On my 81 Hatch, I have to use the key to open the rear hatch or, have somebody pull the handle while I lift the rear hatch. Is there supposed to be a spring or something to pop it clear of the latch? Or is this just a function of the struts? The struts seem to hold it up just fine, I accidentally left it open overnight and it stayed.

if i rember correctly, there shold be some things that look like door stops that are spring loaded someplace on the door frame. Been a while since ive looked at these things,

 

 

nipper

i just went and looked, i wanna say it's a combination of the door stop things (they come in contact with the car right above the taillights, no springs in mine) and the springiness of the latching mechanism.

i just went and looked, i wanna say it's a combination of the door stop things (they come in contact with the car right above the taillights, no springs in mine) and the springiness of the latching mechanism.

 

no springs in the thingies will do it every time

 

nipper