Rear hatch rods not holding

[corbanbrook]

After years of use the rear hatch rods are not holding the hatch in the up position... not that big of a deal.. only really when im trying to do groceries.. and have to hold it open with my shoulder

Wondering if there was a quick fix to stiffen the rods up so they hold. They almost want to.. and sometimes work if im perfectly still... and parked in a slight decline

Wondering if i should use some old muddy grease along the rod arms.. to give a little more resistance.

[mx34u2nv]

pretty easy to go the junkyard and get 2 that work.....

[TREVO123]

or get a stick!

[neutral]

Wondering if there was a quick fix to stiffen the rods up so they hold. They almost want to.. and sometimes work if im perfectly still... and parked in a slight decline Wondering if i should use some old muddy grease along the rod arms.. to give a little more resistance.

fwiw, I tried that with mine and they immediately got worse. Ended up picking up a new set on ebay.

[ariesdude]

$60 on ebay - maybe less in a local junkyard.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda-MX ... enameZWDVW

[corbanbrook]

I was at home hardware the other day. and I picked up one of those little mini pinch clamps they sell at the check out. $0.69.

Just tied a string around it and connected it so it hangs from one of the rod arms. So when i lift the hatch i just clamp it to the bottom part of the rod so it stops it from closing.

It was a cheap mod but it really enhanced the visual appeal of the car... especially when in the UP position.

[Aston Wards]

haven't come across this myself (both the Presso's i've owned have had REALLY hard to open hatches), but can they not be re-gassed?