Search function brough up alot of info, but non of it related to the hatch ??? Anyway, I went to open the hatch this morning (the X is kept in garage about 39?) I pulled the handle, and it only partly opened. It will lock and unlock, but when I try to open it, it only opens about half an inch, kind of like when you dont shut a door to "full close" position and you have to bump your ass up against it to shut it the rest of the way. Has anyone else delt with this one? I am guessing I will have to try and crawl inside and pull the panel off, but I cant imagine that being to easy to do with the hatch closed.

Sounds like the catch is sticking.
Try to get something in there and see if you can loosen it

I dont know if the first and second gen hatches are the same, here's something you might want to try. http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=27129&highlight=hatch

Thanks Tom, ...That would be nice if it were that simple, but looking at the pix, i guess that is from a 2nd gen hatch, on the first gen's, the handle for opening is in the center bottom of the door, looks like that one is on the pass side, and has a metal handle inside the door, mine has a strap inside for closing, but nothing for opening from inside, go figure.


Svendog, I thought about that, but there really isnt much room to get at it, the hatch just clears the top of the rear bumper when it opens, and as I said, it only comes out about half an inch.

Thanks guys.

I was just down trying to get a better look at things, Kinda worried now, I dont know if i can get the inside panel off with it closed, I think the two bolts that hold the door latch on might hold the plasic on as well ? ? ? ? can anyone confirm this on the first gen's ????

It's soft plastic. You should be able to pull it right in...that is unless it's 15 degrees like it is here.

maybe, but I am wondering if its like most doors, whereas the plastic goes down inside the door at the top, you usually have to pop the bottom then lift up to get them off side doors.