Hello,

Still going through the list of all of the small problems on my '87 S4. A lot of talk today about hatch parts, so I keep focused on that part...

When I pull either passanger or driver side hatch release button, I can hear hatch motor working, but hatch itself stays closed. Shouldn't it pop up (I think that's what it says in the manual)? Any ideas what I will need to change?

P.S. Hatch works fine with a key...

Thank You!

 

This whole system seems to be very sensitive to alignments, including the sun, moon, and stars above. I also learned that if I unscrewed the rubber stops at the corners of the hatch too much, it would no longer release.

Take a close look at the components - are they mis-aligned, worn, or cracked? That might help you figure out the source of the issue. Sometimes you can fix it with an adjustment.

 

worn out hatch receiver urethane insert.

 

What is the condition of the plastic insert, good condition or breaking up?

If it is good condition then adjust the release motor as per the WSM, that is slackenken off the two set bolts that holds the motor in position from inside the car with the hatch closed.

Move the motor downwards until you can feel the release cam touches the tongue of the release latch. When you feel this tighten the bolts and check whether it now releases.

If it does not then move it a little further downwards and then try it. If it now releases take the car for a drive to see whether hatch spring opens when you go over a bumpy surface. If it does not bounce open then you have fixed the problem, however, check the sides of the release mechanism to see whether they are cracked or not. If they are cracked then you have some new problems which may mean you will require to replace it. I undertook a repair to this a couple of year ago and it is still satisfactrry with no further cracking after the correct adjustment.

If it does not release then I would suggest that you apply a couple of "zip ties" around the release cam to increase the release radius of the cam. You now need to reset the initial adjustment as described above. Now check if the electric release works. If it does then you have been successful. If it does not release and move the electric motor a little further down the adusting slide and see if it works as described before.

If it still does not work you can slip a plastic shim down the rear of the plastic insert until the release cam releases the latch, however, now you are reducing the space with the insert to receive the hatch tounge has to fit. Again check for operation. If it does not work, then you need to go into a full adusting procedure. Please check my previous posts on this to undertake a full step-by-adjusting and alignment procedure.

You should note that the key release is a different system to the electric motor release, so just because the key will release does not mean that the electric release will function.

Keep us posted on how you go.

Tails 1990 928S4 Auto

 

Tails,

Thanks a lot for your help. Plastic insert - is this the one you are talking about (image from Ebay):



Thank You!

 

An update... I've replaced the above plastic insert with one from Nicole and also moved motor as per Tails (in my case, it was completely down originally, so I simply pushed it all the way up and release started working).

My new problem however is that when I was tightening bolts, one of them snapped right near the head... I can buy replacement from 928 specialists, but how do I go about removing the broken shaft out?

Thank You!

 

IIRC, just remove the other bolt and take the motor out after releasing the push rod from the motor.

The best was to do this is to use a small opened spanner that fits under the spherical head of the connector and pop it off.

When you have the motor removed, grip the end of the broken thread section and un-do it. I this wont work try filing a couple of flats on the threaded section if it is proud enough.

Tails 1990 928S4 Auto

 

Cont'd.
Use a shifting spanner to undo the threaded section of the bolt. If you cannot remove it by this method you may have to drill it out.
Tails 1990 928S4 auto.

 

MX22 I did the same thing. I used a left hand drill bit & the broke bolt came out with out any problems.
Good Day Sir

 

Thanks a lot guys - mission accomplished. Took the motor out and then simply unscrewed the stuck part from the inside.

Cheers!