Question about hatch struts

[stevem]

I just bought a 97 Firebird. I've owned several 3rd gen Firebirds and mainly got this 4th gen to avoid having to put too many more miles on my 89 Formula.

Every 3rd gen that I've owned had really weak hatch struts that would barely hold the hatch up or not at all. When I replaced them the struts were always powerful enough that when I hit the hatch release button in the car the hatch would pop open and go up all the way on its own. Is this how the 4th gen is supposed to work? When I hit the button on my Firebird it unlocks but it doesn't go up. The struts seem to hold it up just fine. I just need to know if buying new struts would make it pop open like the 3rd gens do.

[Gallstaff]

Mine 98 doesn't go up by itself. It'll pop, but I have to raise it by hand and the struts hold it in place.

[Need4Camaro]

No it's not supposed to go all the way up on it's own unless you have some HELLA POWERFULL trunk struts... Our trunks weigh in at what? 500lbs or more doesn't they?

[Chet Mo and the Camaro]

yea i didnt realize how much the weighed until i went to a junkyard and raised one with no struts holy s*** it was heavy me and a friend had to take turns holding it up

[HBHRacing]

The struts are designed to hold the load of the hatch when opened. Not to actualy lift it for you. It would need a counter spring in order for that to happen. Personaly I would not like my hatch to fly open by itself.

[stevem]

The only reason I thought maybe it was supposed to push it up was because my 3rd gens have always done it. I have noticed the hatch on the 4th gen is much heavier. I'm not so lazy I can't do it myself. It was just a nice little feature on my 3rd gen that I kinda expected on this car.