Check out the latch in the hatch. In my case there was a sliding block as part of the lock. Linkage slipped. So it was floating between locked and not. Intermittent refusal to release the latch. Hatch would 'pop' but could not be pulled up. Carved and drilled a piece of wood when I discovered what they wanted for the block, which is NOT part of the repair kit. Good luck.

 

librum, can you put up a pic?

 

This is a lift gate:




This is a Jeep Cherokee rear hatch:





Which one are you talking about?

 

Not without tearing back in. But I do have to do some work later on Barney (called that due to the paint color, 'Barney Purple', the 96), so if I get into that part/section I will. I do want to post pics for the avatar and the damage to Barney's lift gate.

Verbal description. White plastic block, maybe 1x1.5 inches, in a metal slot/cage. Key slides the block side to side. Linkage off the block does the lock/unlock. To access, remove the inside fascia of the lift gate, remove the metal cover screwed over, if present (89 has, 96 does not, but I seem to remember it has screw hole dimples, so maybe year specific).

As for 'lift gate' vs 'hatch', I call it a lift gate. As I have to lift it.

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/97...ch-fix-226187/

I remember coming across this^^^ in the write-ups a while back. Maybe this is the culprit?

 

Good catch! Yes, that is the white block. Different configuration/shape, but that is it. Interesting that the wrote up fix was to tweek the rods, and my block was completely broken up, but... The OP has the find-it-pic he needs.

Thanks, TFitzPat87

 

No problem! Happy to help!

 

If I were you I'd take the trim off the inside of the tailgate and have a look at the latch mechanism. There's a threaded rod which is pulled up by the handle but over time the rod can slip down through the claws that hold it. This makes the unlocking action quite hit and miss, until it stops working completely.

I've never found a nut that fits that thread or I'd put two on over the end and tighten them up to stop the rod slipping. Instead I just pulled the rod out and moved it up a couple of threads.

The trim comes off easily, it's just screws all round the inside of the tailgate and some clips but it's harder if you leave it too long and have to get at the latch with the tailgate locked.

DOH: all you need is in the write up linked above. That'll teach me to read to the end of the thread

 

It's a hatch. If you call it a lift gate, you are simply wrong.

 

But it's a tailgate that lifts open. Lift gate. Or if you consider the xj a hatchback it could be called a hatch. I tend to use both terminologies. If you search the net either one will return similar results. Same as the handbrake/ emergency brake/ parking brake. Is one or the other incorrect?

 

The dictionary says you're wrong:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftgate

Chrysler says you're wrong:
http://www.dodgedurango.net/forums/a...9-liftgate.jpg

And for good measure, Mazda says you're wrong:
http://www.mcx5.org/images/books/355/ac5wzn00000533.gif

I don't care, and it doesn't matter since we all knew full well what he was talking about, but it seems that "liftgate" is not only acceptable but the technical name for the part per the manufacturer.

 

Now now children! Points have been made. Move on.