Introduction (two 1994 Roadmaster estate wagons in SC)

Hi, my wife and I each have a pre-owned 1994 Roadmaster estate. Mine has 180K mi., hers 133K mi. Both have been across the country and back a couple of times. Both have developed "latch disease". We'd like to exchange repair tips with owners like us.

Welcome, nice cars! We love pics!

veesixteen wrote:

Hi, my wife and I each have a pre-owned 1994 Roadmaster estate. Mine has 180K mi., hers 133K mi. Both have been across the country and back a couple of times. Both have developed "latch disease". We'd like to exchange repair tips with owners like us.

Welcome to the forum, good guys and good info here.

Probably need more info on your latch problem. I am guessing you are talking about the rear glass / door.

Tom

Welcome! You know what they say,"The family that wagons together...." I got nothing...I have no idea what "they"say....

Welcome to the forum. My rear glass latch is starting to act up on me. Doesn't want to pop open from the button all the time. I have to use the key when this happens. Is that similar to what you are referring too?

The White wagon (call it #1) was laid up for weeks with a faulty door glass switch (electric and manual operations were o/s). Without being able to open the glass, I could not get to the top screws to access and remove the inner panel. By doing some minor damage I was able to raise inner panel from the base up. I found that the solenoid actuator was hanging loose (no screws?). I was able to manually release the glass switch by pressing on the brass "thingy" that usually is activated by the solenoid. I got the glass open. I was then able to re-attach the solenoid; it was a tricky job without an angle screwdriver; I used screws but I see that my other wagon uses hex bolts, so no need to undo entire brass mechanism (I learn from my mistakes). Too late, I had disassembled entire brass (?) mechanism (two washer-bolts on LH side - driver's side), slide it out to one side, then re-attach the solenoid and the brass mechanism. Trouble is, there's a rod that is activated by depressing the latch button; the former has to be inserted (NOT easy) into a rectangular hole in the mechanism. Anyway, now the glass can be released by both the latch key (turning anti-clocjwise) AND by the switch on the LH side of the dash panel. But my troubles are NOT over! I still cannot "pop" the tailgate either to the side OR downwards; basically, the wagon has lost 80% of its "flexibility" as a wagon. NOW THE ANNOYING PART: I had removed the inner panel of the Teal wagon (call it #2) to serve as a guide for the (initial) repair to the glass problem in wagon #1. Believe it or not, when I closed THAT tailgate after the job as done ... I FOUND THAT THE TAILGATE ON CAR #2 HAS BECOME O/S TOO. I am going nuts! So, my friends, I need your insights; WHAT DID I POSSIBLY DO WRONG on car #2? Did I slam it too hard?

81X11 wrote:

Welcome, nice cars! We love pics!

First, welcome aboard the crazy train.

Second, the good news is that there is a way to get the gate open without trashing the rear panel. Remove the header panel above the rear glass and unbolt the 4 10mm nuts then open like a tailgate. you can then pop off the bottom of the panel and reach up there to release via the 'thingy' IMPORTANT best to have two people holding the glass! I had one and they dropped it on the ground (luckily tempered glass is strong!).

But then I think you said you have the panel off already... If so, release via thingy and make sure the tailgate is closed all the way.

I was sorely tempted to remove the glass, as you suggested, but there were too few helpers around ... so I went for the "blind" search under the lower part of the inner door panel. It worked for me; I can now show you what to "fish" for back there.

The second part of my good news is that I worked some more to-day and was able (but really don't know how, other than using lots of WD40) to get the centre latch of car #1 (white one) released. At least now I can load some gear again, with the white tailgate folded DOWN. I still haven't figured out how the RH latch works to release the side-swinging tailgate on both cars @1 and 2.

Some photos attached, I hope! Let me know if they appear ???

[quote="Sprocket"] First, welcome aboard the crazy train.

Seems like only one image went through. Can anyone explain how to post more than 1 image and how the recipient(s) can see themt?

This may help you. https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t55-read-this-first-how-to-post-pics-now-with-pics

Tom

If you host the pics here, you can only host them one at a time... no bulk option. The best way is to host the pic, copy onto the forum, then click "host"

rinse, lather, repeat....

until you have hosted all the pics you want.