Back hatch won't lock

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Jun 28, 2010 | 07:40 PM

#16

mark996

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From: Rowlett,TX

Hey thanks so much! Welcome to FTE.

Jun 28, 2010 | 08:57 PM

#17

78_f800crewcab4x4

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From: Colorado Springs

On my 2000, The lock actuator was fine, as was the lock cylinder, but I could not get it to lock or unlock with the key or the actuator. I had to lubricate a sliding pin on the "latch control" with grease to get it to operate, as the pin was not sliding like it should, and regular penetrant oil did not work.
After I greased it up, it worked just fine.

Jul 1, 2010 | 02:05 AM

#18

mark996

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From: Rowlett,TX

Update on this, my bad hatch locks, and unlocks by either key or button. The mechanism (actual lock) was seized up pretty bad, the actuator wasn't able to move it, and the cylinder was jammed. I said screw it and pulled the entire back lock system out. Took the bolts out, took the cable wires off, the lock came right out. I had previously taken the actuator out thinking it was bad, but it wasn't, plugged it up and tested it, worked fine, except for the clip thing, it broke. After taking the locking mechanism out and spraying it down with penetrating oil and moving it as much as possible, I pulled out the good ol' marine grease (it's water/heat/grime proof and hasn't failed me on any auto job yet). After greasing that pin for the lock, it works wonderfully. The cylinder was a job. I bought a spare key just for the sake of being able to crank on the cylinder with a key in there to try and turn it. I pulled the cylinder apart, all the way to the tumblers being visible, and cleaned it with a brush, now it works wonderfully. I bought some gorilla glue (wife says the only reason I buy that stuff is because the DIY channel did a special about it, and it lifted an F350 truck by super gluing the chains). Worked greatly. Put everything back together, and the locks work great! Thanks for all the help guys, this was a major security concern for me and the wife.

Jul 1, 2010 | 05:22 PM

#19

bigbillyboy

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I'm fighting similar problem. If I disconnect the key tumbler, the key turns fine. With the rear plastic inside trim removed I can reach in and fiddle with the lock enough to get it to lock or unlock, but it seems like the whole aparatus is "loose" (some of the pins specifically) as I've sprayed it with lube excessively and, when it does work, it slides pretty easily, but most of the time it's just jammed.

Mark, did you find that yours was similiar, or just "stuck" to where it wouldn't move?

thanks
Jason

Jul 1, 2010 | 08:14 PM

#20

mark996

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From: Rowlett,TX

Jason, mine was hard to move by hand, and impossible by lock bar from the cylinder. If your tumbler turns fine the problem is going to be elsewhere, obviously as you've stated. Does it just not lock at all? You can take the lock out, 3 nuts, slide it out to your right, it's easier that way, or was for me. I sprayed like crazy, moved it back and forth like crazy for about 15 minutes, seriously, until it became "easier" to move. After that, I took some marine grease and greased it up real nice, after that, it moved real easy. It has to move easily for that bar and lock cylinder to be able to move it under the stress of the key. When you say loose, do you mean the whole lock? Even the opener that connects to the handle? If so check for the 3 nuts, 2 left side 1 right that connect that apparatus to the hatch, it may be that it's moving as you try to unlock the door and creating too much play. If you opt to remove it, may sure to carefully remove that actuator, it's a doozy if that little black pin breaks on top, but super glue apparently fixes it.

Jul 2, 2010 | 12:28 AM

#21

bigbillyboy

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I'll check again, but I'm pretty sure the apparatus is bolted securely, but the part of the lock that moves when the rod from the tumbler turns is wobbly. It works well, but will then just stick either locked or unlocked, and you have to wiggle it to get it to move again. i'll dig into it again this weekend. Maybe I'm just wrong and it can be salvaged by removing it and lubing the crap out of it.

Jul 4, 2010 | 12:49 AM

#22

bigbillyboy

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follow up.

pulled it all apart today and lubed it up real good. it worked real smoothly on the bench, and wouldn't lock or unlock at all when reinstalled. After screwing around with it, I found out that it was just that the rod that connects the hatch handle to the mechanism was not adjusted correctly. Once adjusted, and lubed, it works just like new. Simpler than I anticipated

Jason

Jul 4, 2010 | 12:54 AM

#23

mark996

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From: Rowlett,TX

Awesome job man. I thought it'd be harder too, but sure enough, once I pulled it all out and looked it over it really wasn't hard at all to do. I'm glad I did too, no more worrying about the hatch not locking.