I swear I remember seeing some sort of bracket or rod or nifty device being sold that would hold the hatch up, but I'll be damned if I can find any such device. I thought I saw it in a JC Whitney catalog, but searches on their website aren't turning anything up and I don't have a catalog handy.

I'd buy new struts, but I'm pretty sure they were already replaced once around 2000 on my 91 Metro. It isn't worth it to me to pay $40 or so for new ones if that's all the longer they last. The piece of 1"x1" currently in use is not convenient.

Anyone come across this hatch-holder device before?

Keep a pair of vise grips in the car. Open the hatch and clamp the vise grips on the shaft. Cheap temporary fix.

Advance Auto (and others, I'm sure) have a spring loaded rod that clamps to the strut stem that will serve as a holding device. When you open the hatch, the rod will fall into position and rest against the strut body to hold the hatch open. When you close the hatch, lift the hatch slightly and disengage the rod.They are a universal design that you trim to fit.

Advance Auto (and others, I'm sure) have a spring loaded rod that clamps to the strut stem that will serve as a holding device.

Ah yes, that sounds like what I remember seeing. Thanks a bunch!

Does anyone have a link?

Tell you what - I have a real cheap fix....an old broom handle.

Lay it flat in the back cross-ways, open the Hatch Back, pick up the Broom Handle
and prop up the Hatch at the window corner....

Works every time.

Dog Dirt Cheap.

Will not "freeze up" nor rust nor die.

The Wind can't blow hard enough to flop the Hatch down.

DoctorBill (El Cheapo Ritzo)

I have a very nice blue broom handle. It's hollow (weight reduction)...