Rear Hatch Handle Issues

[artgod33]

Hi,

I just got a 96 Eddie Bauer from my brother and can't opent he rear hatch.

AS long as I remeber his rear hatch handle was difficult to open. (wouldn't turn) and now it is near impossible to turn (only occasionally)

Im a strong guy so it's not that I don't put enough muscle into it. It seems to me that it shouldn't be difficult to turn at all.

Any suggestions or solutions?

 

[EMG7895]

its binding up, pop the little cover off the lock tab thing and spray wd40 or the like in there and in the key hole, then once you get it open take the panel off and lube it up

 

[artgod33]

its binding up, pop the little cover off the lock tab thing and spray wd40 or the like in there and in the key hole, then once you get it open take the panel off and lube it up

Thanks.

Is that panel hard to take off?

Or more importantly hard to put back on.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Pull the screws off the handle inside, carefully pop out the christmas tree holders around the top of the window, then slide the cover (with the hatch open) towards the front of the truck. The bottom fasteners are shaped like L's and if you pull the bottom of the trim piece straight back, they'll break. It's easy once you get them off to get everything back on and in place...

 

[artgod33]

Got the screws out and hristmas tree plugs out but couldn't get it all off because it was sticking by the door lock.

I got in there and liquid wrneched the hell out of it. We'llsee if that worked.

It would be nice to get the whole cover off though so I can really get in there good and grease it up!

 

[bichon]

There is a small pop off cover with the door lock sticking out of it. Pop out the cover with a small screwdriver (carefully!). Look down the hole and you will see one lonely screw that holds the rear door trim.