Can't open the Hatchback unless the engine's off?

[fieldhouse]

Title pretty much says it all. 2013 LT Hatchback, 1.4t manual...

Stopped to drop off someone, had the car out of gear, clutch in, brake on, e-brake on... punched the unlock button on the dash at least 1/2 a dozen times while everyone else was making fun of the guy for not being able to figure out how to open the hatch...

As soon as I shut off the engine it magically opened. I've verified that this was required at least once since then. Is this a known "feature"? Or is my ride just "special"??

 

[rdss]

It's a safety feature.

 

[$ub$onic]

I'm pretty sure ive opened mine with the engine on..... I'll test tomorrow

 

[ChrisJ]

Both of my Sonics let the hatch open with engine running. I know this well as me and the wife commute together and I get out first. The first was a 2012 automatic and our current is a 2012 1.4T manual.

Maybe this is a new for 2013 thing and if so, it stinks.


Maybe it was because you had the clutch pushed down? On mine, its always in neutral with parking brake on cause I get out and she gets back in and leaves.

 

[C.E.Divine]

Not new for the 2013s. Just to make sure, the button on the dash, were you trying to push it just to unlock the car, or were you pressing it thinking it would pop the hatch like a trunk open button? The way you worded your post, it sounds like you were sitting in the drivers seat the entire time, which means there is no way you could have opened the hatch.

 

[ChrisJ]

Not new for the 2013s. Just to make sure, the button on the dash, were you trying to push it just to unlock the car, or were you pressing it thinking it would pop the hatch like a trunk open button? The way you worded your post, it sounds like you were sitting in the drivers seat the entire time, which means there is no way you could have opened the hatch.

Sounds to me like there were two people.

"punched the unlock button on the dash at least 1/2 a dozen times while everyone else was making fun of the guy for not being able to figure out how to open the hatch..."

 

[GunBlade]

Not sure how it works with manual sonic's but with the autos you do have to be in park for it to unlock.

 

[C.E.Divine]

Maybe I'm just reading it funny. No insults toward intelligence intended.

 

[whitnith]

My friend opened mine up just fine the other day with the engine running.

Pretty sure I was in neutral, but sure about having the e-brake on.

Like others have said, there isn't a pop button, so its won't spring open like a trunk with a nudge.

 

[Eric Smit]

you need to have the e brake engaged.


-Eric Smit

 

[Gsrdude]

I open mine all the time with the car running. E-Brake is engaged though never tried it without the E-Brake engaged

Come out in the am and start the car then go back inside, When I come out to leave for work I throw my laptop in the hatch.

 

[fieldhouse]

I'll try it again. Maybe I just thought I had the brake on. And yeah, I did try with the clutch both pushed in and let out.

Makes sense if it does work with the ebrake on. Definitely a lot more sense than the low-fuel light not coming on (has only happened once so far).


EDIT: well, not sure what I was doing wrong before but the hatch will unlatch with the engine running and the e-brake on. I didn't have someone else to be my guinea pig so I can only guess that either I didn't have the e-brake on before or that there's some override if the clutch or brake pedals are actually being depressed.

 

[ChrisJ]

I'll try it again. Maybe I just thought I had the brake on. And yeah, I did try with the clutch both pushed in and let out.

Makes sense if it does work with the ebrake on. Definitely a lot more sense than the low-fuel light not coming on (has only happened once so far).
View attachment 3726

EDIT: well, not sure what I was doing wrong before but the hatch will unlatch with the engine running and the e-brake on. I didn't have someone else to be my guinea pig so I can only guess that either I didn't have the e-brake on before or that there's some override if the clutch or brake pedals are actually being depressed.

I sure hope the fuel pumps they are using now hold up a LOT better than the previous ones. ones from the 80s and 90s if you ever did tha repeatedly you would burn out the pump for sure in a short time.

 

[$ub$onic]

My 88 bronco 2 had major fuel issues. I was surprised when my dads 07 truck need a fuel pump a few years back

 

[ChrisJ]

My 88 bronco 2 had major fuel issues. I was surprised when my dads 07 truck need a fuel pump a few years back

So what you're saying is its probably still a bad idea to run the tank down low with an electric in tank pump. ??

 

[Ms.DannyStone]

I'll try it again. Maybe I just thought I had the brake on. And yeah, I did try with the clutch both pushed in and let out.

Makes sense if it does work with the ebrake on. Definitely a lot more sense than the low-fuel light not coming on (has only happened once so far).
View attachment 3726

EDIT: well, not sure what I was doing wrong before but the hatch will unlatch with the engine running and the e-brake on. I didn't have someone else to be my guinea pig so I can only guess that either I didn't have the e-brake on before or that there's some override if the clutch or brake pedals are actually being depressed.

Mine beeps and warns me when I get close to 20 miles left in my car