'98 Astro Van rear hatch
#1
04-19-07, 02:43 PM
'98 Astro Van rear hatch
My wife's '98 chevy astro van's rear hatch is stuck closed. The latch mechanism on the right side will release, but on the left side it is stuck. Do I need to take off the inside trim panels to get to the latch? It won't unlock with the key or the remote so I'm guessing the linkage has come undone somehow. How do I go about fixing it? It's the hatch, not the dual doors. Thanks!
Pecos
Pecos
#2
04-19-07, 04:22 PM
Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,309
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
remove this
You will have to gain entry into the center section beyond the key part. There are two rods going out to the latches one right and one left. manually pull the one that came off to unlatch it.
I believe it is the same setup as chevy pickups. Probbably have to remove the panel inside.
I believe it is the same setup as chevy pickups. Probbably have to remove the panel inside.
#3
04-19-07, 05:02 PM
Thanks for the advice, but there is no movable handle like on a pickup door, neither inside nor outside. There's nothing at all inside, and outside there's just a button with a keyhole and a pull to lift the hatch. Since the door is stuck closed, I can't even get the trim panel off to get to anything. There's got to be some way to pop the latch through the gap between the door and body panel, but I'm damned if I can figure it out.
#4
04-19-07, 05:16 PM
Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,309
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
question
It is a 3 door set up correct I googled your van. The hatch has to be opened first before the two bottom doors will swing open? The button is it a push in type and lift handle at same time?
How do you open the door from the inside? (the hatch).
How do you open the door from the inside? (the hatch).
#5
04-19-07, 06:38 PM
You can't open it from the inside. There's no handle inside the door. And yes, the hatch has to be opened before you can swing the other two doors open. The keyed pushbutton is separate from the lift handle, but it has to be pushed in as the handle is raised. I never realized how screwed up this setup was until I ran into this problem. There is literally no way that I can see to access the innards if the hatch is closed.
#7
04-23-07, 05:40 PM
bad hatch
well there is no easy way to tell you how to do this or really how to describe how to fix it you do have to crawl in the back and see if you can get get the trim off or lose enough to gain acess yes I know easier said than done but it is the only way that if can be fixed and there is a good chance that you will break the trim i have done it and i worked for a chevy dealer for 10 years good luck
