Not one to be mechanically inclined, I decided to swap out my lift gate rods. I watched a youtube video and it seems to be the easiest thing I could do to a car. During the process I realized I need a ratchet, which I don't own myself, I went scrounging through my step dads tools but he got a new tool box and locked up all his tools. Of course he isn't home. So rather than reattach the rod I left them dangling figuring I should finally run to the hardware store and get my own set. Then I closed my door, only one of the rods must have bounced back and now my trunk door is stuck. It isn't locked. I just can't get it open. Has this happened to anyone before?

What seems like a viable solution for this without causing any damage to the door?

 

I haven't had this problem but this is where I would start.

Is the hatch latched at all or just jammed because of the lifters? If not latched get inside and push, you'll get more force on it than just pulling the handle. If it is latched, get a second person to pull on the handle outside and then push from inside. Hopefully they are not wedged in a way they bend or break something as the door opens...

 

unfortunately it seems everyone I know isn't available to try the two person (and probably the correct) way. I ended up getting the spare off and am now cutting through the rod with a hacksaw blade. no idea where my handle went. it seems to be working but I had to take a break. Hopefully once it's cut i can pull the rod out from between the door and push the door fully closed. Going to have a dead battery if I can't close it.

 

how'd you get the beans above the frank?

 

Hahaha.

 

No one was around to help me, but a hacksaw blade worked. the rod was removable from the inside and I pushed the liftgate closed from outside. It now opens/closes with no problem.

Hopefully it stays "no problem" as I still have to put in the new ones. I can only imagine how much more complicated I can turn this easy task into.

 

You can turn off the courtesy lights when the hatch is open by pushing on the rear dome light.

 

I've owned XJ Jeeps for 12 years I never knew that!

 

It's in the owner's manual. They made it like that so that you can haul stuff that doesn't fit in the Jeep with the hatch closed, so you can leave it open and tied down without draining your battery.

The alternate question that comes up here occasionally is "Oh no why don't my interior lights work????" Then it turns out that the poster accidentally hit that button, but they spend all sorts of time looking for blown fuses and broken wires.

 

Good to see you got it out. I'm gonna recommend you use a broom handle, stick, ski pole, 2 x 4 or other suitable prop to hold the hatch open while you replace the struts. With the right tools (small screw driver or awl) it should take about 30 seconds to replace the struts.

 

What? That's no fun. I used my head.

(In hindsight I really should have used a broom handle, stick, ski pole, 2 x 4 or other suitable prop.)