inside two hours with no majo
skin missing and that's less time than it takes to pull the trim off an
open the bloody thing from the inside to check the spare etc every mont
over the course of a year! Cheers

 

[Uncle Ben]

Over the years with my 1999 OB, this latch has more and more often
stuck shut.  I have learned to remove the inside upholstery and squirt
lubricants blindly into the space near the latch and fix the problem
temporarily. I think it is caused by rust.

This is getting annoying now that it happens every month.  Has anyone
been bold enough to replace parts in the latch system to restore the
performance it had when new?  If so, I'd like to hear how you gained
access to the vital parts.

Uncle Ben

Thanks to Kaplan and Hippo for responses. Yes, it is the OBWagon, and
it is the electric AND keyed lock. I didn''t get an answer about
access, but I'll inspect it more closely and figure out how to get
inside.

I tried manipulating the key to loosen things up, but no success. At
one point, the key wouldn't even go in, because of rust. I removed the
lock and managed to get the key inside and working with a lot of
lubrication and brute force.

But you have given me the confidence to open up the latch mechanism.
Maybe I can remove the rust buildup with elbow grease..

 

[Todd H.]

I've actually had some luck blindly spraying WD-40 into the rusty mess
from the outside. Improves things for a couple months at a time.
Also...whenever it does stick, it will unstick if I turn the key all
the way to the left before turning it right to unlock it.

Assuming you were talking about a keyed rather than electronic lock.

Funny I just did this very thing on mine yesterday. My trunk latch on
the 01 though has no key -- just a squeze handle that seemed to be
getting hung up when squeezed in.

 

[hippo]

Thanks to Kaplan and Hippo for responses. Yes, it is the OBWagon, and
it is the electric AND keyed lock. I didn''t get an answer about
access, but I'll inspect it more closely and figure out how to get
inside.

<snip>

Car's not here at the moment. *If* I get a chance over the w/e, I'll pul
the panel off (jog my memory in the process) then post something a bi
more practical. Cheers

 

[hippo]

Uncle Ben <ben@[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Oct 23, 2008 at 02:46 AM wrote:

Thanks to Kaplan and Hippo for responses. Yes, it is the OBWagon, and
it is the electric AND keyed lock. I didn''t get an answer about
access, but I'll inspect it more closely and figure out how to get
inside.

<snip>

Car's not here at the moment. *If* I get a chance over the w/e, I'l pull
the panel off (jog my memory in the process) then post something a bit
more practical. Cheers

There are only 2 bolts that hold the latch in at the bottom *but* the
there's the rod that runs to the lock and the cable to the handle. Proble
with mine last year was that the cable had snapped at the bottom. Easies
way with that seemed to be unbolt the lock, handle and latch then juggl
the whole jigsaw puzzle out through a convenient space, do the repair an
reverse the process. If you can easily pop the nylon clip at the handl
end of the cable, then you'll only have to remove the lock and latch. Jus
don't crush the ends of the clip so badly that it can't be reattached o
you'll be up for the whole assembly :-( After that, spray clean and
thorough lube with your weapon of choice should do you nicely befor
reassembly.

Remember to disconnect the cable block & that there may be a couple o
wires going down to the latch! Oh yeah... don't try the job with th
rubber spanners in the original toolkit Cheer

 

[Uncle Ben]

Uncle Ben <ben@[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Oct 23, 2008 at 02:46 AM wrote:

Thanks to Kaplan and Hippo for responses.  Yes, it is the OBWagon, and
it is the electric AND keyed lock.  I didn''t get an answer about
access, but I'll inspect it more closely and figure out how to get
inside.

<snip>
Car's not here at the moment. *If* I get a chance over the w/e, I'll pull
the panel off (jog my memory in the process) then post something a bit
more practical. Cheers  

There are only 2 bolts that hold the latch in at the bottom *but* then
there's the rod that runs to the lock and the cable to the handle. Problem
with mine last year was that the cable had snapped at the bottom. Easiest
way with that seemed to be unbolt the lock, handle and latch then juggle
the whole jigsaw puzzle out through a convenient space, do the repair and
reverse the process. If you can easily pop the nylon clip at the handle
end of the cable, then you'll only have to remove the lock and latch. Just
don't crush the ends of the clip so badly that it can't be reattached or
you'll be up for the whole assembly :-(   After that, spray clean and a
thorough lube with your weapon of choice should do you nicely before
reassembly.

Remember to disconnect the cable block & that there may be a couple of
wires going down to the latch! Oh yeah... don't try the job with the
rubber spanners in the original toolkit Cheers

Very helpful! Thanks, hippo!