So after lots of troubleshooting, myself and a friend have decided my fuel pump is crapping out(stalls out when attempting to start occasionally, needs gas to start almost always, revs high when it does start, and actually just stalled out as i pulled into my driveway my minutes ago).

So i need to change my fuel pump and roblem solved.

Except my friend that has a lift is only available during the weekends(assuming he doesnt have plans), and i work most weekends so i don't really have access to a lift to do all that shenanigans about dropping the exhaust and the fuel tank to get to the fuel pump. Problem not solved.

I've decided with a heavy heart to do the trap door method i've read so much about. Problem with THAT is, my rear hatch won't release, and hasn't for several months now. When i push the trunk release button it starts to lift, gets to the apex where it would normally release with a tug upwards, DOESN'T release, and descends back down to the original lock position. How can i get the trunk lock to release so i can get in there and chop up the back? I don't see any way of doing the trap door without the hatch being open. Please help, i'd love to be done with this by Thursday. Thanks guys(and girls)!!

 

You should be able to have someone in the car to push the release switch while you stand behind the car with your hands pulling up on the hatch. The trunk should release just at the top of the motors travel before it locks again. This happens on cars with weak hatch struts because the struts cant support the hatch and the weight of the hatch triggers the mechanism like when you shut the hatch.
Hopefully this works

 

I don't think it will unfortunately, I haven't tried with 2 people yet, but i can't tell you how many times i've had my door open, pushed the button, and RAN the 3 steps to my hood, lift as hard as i could while its still going up, and it still not release :/

 

If the second guy is PULLING UP when you hit the button ( AND the solenoid works ) the latch should release as soon as the button is pushed.

The hatch is heavy and often the hatch struts are weak and no good. With old struts the hatch is often just just too heavy to clear the latch when released; the PPD motor goes up and sbecause the lever never cleared the latch, the reversing switch pulls the hatch closed again.

Make sure he.she is pulling up on teh hatch when you hit the button.

GOOD LUCK !

 

We tried that, didn't work. The hatch is ever so slightly off-centered (barely). Would that matter? And if the solenoid is broken, is it difficult to fix?(The fuel pump is no longer an issue, but i would like my trunk back)

 

Insert your key into the lock and turn it. As soon as you feel/hear the motor to start releasing, pull up gently as the hatch is releasing. If it's off side to side, try pushing/pulling in that direction.

As far as the "thirdgen fuel pump access panel"...........HACK AWAY!

 

I'm pretty sure the door locks were replaced so my door key does not work on the trunk

And it turned out it wasn't my fuel pump, but my fuel pressure regulator. The kind folks over in the general engine forums helped me out EXTENSIVELY over about four days haha

But when the time comes, i will definitely be hacking away