seth (01/05/83)
#N:hp-cvd:2700002:000:473
hp-cvd!seth Jan 4 11:35:00 1983
Does anyone know of a way to adjust the hydraulic lifters that
hold up hatchbacks on some cars? I have a 80 Omni 024 with a
hatchback which does not stay open in cold weather, because the
hydraulic lifters which are supposed to hold the thing up don't
work in the cold. Several times when I have opened the hatch to put
something in I have it come down on my head. As usual, thanks
in advance for any help anyone can provide.
--Seth
{hplabs,harpo}!hp-pcd!hp-cvd!sethwookie (01/07/83)
I haven't seen a fix on these yet but have heard of this problem in a number of both foreign and domestic cars. I don't know why they had to use this type of opener in the full size American cars as the old torsion spring idea was cheap, simple and adjustable. I can understand why they use these things in hatchbacks as they are nice and compact. I know this doesn't help the problem but at least you aren't alone! Keith Bauer Bell Labs Murray Hill White Tiger Racing
berry (01/09/83)
#R:hp-cvd:2700002:zinfandel:3200009:000:254 zinfandel!berry Jan 7 09:13:00 1983 I suspect there is no fix for weak hatchback lifters in the cold. I believe most are gas pressure cylinders filled with pressurized nitrogen or something. If you recall PV = nRT, when it gets cold the pressure goes down. You lose. --Berry Kercheval
jwb (01/11/83)
Datsun used a fix of sorts on their Z cars. My '71 240Z has one lifter and the hatch would hit your head, in cold weather when new and all the time when older. My '78 280Z has two of the same lifters. It is approaching 5 years old and the hatch stays up. In very cold waDeather you have to push it up, but it has never fallen like the 240. Jack Buchanan