Help! Rear Hatch Won't Open

[sparrow47]

I know this is an old thread and its bad etiquette to revive it, but im having the same problems on my 04 vue. Key doesnt turn, trunk isnt opening.

I had an idea though... Would someone be willing to verify if, with those 2 screws you cant get off without opening the trunk removed, you can then remove the trunk trim panel with the door closed?

Thanks, much appreciated...

[far2grumpy]

Originally Posted by sparrow47

I know this is an old thread and its bad etiquette to revive it, but im having the same problems on my 04 vue. Key doesnt turn, trunk isnt opening.

I had an idea though... Would someone be willing to verify if, with those 2 screws you cant get off without opening the trunk removed, you can then remove the trunk trim panel with the door closed?

Thanks, much appreciated...

sparrow47 - chainsaw - dynamite - or this super idea from Termite:

http://saturnfans3.saturnfans.com/~s...h+won%27t+open

[pburress]

I thought I'd chime in with my solution. The problem was the latch actuator stopped working so I could not open it. Since I play the upright bass, that's a problem! Recently it's been flaky, working sometimes, but last week it stopped working altogether. After reading this forum I guessed that the actuator was bad and being a cheapskate, I ordered a used working actuator from ebay- $35.00. Today I drilled this hole using a hole saw bit, and the black lever to unlock it is right inside there- flipped the lever with a finger and it was unlocked. Replacing the actuator is a simple removal and replacement. The replacement actuator works like a champ. I can get a round plug at the hardware store to cover the hole.

Hope this helps. Note that the picture is taken from the inside, with hatch closed.

[TommyK]

Now mine's jambed. My Relay is my wife's daily driver. I closed the rear hatch after loading groceries. The first slam didn't result in getting it latched. A second attempt was similarly unsuccessful. The catch pawl appeared to be, while functional, in need of lubrication. I intended to do it after we got home. I noticed a metallic rattle, I'd never heard before, when the door hit 'home'. Actually, it was like the 'ting' of a drum section triangle. I opened and closed a couple times, thinking it was that the Saturn badge was loose, but that was not the case. I closed it up, then headed home.

Upon getting home the door would not open for love nor money. I can hear the actuator working. It does sound like an anemic whine, rather than a click. I don't know if this is normal or not. You can't hear it from the driver's door, only while standing behind the hatch. I've never done it like this before, so I don't know if the 'whine' is normal or not. But, the hatch won't move.

Further discussion with the usual driver, my wife, reveals the hatch has been hinky for a while. She tells me that cycling the lock/unlock, coupled with starting the car, moving it back and forward, seems to 'reset' the mechanism making it possible to open. She did this last night, to no avail. SO, obviously *I* broke it.

Bottom line. How do I get into the mechanism from inside the now locked hatch?

[pburress]

See my pic an post above. I drilled a hole using a hole saw bit, and used a rubber stopper "cork" from the local ace hardware to cover the hole.

[merf223]

Originally Posted by pburress

See my pic an post above. I drilled a hole using a hole saw bit, and used a rubber stopper "cork" from the local ace hardware to cover the hole.

This may be a solution, but it lacks finesse! I've tried a junkyard replacement part, but it exhibits the same failure mode. PLUS, when the rear lid is closed and locked, how do you reach your magic little hole to open it?

[merf223]

New junkyard latch actuator installed and it works.

Gotta new problem: The door latch is in the wrong place to engage the threshold catch. Best I could tell by painting whiteout on the catch is that the door is closing about 1/8" too high.

So off to the body shop after all.

[pburress]

Since the rear hatch was closed and locked, I entered through the passenger door and crawled back to drill the access hole. In this situation, I can't think of another way to get the hatch open, so finesse is out the window at that point!

As far as your latch not engaging, maybe you got one from a different year or model?

[Tzfbird]

Does the rear latch seem to be an area of concern regarding lubrication? Should this become an annual or biannual point of lubrication similar to suspension parts that can actually be greased?

[ProSport]

My son has a 2006 Vue, yesterday this thread helped me tremendously in getting his hatch open in the freezing cold. I'm gonna get him a new actuator but for now at least he has an access hole to unlock it from the inside. Thank you!

[ProSport]

Also, I can't seem to find a new actuator for the rear hatch, do any of you know who sells one?

[far2grumpy]

Originally Posted by ProSport

Also, I can't seem to find a new actuator for the rear hatch, do any of you know who sells one?

Several listed on ebay ... try these words: 2006 Vue rear hatch actuator

[ProSport]

Originally Posted by far2grumpy

Several listed on ebay ... try these words: 2006 Vue rear hatch actuator

Thanks, I had already found the used ones on ebay, was hoping someone knew where to buy a new one. I haven't called a Dealership yet, I figure they'll be expen$ive.