I slammed the rear liftgate closed and did not notice a blanket was covering the latch.
Now, the blanket is totally stuck as a lot of cloth got jammed hard into that latch.
The liftgate is closed, but slightly ajar, and I can not reopen it.
From the outside, 2 of us tried to stick our fingers into the gap and yank, while one hand held the handle up in the open position. Nothing.
Being mindful of not snapping the plastic liftgate handle.

When I turn the key to unlock the hatch, it sounds like nothing is blocked.
I can hear the normal latch clunk unlocking on the inside.

Any idea how to proceed?

Get a torch and try to burn out the stuck cloth?
Get a friend to hold the latch open and kick from the inside?
Pull off the panel from the inside and try to get the cloth free?

I have a bad feeling about this one.

 

I would try kickin it

 

98s got metal hatch correctt some one inside back on rear of back seat push at bottom with feet or long screw driver between bumper and gate pry up while holding latch up what id try

 

I have a feeling I'd need a serious pry bar, not a screwdriver, which will just bend like a twig.
This thing has a lot of mass, and is not budging.

Also, I really don't know if the latch hook is free
or if the blanket somehow is blocking the latch hook from releasing, in which case no amount of prybar is going to help, if it's not truly unlocked.

 

You have to push on the outside of the gate. Push in from the outside then lift the handle. Do not pry with anything you will damage your tailgate. It may take two people, have one push in on the gate and one pull on the handle.

 

somethinggs gonna get damage its your choice what it is

 

If your tailgate isn't fully closed you will not be able to open it with or without anything stuck in it. Push in then pull up on the handle.

 

I have a very bad feeling about this one.

Kev, the hatch really has zero play or give. Pushing it back and forth is not working. Trying to push it closed does not work. It's very stuck. Also, I really don't think the outside liftgate door handle feels attached to anything. It doesn't feel like anything is releasing when I pull up. Do you think the inner mechanism might have gotten jammed or broken when the blanket got in the way of closing fully? I slammed the liftgate down hard, and it's got about 1/2" gap still. That means a lot of blanket stopped that heavy liftgate in its tracks. If that outside liftgate handle is doing nothing, maybe the liftgate is still hooked closed? If so, no amount of kicking or prybar will open this thing, right? Then what??

Also, I am having trouble removing the huge inside liftgate plastic panel. I was able to remove the 4 screws at the roof, and the 2 deep Torx screws in the liftgate grab handle at the bottom. But, I see a 2 screws about midway up on the extreme right and left side. These are impossible to unscrew with the hatch closed. Since they are in the middle, I don't think I can remove the inner plastic panel. I also don't really know how to pop off the bottom. Normally, you have room for a pry bar. Here, all you have is a crevice you can just stuck your fingers into. Can anyone give me some ideas on exactly what to do to remove the inside plastic?

All I can think of is to somehow cut away a small 3x3" area of plastic that directly covers the latch area. I need to buy a dremel anyway, or I can use a soldering gun as a makeshift saw. Once I expose the latch, maybe I can pick away at the cloth. I can then wait for a parted out 98 XJ and get another inside plastic panel. What an ugly solution, but at least it's a possibility.

Am I on the right track?

 

X2 steady kick from inside while someone pushing button outside.

 

Mine has done this before, it will feel like the handle is broken or something you won't feel it doing anything. I've pushed in near the handle with my knee and all my body weight and lifted on the handle. It takes a few tries, if it doesn't work than you might have to take more drastic measures. Just telling you what has worked for me. I had almost the same situation with a ski jacket caught in there. It took me a long time, but doing what I described above worked for me(may not work for you).

 

STOP! don't take anyones advice except mine til you try this:

with slight pressure on the handle while pulling, (not hercules strength, and not all the way pulled out JUST slightly before all the way out) smack the hatch slightly to the right of the handle with the ball of your free palm.

I have enountered more 97+ xj hatches than not where you need to do this to get them open. The latching mechanism is a bit finicky. The extra pressure on the mechanism from the blanket could be causing yours to be finicky too.

 

Sounds like it's time for a new Jeep to me.

 

YES!! I got it open! HUGE thanks to KevMez! I used his suggestion to lift the handle and press DOWN very hard in order to fully close the liftgate. The handle doesn't work if it's only partly latched. Once I pressed down hard, then I'd try to open it. I did this a couple of times, and it eventually worked! By pressing down, I somehow got the latch to fully seal, and then pulling up on the handle disengaged it. It seems my latch now sticks, maybe something got knocked out of whack when it jammed, but I'll take it.

Thanks for the help. This was really worrying me. Now, I can focus on why I was using the liftgate in the first place! To install the 4 OEM Ecco wheels I just picked up for $150. They have 235's on them. They are notably larger than stock 225's. 2 tires are toast, and the other two are 7/32 and 9/32. These Ecco's will be a major improvement from my rusted and primered Steelies that will now be replaced.

 

Glad it worked out for ya.

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/tr...icking-108010/