sometimes it takes 2 or more tries to get the rear hatch to release - using either the key fob or the button above the license plate. Kind of annoying - I live by the water so the car gets alot of dew in the morning, so that might be part of the problem...


does anyone else have this problem ?

2003 coupe

 

there is a tsb out for it. the dealer can fix it if you're still under warranty with new springs.

 

or look in the Repairing section to find the "Penny" trick.

Save yourself the trip to the dealer. The TSB for this sucks anyways and the Penny fix is sooooo easy.

 

I saw a DIY on this. You can take the spring off by twisting it off. Then take the black rubber boot off the spring and put 2 pennies in the bottom of the boot put the boot back on the spring and that should take care of the problem. I hope you can understand this, I am not the best at explaining things.

 

I just got mine fixed at the dealership on Monday.

 

what is the TSB on this anyway. Just had it in and all they did was lube some parts, which made it better but has already gotten stuck again, and I'm worried that the problem will just slowly start coming back.

 

I haven't tried the penny trick but I hear it works perfectly. I myself used the ol' glue the felt furniture pad to the bumper trick and it has worked well. I have had to replace them a few times though since over time they get squashed down and don't work as well.

 

Pics:

 

Also, taking out the weight from under the plastic cover will decrease the overall weight of the hatch and it'll spring up easier. This is especially true if you have a wing spoiler that adds to the overall hatch weight.

The first pic is with the weight removed.

 

They are supposed to replace the bump stops. If all they did was lube it, they didn't fix it.

 

i did the 2 penny trick, and it worked for a while - but now it gets stuck again! maybe the pennies got squashed..heh. doc - is it difficult to get that weight out?

 

I used the two penny trick and it worked great... then somehow one of my springs got BENT so now the hatch only has one spring lifting it. Sometimes it still works though! :-D

 

dealer gave me the replacement springs and they work like a charm. They did give me a bit of a hassle before they would agree to it though (WTH?).

 

You just have to take off the plastic cover and there are screws to unloosen and it comes right off.

 

that's really odd that you have a weight there. i have an 05 with no spoiler. when i took off my rear wiper, there was no weight. it was the first time that that part of the car had been touched.

 

Is there anything official looking around on the net that says the fix is to replace the bump stops that I can print up and bring in with me to the dealer. I swear it always takes 2 trips to the dealer to get something fixed if it's under warranty

 

yeah there is a TSB that calls for the replacement of the rear hatch springs. Sorry I dont have a link handy but the dealer will have to order the springs (or take them off a new car for you) and then its a 2 second job to twist them on Anyone got the link to the ong list of TSBs handy?

I had to go back 3 times for this. Once to get them to look at it (and argue to replace the springs), 2 for install after the springs came in only to find out that some moron only ordered one spring, and then the third time to pick them up to install myself (they only allowed it because it was winter by the time the third trip happened and my car was put away).

 

I think this is the number for the TSB:

NTSB: NT04-042