adg-wolfen

I have a 91 gt 5.0, the latch on the hatchback doesn't latch all the way, only half of it closes. Can anyone tell me how to fix this? I am new to this site and just got this car so I'm going to try to fix it up to original stock condition.
Thank you for any help

TrimDrip

I have never done a hatch but, I have done this to a many of trunks that wouldn't shut. It may not be the same problem so you may have to take everything off the hatch to see what the problem is.

Anyways, I would always adjust what the latch hooks to. My Mazda did this one time and I was in a hurry so I stuck a large prisebar in the thing and just bent it up. On customer cars I would take it loose and move it.

oldfordisbetter

my hatch wouldnt latch properly or not at all sometimes. so i got some advise on here and it worked beautifully. either do one of the two or both. take your trim panel orr the cieling above back seats at the roof of the body near hatch. will be 2 bolts there. get a friend or someone to help you. loosen bolts slide one side foreward toward car a bit then do other side. try it. if all works good screw panel back up. if not at the striker latch take trim off around it on my 85 its just 2 screws and get a star head and loosed that and adjust that untill it closes right. if those dont work then idk man u might be up $hits creek.

adg-wolfen

Thank you for the reply. The two pieces that close around that striker bar you're talking about, that's what I'm having trouble with, but maybe if I mess around with it like you suggested... hopefully these will work.
Thanks again, April

mustangGT86_05

does it still have a striker bushing? Its made of nylon and they tend to break with age. If its off, replace that first, any auto parts store will have them and they are cheap. If it's broke off your latch won't hit properly and can cause your problem

mjr46

this^^^^^^^^^

adg-wolfen

Thank you very much! That bushing isn't there so I'll get one and try that first.

Js88lx

Yes.... or just do some backyard customs on it..., all iv done is wrapped black electro tape around over the broken bushing.., this will let the latch on the hatch lock again on the "stem, striker etc.?"