Rear window unlatched when driving

[maxtraxduffy]

Now that the weather has cooled off i like driving with the windows down.seems went i do the wind comes in the car and it acts like a drag shoot. So i unlatched the rear window and it seems to make the air flow better for the car.just alittle tidbit!

[JohnnyM]

I was driving to work the other morning and noticed a new annoying rattle coming from the rear of the car. It was so annoying I soon pulled over to see WTH. That is when I discovered that the rear hatch was not latched.
After making sure the hatch was properly latched... no more rattles! The hatch was not designed to drive with it unlatched.
Beware of exhaust gasses entering unnoticed from open rear hatch. This could be a hazardous situation.

[Old SGM]

If the rear window is not latched, the dome light will be on, that is unless you have the switch in the "off" positiion.

[mendo]

There was a thread about this a while back.

I noticed the same thing about the wind buffeting so I ran a couple of tests:

(Keep in mind that this was random and I figure that because there was a light headwind it added effect.)

Windows up-41 instant mpg
Windows down-36 instant mpg
Windows down with rear hatch all the way open-34mpg
Windows down with rear hatch propped open 4 inches-38mpg

(I put a foam block between the hatch and tied it closed.)

The interior noise level and buffeting went way down with the hatch propped out.

As far as the gasses, this is a good thing to consider.

I figured that as long as I had both windows open when the hatch was propped that the car would get about as much gassing as a convertible with the top down. There was plenty of airflow going out the back as the air was getting sucked there from the side windows then pushed out.

[jetfuel]

Originally Posted by Old SGM

If the rear window is not latched, the dome light will be on, that is unless you have the switch in the "off" positiion.

..back up warning...the little red light on the button bank will not be on telling you that there's a door or hatch open...
...thanks to whoever it was that brought this to my attention...

jetfuel....dome light always off...