Hatch latch problem... do I really have to cut a hole in my car?

[computerlove87]

Originally Posted by bairjo

I'm a little confused on what is loose. Are the two screws holding the striker loose? Because when I looked that up in the shop manual, they say to adjust the striker position by loosening these. That would lead me to believe they tapped holes with no nuts to get to inside. I'm not sure that is what you are after...

There is definitely supposed to be a nut there as far as I can tell, I can pull the bolt all the way out and what is left is just a blank, untapped hole... It doesn't seem like it should be a captive nut or tapped hole on the other side, because when I loosen the side that still has its nut, I can move it back and forth, not just rotate on the axis of the bolt. I imagine this is so that you can align the striker and determine how tightly the hatch closes. Or the other possibility is that the captive nut's welds broke off on both sides and that is why one disappeared and the other is allowing me to move it around.
(Thanks bairjo for reminding me of that word that I was looking for (striker) )

Originally Posted by CTScott

Nothing that helps with the hatch latching goes in those two holes. Check the assembly on the bottom of the hatch itself, as you probably have a bolt or two loose there.

The latching assembly on the bottom of the hatch is fine, it is just the striker that is completely loose. I just thought maybe those holes have something to do with the installation since they line up perfectly with the screws that hold the striker.