Rear Hatch Lock Problem - 2007 Limited

[HKTackDriver]

Hi all, I went to close my hatch today and instead of the usual motors pulling the hatch closed, it banged down. It looks like the door latch is closed and is banging down on the "hoop" in the floor of the trunk area. Make sense?

Is there any way to open the actuator latch manually? (Or is that not the problem?) Really could use a quick response, my car is sitting in the parking lot outside of my building, unsecured.

 

[NCrunner2012]

Hi all, I went to close my hatch today and instead of the usual motors pulling the hatch closed, it banged down. It looks like the door latch is closed and is banging down on the "hoop" in the floor of the trunk area. Make sense?

Is there any way to open the actuator latch manually? (Or is that not the problem?) Really could use a quick response, my car is sitting in the parking lot outside of my building, unsecured.

There is a way to open the door manually but you have to crawl in the back and take off the plastic cover. There are some videos on youtube. Last year the some piece of rubber got wedged in my rear hatch latch and I had to do it. Once I freed it up it worked perfectly again.

How to Manually Release Rear Hatch with Pictures

 

[HKTackDriver]

Thanks! It's actually open, so I do have access. The problem is it's locked and cannot be closed/latched. Same process that you linked to or is it easier if I have direct access to the actuator?

 

[NCrunner2012]

Thanks! It's actually open, so I do have access. The problem is it's locked and cannot be closed/latched. Same process that you linked to or is it easier if I have direct access to the actuator?

I would say yes, open it up and manually unlock it and you should be able to reset it.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

If that doesnt work - take off the plastic cover on the lifegate, spray some WD40 or your favorite lubricant in there and try to clean out anything. can also try disconnecting the battery

 

[Bluesky 07]

Check your battery. Just had to replace mine b/c it was toast and that hatch motor was one of the first things to stop working properly.

 

[HKTackDriver]

There is a way to open the door manually but you have to crawl in the back and take off the plastic cover. There are some videos on youtube. Last year the some piece of rubber got wedged in my rear hatch latch and I had to do it. Once I freed it up it worked perfectly again.

How to Manually Release Rear Hatch with Pictures

That did it! I've done most of that process before when i replaced my hatch Release button, so I flew through it. It's a shame they don't have something else simpler to get that accomplished. Thanks though, that was very helpful!

 

[Syr4RinNC]

There are ways to modify it for an escape latch - people have installed levers that they can pull without going through that whole process. I cant find a video right now
- If the actuator isnt working right, sometimes zip tying the levers together can provide it an added boost

 

[rdruss]

Mine's done that a couple of times, just take a screw driver or something and push on the latch and it will reposition and work fine. At least mine did.