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I am going to do some looking at the latch assembly... Looks as if you cannot purchase the key tumbler separate. If it is indeed the tumbler, I am going to pull the outer driver tail light, drill me a small hole, run some braided fishing line to the door release and put me a nice little t handle on the other end. Figure it is the best thing to do incase I get locked out..... Probably do some fabbing on the key in the fob to mount a torq bit on the end of it. That way I will always have the bit ready when needed (keys never leave my pocket EVER).
Can't crawl through the hatch if it will not open due to a disconnected cable
What's this crawling through the hatch business? I see this a number of times. There is a pull tab in the hatch area that allows you to release the driver's door.
Why else do you think there's a cut key to open the hatch? There's 2 pull tabs in there - one for the driver's door, one for the fuel door. If the pull tabs not visible, it may have slipped back under the carpet, but it should be there somewhere.
But if the hatch release cable is disconnected you cannot get into hatch to pull these cables
I get all of that. I can read. Above all of this there were comments that if (emphasis on the if) you opened the hatch you could climb over the seats and pull the emergency door release beside the seat. I'm questioning why anyone would be climbing over seats to pull the door release if they could get the hatch opened. Obviously if you can't open the hatch it's moot.
I have a battery tender hooked up through a magnetic connector coming out of the front grille. No problem with a battery too dead to open the door. I bought the magnetic connector from forum vendor Top Flight Reproductions.
OP, once you get you cable attached, clean out the rear hatch key slot with graphite and then cove it with a piece of electrical tape. The tape over the key slot keeps all that grime from getting in there and allows the key to rotate freely. I did this 7 years ago and the key still opens the hatch easily.
Can't crawl through the hatch if it will not open due to a disconnected cable
opps, my bad I missed that part I was too focused on breaking the side window! I regularly test all the interior releases and “oil” the key slot in the rear hatch. I also cover the key opening with a small piece of black tape.
After investigation, my tumbler is not working correctly…. So I have come up with an emergency solution. Attached a wire to the pull, ran it through a drilled hole behind the rear light and attached a small handle…..Going to stash a T15 bit under the car somewhere.
I was too focused on breaking the side window! I regularly test all the interior releases and “oil” the key slot in the rear hatch. I also cover the key opening with a small piece of black tape.
