Hatch won't open
 

My hatch won't open and when I try to turn key in the lock cylinder, it is very difficult to get it to turn. I can trun the key in the lock cylinder but it takes a fair amount of force. Eventhough I can turn the key in the lock cylinder the hatch will not open. To me it seems as the Hatch lock cylinder is stuck in the locked postion. How do I go about fixing this? Has anyone else had this problem before?

Thanks for your help in advnace

did u push the keyhole button?

Yes, when I push it in nothing happens. I get the same feeling, takes little amount of force to push it in when the cylinder is in locked or unlocked position. I am positive it is stuck in the lock position. I am just wondering if anyone has had this problem and knows a quick fix to it. Otherwise I will just have to enter through the rear seats and pull the plastic off around the latch and manually unlock the latch.

Apart from a squirt of WD40, I think you know what you have to do.
-Paul

Sounds like a problem I had, I ended up having to replace the latch. #11 on the picture. I guess it is kinda a common thing that goes wrong. After replacing mine, I looked at the old one and the little spring that moves the latch to release or lock it had broke which left it in the locked position.

OK, do you have a diagram of how to get the plastic around the latch off without opening the door? How did you do it? I tried to get it off, but could not get it as it seems to be somehow attached to the hatch door. It will not come off and all I managed was to put a crack in the plastic.

there's two clips pushed in along the bottom, no way to get them with the hatch shut unfortunately

Well, with lots of tinkering and help from a friend at work, got the leatherette panel off and have now focused tinkering on the lock. It looks like the locking portion is no longer attached to the button to open the door. Any tips on getting that fixed? Will it just be buying a couple new parts? In the meantime, does anyone have any tips to jimmy the lock so I can open the door and get better access?

Same thing happened with me
 

I tinkered with mine for awhile when i first bought the car. The cylinder was loose and wouldnt pop open when i pushed the button. The first time i had the key in the cylinder and contiously open and closed it.Then I continously opened and closed the locks on my driver side door. I went back to the hatch door and it popped open with the key in cylinder and my tinkering.
I think it fixed it because the first few times it had the same loose feeling when you would want to pop it open. BUT now it works great! Shows what you can do if you dont give up. I havent had anyproblems. I probably have to spray wd-40 on it, so that it continues working, though.
Hope this helped-Alex

If I'm not mistaken, I think I remember somewhere that you can access the hatch lock mechanism by removing the rear wiper. I'd imagine you'd still need to remove the plastic interior trim panel, but once the rear wiper is removed, you have direct access to the lock cylinder from outside the vehicle. Again, I'm not 100% sure of this as I've never had to mess with mine.

Door latch not working right
 

Hope your rear hatch is open by now. If not, you have to get that plastic cover off and get to the latch. Pelican parts sells a replacement latch p/n 51-24-8-209-730-M9. www.pelicanparts.com I had to replace mine and the new one works like a brand new car.

makes me glad my lock failed in the unlocked position