Help! My hatch is stuck closed! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

frankstallone · #1 05-10-2008, 01:43 PM

So I put new hatch struts in my W124 wagon and have been having trouble opening my hatch ever since.

Here is where I am at now. I took the mechanism out of the inside of the door and the pin came out that goes down to the bottom of the hatch. I haven't figure out a way to get the hatch door card off with the hatch closed, is there a way before I just cut it out.

I tried applying pressure with both feet on the inside 3rd row seat when the latch was still in, I tried having someone with a helmet outside push the button in while I press on the inside with my two feel, and I have tried locking and unlocking the door (which I can hear lock and unlock) with the key in the rear door in all positions while pulling and still can not get it up.

I wanted to fix this today but I figured the hatch had to be up to do that. Is there anything else I can do before I just ruin my hatch door card?

frankstallone · #2 05-10-2008, 04:16 PM

PM from earlier today:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billybob

Sounds like there is to much pressure on the latch! If the new struts are exerting too much upward force on the hatches latch parts it's possible they can't move freely and swing open. From the outside push in on the hatch while operating the button. Good luck!

Yeah thats what I thought! I finally got frustrated and ripped the inside door card off the hatch to see what is going on. I didn't take the latch mechanism off but it seems like everything mechanically works until it gets to the latch. Whatever force is exerted on the actually latch itself is not enough to free it, so with the door card off I can pull up on the inside hammer, and push the last piece before the latch and pop, it comes right now.

frankstallone · #3 05-10-2008, 08:10 PM

Okay so I wanted to take a picture or two to help give an example of what is going on here; I finally got the hatch open by pushing the latch from the inside mechanism (blue arrow) up which works all the way until it hits the pin which is suppose to go back and pop open the hatch (red arrow).

But pushing the mechanism up (blue arrow) moves parts but does not push the pin (red arrow) far enough back to pop open the hatch.

Other problem is the hatch doesn't close all the way and I have not had time to figure out why the closing assistant doesn't work but thats why the yellow arrow is there, to show that there is a gap and that the hatch does not fully close.

frankstallone · #4 05-11-2008, 10:05 AM

So I figured out that if I body slam the hatch it shuts completely; annoying but at least it completely shuts.