Hatch lock cylinder is pushed in

[Qyota]

More from the FNG!

I noticed yesterday that the lock cylinder on the hatch door is pushed in...making it completely useless. I can see it dangling back in the recess, but have no way of grabbing it.

How does one take the rear license plate "thing" apart? I assume you have to start by removing the plate, but then what? Or, do I have to do this from the inside?

I did a search, but this site's search engine is absolutely horrid. Google did better, but nothing concrete.

Thanks!

 

[osuchasenuts]

I did this a few weeks ago. Open your tailgate, go to a small cloth strap on the tailgate and open the plastic piece, showing you a bolt. Unscrew this bolt.

Then get a flat blade (I use a butter knife) and start prying the plastic tailgate from the sheet metal tailgate. There are about 15 snaps holding it. This unsnaps all of the plastic part of the tailgate, except for the top portion connecting to the glass. I left it dangling and worked, but I think you can slide it out.

Once plastic part is out of the way, pull out a screw driver and remove all the screws holding the firewall/moisture protection material. Behind this is all the internals for the door latch and the window.

My key cylinder had metal that had eroded and broke. I didn't have a solder gun, so I just duct taped it back in the cylinder seating and then put some tape over the key hole. You can opt to take it to a body shop or someone that will do some metal work, but I am holding off on that step.

Have fun! Took me about 30minutes.

 

[Qyota]

Thank you! Dang, this place rocks!