[tomdad]

I searched, and found topics very near to mine, but not quite........

Rear hatch on my '95 LT suddenly won't open, whether from button on dash or button on keyless unit. I'm hearing a little click-like solenoid sound, or whatever, and removed inside panel where jack is stowed, and there is a small box there which I think is the solenoid.....it is making noise when button is activate, but no release. Also, inserting key into rear lower door, the key cannot be turned.

Odd thing is, the hatch went from normal to inoperable in space of twenty minutes.

I "think" that I need to remove inner trim on the lower doors to access, but there are no screws visible, nor any clips that I can see. How does one begin the process of panel removal. Then, from other readings, it seems there may be a plastic piece which holds a metal rod in alignment to activate unlatching..........does this sound right? And that this plastic piece may not be doing its' job.

Any help much appreciated. Loading and unloading large black boxes with speakers and amps in them sucks without the use of rear door!

tomdad

 

[ASTROJOE LT1]

Hi tomdad and welcome the our forums. Before you start trying to tear out the back hatch covers,Check the cigarette lighter 20 amp fuse. under the dash and think there is another one in the power wire line. Those panels won't come off without tearing them apart. Also the hatch will only open if the van is in neutral or park.

 

[tomdad]

Thanks Astrojoe. My lighter works, so I am surmising the problem lies elsewhere. Any other thoughts?

Tom

 

[ASTROJOE LT1]

Ok next pull your switch from the mount on your dash and unplug the switch from the red connector, now use a piece of wire or a paperclip and connect the top two pins. That should trip the latches on the back doors.

 

[tomdad]

Ok next pull your switch from the mount on your dash and unplug the switch from the red connector, now use a piece of wire or a paperclip and connect the top two pins. That should trip the latches on the back doors.

A-Joe, I'm sure this appears lame, but in looking at that little bank of (3) switches on the dash, once again, no simple means of removal presents itself. Pry it out? There does not seem to be any room to come from underneath.

I've not really had any time to work on this yet. Friday's the day. I appreciate your staying with me so far.

Tom

 

[tomdad]

...continuing this conversation with (Mostly) myself, the problem turned out to be two broken wires in the top of the hatch. Offered in the possibility that it may help someone in the future.

Tom

 

[ASTROJOE LT1]

That's great to hear that you got it fixed. That's one more place to add to the to do list when these doors go out.

 

[evil_motors]

yeah mine went out on me yesterday also. i traced it back to the actual switch not working anymore. so thats another thing i gotta get from the pick and pull

 

[icusnas]

F W I W
I had the same problem on my '93 with cargo doors. Ended up finding the linkage in the gate had disconnected. PM me if you need and explanation.

 

[dmitch31]

I've got the same problem. I've got a 1999 Astro that doesn't have the button on the dash. I can unlock all of the doors, but when I press the button on the back hatch, it does absolutely nothing. No sounds, no nothing. My gut tells me it's in the switch, but I've got to figure out how to get to it from inside the van without opening the doors. I guess I'm going to be looking at taking the inner plastic panel off. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

 

[tehovind]

My '96 LT has a similar issue. It has dutch doors w/upper hatch. Auto-unlock from the dash, key and key fob. All of them work - half way. Literally! It only releases the pax side hatch lock. The driver's side stays locked. I've removed some panelling from the interior to see the arm work on the pax side but I can't see the driver's side mechanism. I've also tried "popping" the locked side from the exterior but don't want to screw anything up so I backed off. Any ideas???

 

[tecsironman]

Im having the same problem but when I hit the switch nothing happens same with the key fob. Everything has been replaced. I had the help of my father he took off the handle and was able to move the actuator to unlock the dutch doors. He replaced the actuator and the little black box for the lock located in the tire jack area. Still nothing happened. I know there is power going to the switch because when you hook it up the actuator does not move but when unplugged you can move it freely. At night when you hit the button for the rear hatch switch on the key fob the light turns on but nothing happens... Any Ideas?

 

[94 Van Guy]

Im having the same problem but when I hit the switch nothing happens same with the key fob. Everything has been replaced. I had the help of my father he took off the handle and was able to move the actuator to unlock the dutch doors. He replaced the actuator and the little black box for the lock located in the tire jack area. Still nothing happened. I know there is power going to the switch because when you hook it up the actuator does not move but when unplugged you can move it freely. At night when you hit the button for the rear hatch switch on the key fob the light turns on but nothing happens... Any Ideas?

I am not an electrical expert, but this sounded a bit strange to me. If I understand what you said, with the system pluged in, the actuator is hard to move, and when you unplug it it moves easy. Does the actuator have power to it all the time, or is there a problem?

I'm sure someone will be along to answer. Seems like the actuator should have no power when at rest.

 

[tecsironman]

Yes a little weird . I had time to look at it further during lunch pulled all the switches out and checked them. They all seemed fine I guess but when when you push them nothing happens. The key fob turns the interior lights on but the switches do nothing( the key switch on the dutch door and the switch on the front panel by the steering wheel. Maybe there is a break in the line somewhere but what is weird is that the wiper and spray and defog work fine 2 different systems but all ran to the back of the van with the same run of wires.

 

[sxty4chv]

i took the inner closing grab handle off and gained access to the linkege rods where i discovered one hadfell out of its plastic bushing.easy fix. that other guys issue is either a wire broke a bad fuse or if equipped the child safe rear door lock mechanisum

 

[safari99]

i got the same problem with my 99 safari rear cargo door where the left side disengages but not the right side. i think the linkage rod is off the plastic bushing. how do i get to it from the inside? it seems like there is no way i can get in without opening the door.

 

[Mr_Bowtie]

You can get into it from inside the Van. There are two bolts behind that pull down strap you see inside(there are actually little covers over the bolt heads) & a couple screw holding the plastic surround on the inside hatch. After that you should be able to see where the linkage came undone from one of the actuators. Easy fix. Most likely the metal clip think fell off hold the rod on that actuator. It has happened to me before.

Wish I had took some pics when I did mine it would be way easier to explain. :banghead: