I've got an 89 with a stuck rear hatch and can't find a diagram or anything to open it up temporarily or fix...I believe it was left in the lock position. Is there anyway to open and or unlock from the cargo area? I'm lost here! Wanted to switch out a bad brake light, but can't access the light housing cause of this rear hatch. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know and thnx!

 

Hi and welcome to CF. Check your PM's...Tj

 

i fixed this same problem yesterday, let me see if i can explain how i did it. in the cargo area, at the bottom of the hatch where the latch is there's a small opening. through that opening you want to push the "linkage rod" to the right, if you're not sure if you got the linkage rod, you can also push what looks like a white plastic slider thing to the right.
If done properly, you can now open the hatch from the outside

PS if you take out the interior hatch trim (yes you can take it out with the hatch closed, take out the screws and pull up) , you'll increase the size of the opening and give yourself more room to see what you're doing, otherwise youll probably have your head to the floor

 

lol, yeah I was just about to say, this same thing happened to me, after I locked it and then couldnt unlock it. I had to dismantle the rear hatch from the inside and fidget around with the lock...and some WD-40 helped too, as it looked in desparate need of some.

 

was the latch stuck locked? i only ask because i had a similar problem last summer with my hatch.

I tried to shut it one day but part of the door that latches thru the loop on the bumper got stuck closed. I wasnt able to close my back hatch and had to hold it down with bungie cords. the little white plastic part inside the latch had broken and was stuck in a hole.

 

Sorry bout that, I didnt have my comp for the last 4 days.

No, my lock just wasnt unlocking once locked with the key and my power door locks never worked, since Ive owned my XJ anyway, but Ive already swapped out all my power'ed junk(except for my seat) for manual...much MUCH more reliable now.

I figured mine got stuck because of the serious lack of lubrication that enabled everything to operate as it should, because after I hosed everything with WD-40, everything seemed to work alot better.

Nothing had broke on mine. It was just in bad need of some oil/lube.