MellottN

95 Grand Cherokee's rear hatch just stopped opening. Randomly, about a week ago, couldn't get it to open. I'll pull on the handle, but I'm guessing it's a mechanical failure inside of the hatch's handle. Anyone have any tips on how to get it open/fix it?

powerslave1966

This happened to me also. I did a search around the forum and someone suggested to put some bodyweight on the hatch, pull the handle and lift. It worked for me on the first try, sprayed some WD-40 all over the latch and replaced the struts. Works fine every time now!!! Good Luck!!!

__________________
96 ZJ Laredo, selec-trac 4X4, 4.0L auto, stock for now. Slow build; 07 XK's takin' all my money!!!!

Mattpar

Happened to my 95 grand cherokee as well. What i did was crawl inside. Carefully pull back the top of the plastic panel, just enough reach your hand down in there and trip the latch.

What happens is there is a threaded rod that has a cheesey clip that connects the handle to the latch. Take off the panel, adjust the threaded rod clip dealie, open and close it a few times to make sure its fixed, then put the plastic panel back on

__________________
DD: 99 Cherokee, Stock
Summer DD: 99 Ducati 996, Remus exhaust, regeared, other little things
Trailrig: 97 XJ, R.E. 5" w/ drop brackets, 33's, 5150's, C4x4 bumper with MM12K, A/c -> OBA, Aussie locker

MellottN

Man, gotta hand it to both of you for the quick replies! Powerslave, I tried giving it some bodyweight but that sucker wasnt moving! And Mattpar, I did what you said and got it working like a charm again

Thanks guys

poomwah

I'm going to have to pull the panel on mine, I have to put quite a bit of weight on mine to get it open

OverlandXJ

The hatch on my 98 is stuck. I tried the lean into trick with no luck.

I pulled the interior panel back, busted it pretty good. Grabbed the rod that clips into the clip, tried pulling and pushing down in it... still wont open.

Which direction did you move that rod to open?

Mattpar

I honestly dont remember what way is the correct way to pull it, are you sure you got the correct rod? Is should? be a rod that points straight up and down then the hatch is closed,...

__________________
DD: 99 Cherokee, Stock
Summer DD: 99 Ducati 996, Remus exhaust, regeared, other little things
Trailrig: 97 XJ, R.E. 5" w/ drop brackets, 33's, 5150's, C4x4 bumper with MM12K, A/c -> OBA, Aussie locker

OverlandXJ

I'll try it again eventually... after the skin grows back on my right arm.

I already destroyed the panel.. might as well just rip it off so i can see what i'm doing.

trucker

I had that problem too. I did crack the bottom panel to get the door panel off. The rod just pull up and after you open screw up the rod. It was chalenge. I suggest replace the lifters. They only $22 a piece.

country_boy454

After battling with the rear hatch on my 97 I just ripped off the plastic piece that the license plate is attached to. It made quick access to everything I needed and I could see what I was doing. Got the latch to open. Ended up needing to replace my handle and all the parts attached to it. Also while at the JY I sourced a new plastic piece to put in place of the one I broke! Total for all the parts set me back $30!

__________________
1996 XJ 6.5 in. lift, 34" LTBs
1997 ZJ Laredo: 4.0 DD Hers
1996 ZJ Limited: CAI, Screamin' Demon coil, Brass terminal Cap and rotor, 10mm Live Wires, Autolite 3923s, 180* t-stat, SCT Tune, 4300k HIDs, bull bar with Hella 700FFs, clear lenses, Dual exhaust, KOR 2.5" BB + UpCountry springs, Mall Rated stickers, IRO Double Shear Conversion Front Trac Bar, 5.9 hood, 52mm TB, 24lb/hr Injectors Plum Broke build Next on the list: modded keg, cam, 1.6rr's, hughes iron ram heads

ol"blue

Nice tip, thanks for posting.
Dan

__________________
Dan
'97 Grand Cherokee Limited Orvis Up Country 5.2, 4X4
'04 Grand Cherokee SE 4.7, 4X4
'04 Saturn Vue 250 HP V-6 AWD
'85 Dodge Omni GLHTurbo T-2 282 WHP
'86 Dodge Omni GLHTurbo T-2 397 WHP

CBW Member # 97

If you're not breaking parts you're not making enough power!!!
"I NEED MORE TRACTION, NOT MORE BOOST"

72gremlinkid

I accidently shut my hatch right on cardboard and couldnt get it open, so what I did was I crawled under and loosened the 2 5/8 bolts that go to the latch in the floor and it came right open.

MellottN

Just a random sidenote to CountryBoy, but I was reading your signature and went to your build thread, and that lead me to your youtube video showcasing your jeep's exhaust (Which sounds sick by the way), and it made me laugh cause I saw that same video like a year ago when I was scoping out people's exhaust setups

OverlandXJ

I had thought about that but didnt think the striker post studs would go up far enough through the body to swing the hatch open. I'll have to try this.

capnrick

If you remove about a 3" square of plastic from the inside of the liftgate liner right at the bottom and just to the driver's side of center you will see the metal housing surrounding the latch. In this housing is a small hole; insert a common screwdriver into the hole with the blade vertical and with a bit of trial end error you can pry up the latch arm to release it. It's a lot easier to get the trim panel off with the liftgate open. I'm considering using stainless steel safety wire to help the actuator rod stay in the crappy clip, as mine has jumped out a couple of times.