Can't lock my rear hatch - 2004 with manual locks

[wheetabix]

I just bought a 2004 Vibe with manual locks, and I can't figure out how to lock the hatch. It was locked when we first went to look at the car, but I can't figure it out. It seems to be properly closed, and there are no signals indicating that the door is partly open, but I have tried both keys, and I can't even get the key to turn in the lock at all. I am going to call the dealer that I got it from, but it was a small dealer, and I'm not sure that they will have the answer, so I thought that I would try here. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Mojo72]

My '04 also has manual locks, which can sometimes be a pain because there's no latch that I'm aware of within the interior that can be used to lock it like on the passenger doors. It all has to be done via the key; one position left to unlock, one position right to lock, and two postions right to pop the window. If the lock is frozen, try shooting some graphite or WD40 into the key hole to loosen it up. Has the key always been frozen or just during the winter?

[wheetabix]

Thanks for the response! I've had the car less than a week, so this is my first time dealing with this. I'm not sure why it would be frozen when the other locks aren't, but I suppose I can try that solution and see. I also can't figure out how to get just the hatch window to open. Any advise?Thanks again!

[Mojo72]

The hatch window is popped by turning the key two positions to the right (aka clockwise).

[cthomasparr]

I have a 2004 with power locks and for the first time this week, I think either the hatch seal was stuck or the power lock in the tail gate was not unlocking the hatch. I tried to use the key in the hatch lock, but it was tough to get in all the way and wouldn't really turn at all. Anyone have a suggestion to get the mechanical key part of the hatch to work. I have a feeling that this may never have been used by the previous original owner either.

I am guessing that the key mechanically unlocks the hatch and then you have to use the handle to unlatch the mechanism like I do now with the power locks.

Thanks

[joatmon]

I have a 2004 with power locks and for the first time this week, I think either the hatch seal was stuck or the power lock in the tail gate was not unlocking the hatch. I tried to use the key in the hatch lock, but it was tough to get in all the way and wouldn't really turn at all. Anyone have a suggestion to get the mechanical key part of the hatch to work. I have a feeling that this may never have been used by the previous original owner either.

I am guessing that the key mechanically unlocks the hatch and then you have to use the handle to unlatch the mechanism like I do now with the power locks.

Thanks

correct, with power locks, unlocking all the doors unlocks the hatch, but you still have to use the handle to open it. You should notice a difference int he way the handle feels when you try to open the hatch if the hatch is locked or unlocked. As if unlocking it connects some spring loaded mechanism, the handle offers less resistance when locked than when it's unlocked. You can gain access to the inside of the hatch via the small panels in the big plastic trim that covers in the bottom half of the inside of the hatch. I can't remember if it's best to remove the access panel prying at the top or the bottom, but I seem to remember one was better than the other.

I picked up a used Vibe at one point, and I couldn't get the key in the hatch. The airflow around the back of these cars is fairly turbulent, and the back picks up a lot of dirt/grime/salt/etc from road spray, and it's easy to imagine that spray getting into the and crudding up the lock. On mine I accessed the lock via the panel in the hatch, took the lock out, and thoroughly cleaned it with a repetitive wash of WD-40, working the key in the lock. I only got one key with that car, and it was worn, and I ended up having to file a little of one of the lock internal sliders to allow my worn key to open the lock. Hopefully, yours will just need a little cleaning

[cthomasparr]

Thanks. That makes sense. Sounds like I can get access to the mechanism through the same rectangular panel that I took off for the license plate lights. Just worried I wouldn't be able to open it if one or more things failed.