My hatch motor died in my 1989 firebird. I am looking all over for a motor and I found a few on ebay, but everyone seems to have a different opinion of what years work for what cars.

Hawks Third Gen Parts says 86-7 and 88-91 are different. Some people tell me 82-92 are the same. Can anyone help me as to what years I should look for? Thanks alot

Heres a link to Hawks 3rd gen.
http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/miscellaneous

 

I thought they were all the same. All it does is pull the hatch down so how many variants could there possibly be.

You may want to check your electric motor. Mine never worked right in the 8 years that I have had my '89. The motor was always very weak. Last weekend the whole mechanisim came loose. I took the motor apart and there are two magnets inside the can that are supposed to be 180 degrees apart. A good quality motor will have metal spacers between the magnets. These cheap motors just have the magnets glued in and the glue came loose on one of the magnets allowing it to move. It effectively had only half the power that it should have. I glued the magnets 180 degrees apart and put it back together. It works great. The brushes were a little tricky to get back in. I had to use some very small screwdrivers.

 

Thanks alot. I ordered one from a 1987 but I am not worried. This thing is defiantely broken. My dust guard fell off and jammed the track so the plastic casing on it and the track both are craked and destroyed. I bought an assembly for $40 only.

 

Question - does the hatch motor have a timer on it when it is popped? If I pop the hatch, but wait for like 15 seconds until I open it, it sucks it back down. Wasnt sure if this was normal.

 

Your hatch struts are shot, thats why it doesn't pop open.

 

It pops open fine. It just sucks it back in if I dont lift it within like 15 seconds.

 

My hatch struts are dead and when I pop it it just sits on top of the motor for however long until I push it down then it sucks it down. No timer though.

 

Its still the hatch struts. Thats why you have to lift it by hand. I bet that hatch weighs almost 250#'s and the struts don't last forever. Just my opinion, been there and done it.

 

Hatch is about 75 pounds. Feels heavier due to the pivot point.
My hatch shocks are blown and the hatch will start to close if I don't lift it up.
Go here to find motors and parts to rebuild them,
http://www.top-downsolutions.com/def...440f6b6deb2d55

Tell them Manny from thirdgen.org sent you.