[takumi]

My rear hatch / lift-gate is stuck closed. When I go to squeeze the handle to open the rear hatch there is no play or tension on the handle. I realize the handle / latch mechanism probably fell apart and needs to be put back together or replaced.

How can I get the rear hatch open so I can remove that inside panel and fix or replace the handle / latch mechanism?

[I_bRAD]

This came up recently

1997 4runner rear door latch

[01thunder]

Originally Posted by takumi

My rear hatch / lift-gate is stuck closed. When I go to squeeze the handle to open the rear hatch there is no play or tension on the handle. I realize the handle / latch mechanism probably fell apart and needs to be put back together or replaced.

How can I get the rear hatch open so I can remove that inside panel and fix or replace the handle / latch mechanism?

first is get in there and rip the panel off, no choice. then remove the inner black access panel and inspect. clips break on linkage rods.

[01thunder]

put the glass down and start rippin and tearin. the panel will flex but it can also crack/break so do what you can.

[takumi]

Yeah i get that i have to pry that inside panel off to get to the lock mechanism, but i cant open the back door / hatch , so how can i pry the inside panel off if i can't get the back door / hatch open?

[JayRolla]

Originally Posted by takumi

Yeah i get that i have to pry that inside panel off to get to the lock mechanism, but i cant open the back door / hatch , so how can i pry the inside panel off if i can't get the back door / hatch open?

Once you get in there you should beable to manually release the latch by inspecting the latch mechanism.

[jgue467]

Even though you have unlocked all doors, have ya tried the key yet? Insert and turn/release to left.

Mind occassionally won't open either, feels limp even though i hit the all door open function. Key to left always allows it to open. Luck.

[I_bRAD]

Originally Posted by takumi

Yeah i get that i have to pry that inside panel off to get to the lock mechanism, but i cant open the back door / hatch , so how can i pry the inside panel off if i can't get the back door / hatch open?

Did you look at the post I linked? cause it tells you exactly how to get the panel off.

[takumi]

At first glance of that thread i saw the recommended tool. I went back to that thread and read a little deeper. I will get out there later and see if i can remove it without breaking anything.

Thanks for the link to the thread.

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

Did you look at the post I linked? cause it tells you exactly how to get the panel off.

[takumi]

Thanks. This did the trick. Took about 30 minutes to take apart and put back together. I didn't undo the 3 plug wiring harness, i just unbolted the center panel and put it to the side. Turns out the door handle 10mm nuts had come loose and needed to be tightened. I'm grateful for this forum, and I'm glad nothing was broken or needed to be replaced.

Cheers

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

This came up recently

1997 4runner rear door latch

[tbryanh]

Originally Posted by takumi

Thanks. This did the trick. Took about 30 minutes to take apart and put back together. I didn't undo the 3 plug wiring harness, i just unbolted the center panel and put it to the side. Turns out the door handle 10mm nuts had come loose and needed to be tightened. I'm grateful for this forum, and I'm glad nothing was broken or needed to be replaced.

Cheers

How hard is it to get the panel back on? Does it use plastic clips?

[ian1006]

My hatch handle stopped working on my 1996 after spending the winter outside, mine was a different issue but I sprayed wd40 on all the linkage and it released itself.glad you got it open

[takumi]

very easy to take apart and put back together. frankly pretty much everything like valve cover gasket replacement any many other things on this 3.4L is easy to do. My 4runner has about 250,000 miles on it. I can't bring myself to get rid of it because it runs great and is easy to work on.

Originally Posted by tbryanh

How hard is it to get the panel back on? Does it use plastic clips?

[kona_8000]

I'm having the exact same issue here.

but i took the panel off and all the mechanism inside the door works well, handle works, the cable on the latch mechanism is working and the pivot on top of the mechanism is moving... tried the good old penetrating oil with no result.

any idea of how to open that god damn door?

[curryT4R]

Originally Posted by kona_8000

I'm having the exact same issue here.

but i took the panel off and all the mechanism inside the door works well, handle works, the cable on the latch mechanism is working and the pivot on top of the mechanism is moving... tried the good old penetrating oil with no result.

any idea of how to open that god damn door?

I just went through this a couple weeks ago.
After taking everything off and looking inside, I just sort of played with the mechanism some and it opened up. One of the nuts that holds the latch mechanism to the door was missing and rolling around the hatch so I put that back on and haven't had any issues since.