Here's a crappy situation. I bought a 82 Z28 but the previous owner didn't have the door keys (yea thanks). So I bought a set of matching key locks for the doors and the hatch. I changed the drivers lock so I could atleast lock it and decided to hold off on the other 2 until the weather was a bit warmer. It didn't matter because my hatch release worked and I could always unlock the passenger side from the inside. Well the other day was beautiful so I changed the passenger lock. Got in the car to release the hatch and for the first time my hatch release decided not to work. So now I have a new lock but can't get the hatch open. Grrrrrrrrr. It's not the fuse because everything works fine. If I push the release button the interior light dim slightly so I'm guessing there's power to the switch. My electrical knowledge is limited to stereo installations and that's it. I just don't know where to go next. Any suggestions? Is there a way I could release the hatch from the inside so I could just change the lock and take care of the release later? Any help would be huge. Thanks.

 

There's a relay for the hatch, not sure of it's exact location. If lights are dimming, maybe there's just an issue with that relay, or with the switch. I'd start by removing the center console top, and messing with the switch, if that didn't work then I'd follow the wiring to find that relay and try fooling with it - might get lucky.

The rear plastic has 2 screws in the top that are covered by the closed hatch, so really can't remove it without breaking it. But, there might be a way (with some yoga lessons) that you could remove the side plastics and get an arm in there to release the hatch with some gentle bending of the rear plastic and some major arm cramping.

 

Looked at squeezing in to unlatch the hatch from the inside but there's just no way of getting around the plastic. Oh well.

I took apart my console today and played with the switch and the relay. When I hit the switch the relay clicks. Don't know if that means I have a bad relay or not. If the switch and relay seem to be fine, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

 

if you have a light back there you could try popin the light out of the rear panel see if you can pop the latch with a long screw driver