How to open hatch?

[Uncle Ben]

The hatch latch on my 1999 OB has rusted again to the point that I
can't open it. In the past I have crawled into the luggage area,
removed the upholstered panel, and lubricated the mechanism inside to
fix this.

Is there an easier way? I tried spraying WD40 on the latch mechanism
under the handle from the outside, but that didn't work. (I think
someone suggested that somewhere.)

Ben

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

The hatch latch on my 1999 OB has rusted again to the point that I
can't open it. In the past I have crawled into the luggage area,
removed the upholstered panel, and lubricated the mechanism inside to
fix this.

Is there an easier way? I tried spraying WD40 on the latch mechanism
under the handle from the outside, but that didn't work. (I think
someone suggested that somewhere.)

Ben

WD40 is a poor lubricant at best. It is mostly Stoddard Solvent and will
wash away other lubricants leaving behind a thin film of some
'proprietary' substance that never seems to last long.
I know some threads on the issue have been posted at
www.ultimatesubaru.org a few times. You might try searching/posting
there to get some ideas.

Carl

 

[Uncle Ben]

I know some threads on the issue have been posted atwww.ultimatesubaru.orga few times. You might try searching/posting
there to get some ideas.

Carl

Thanks, Carl. It's nice to know that you are always around to help
out.

I found a post, but what it says is to pop the interior panel, just as
I did before. I guess there is no shortcut. This time, however, I
will not use WD40 but wheel bearing grease instead.

Ben

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Thanks, Carl. It's nice to know that you are always around to help
out.

I found a post, but what it says is to pop the interior panel, just as
I did before. I guess there is no shortcut. This time, however, I
will not use WD40 but wheel bearing grease instead.

Ben

lol! Other than some trivia about WD40, I don't think I helped much! Not
a lot of rust down here to fight. Sorry no one had any more specific
experience help at USMB - lot of guys over there keeping old rusted
soobs running and many of them DO have experience fighting rust.

Carl

 

[Bob's Backfire Burrito]

Actually a *thin* application of white lithium grease on the moving parts of
that assembly will stop rust and it wont drip or migrate with high heat.
Why Subaru can't spend a few cents on that at the factory is being "Cheap"
beyond imagination.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

The hatch latch on my 1999 OB has rusted again to the point that I can't
open it. In the past I have crawled into the luggage area, removed the
upholstered panel, and lubricated the mechanism inside to fix this.

Is there an easier way? I tried spraying WD40 on the latch mechanism
under the handle from the outside, but that didn't work. (I think someone
suggested that somewhere.)

Ben

WD40 is a "Water Dispersant". It replaces water with, um, SOMETHING that
replaces water...

Head over to your GM dealer and get a can of their stuff used to free
stuck nuts and bolts/lubricant. It's $9`12 a can depending where you get
it, but it works GREAT!!! It will actually remove the rust from rusty
parts and replace it with a graphite-type lubricant.

I did the nuts and bolts on an '83 Tercel AWD I had a couple years ago,
and they came out so clean it was almost like they had never rusted...

 

[Dano58]

The hatch latch on my 1999 OB has rusted again to the point that I
can't open it. In the past I have crawled into the luggage area,
removed the upholstered panel, and lubricated the mechanism inside to
fix this.

Is there an easier way? I tried spraying WD40 on the latch mechanism
under the handle from the outside, but that didn't work. (I think
someone suggested that somewhere.)

Ben

I use PB Blaster for loosening rusted bolts on my '65 MGB project.
Works great.

Dan D

 

[deleted]

I use PB Blaster for loosening rusted bolts on my '65 MGB project.
Works great.

Dan D

I've been thru this issue twice. '00 OBW

First time was PB Blaster. It freed up the mechanism, but only lasted
about 6 months, then it got 'iffy' again.

Second time around, I had the panels off the hatch to install the OEM
grab bar (which is a great item to have). Since everything was out of
the way, I removed the mechanism to clean and lubricate it. I used the
stick-type white lithium grease from NAPA. (there's also a slightly
thinner version in a squeeze tube). So far, this fix has lasted a year
and the latch still feels silky smooth.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

I've been thru this issue twice. '00 OBW

First time was PB Blaster. It freed up the mechanism, but only lasted
about 6 months, then it got 'iffy' again.

Second time around, I had the panels off the hatch to install the OEM grab
bar (which is a great item to have). Since everything was out of the way,
I removed the mechanism to clean and lubricate it. I used the stick-type
white lithium grease from NAPA. (there's also a slightly thinner version
in a squeeze tube). So far, this fix has lasted a year and the latch still
feels silky smooth.

Yeah, the Litium grease is the best, it's 'tenacious' and can also be used
for other things.

In the "old days" it was used for the door mouldings, but now silicone
spray is much better.

But the lithium grease will last for quite a while before wearing down...