Hey everyone - 88 GTA. I would like to remove my rear hatch locking cylinder (where the key goes) since it no longer works (broken key inside). I've seen in the other posts how to remove it and it seems pretty straight forward. I was wondering though - is there a way to remove it from the INSIDE of the trunk so I don't have to remove all of the tailights? I know Camaros apparently have a clip to do this, but mine has two 'rivets' that seem to be holding it. I just don't feel like removing the lights if I can get around it.

Oh - and any suggestions on removing the offwhite plastic piece from the cylinder without breaking it would be awesome (aside from 'be carefufl).

 

You have to punch the pins out of the rivets to get the bugger off, which probably involves removing the trim panel between the tail lights (not 100% ATM on which side the pins are on), and then you may have to drill the heads off. The plastic actuator on the inside just pulls off, but it's on there REALLY tight.

 

Thanks Mav. Guess there is no way around the lights - they've got to come off for this lock to pop out, huh. oh well - thanks anyway!

 

Even if you could remove it without pulling the lights, I would still remove them. The sheet metal in the area is single ply and flexes even from turning the key. Hammering/chiseling the rivets will damage the area if not braced