Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

Please offer any helpful tips on this issue, it is awful not to be able to use the rear gate on my 1998 Durango...

The rear hatch won't open, and the key won't turn in the lock cylinder.

There is an OEM alarm and an aftermarket alarm that always "lock"/"unlock" the hatch so we NEVER used the keys in the lock....

The electronic lock/unlock executions "seem" to actuate the locking mechanism; however the rear hatch handle when lifted seems as though the lock is still locked and the gate will not open!


Any tips on how to fix this/get at the locking mechanism for manipulation would be appreciated!!


Thanks in advance!

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

Have you tried squrting some WD-40 in to the lock ? When I bought my 98 D the rear lock wouldn't work either so i put some WD-40 in it and let it set for about an hour and it unlocked fine after that.

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

WD40 first then white lithium liquid grease...sat for about a week....still looking for the best way to make sure that if it does open it will always open!

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

These car door locks do not work well with liquid lube. You should use a dry lock lube for best results. It sounds like you may need to remove the inside pannel and get to the lock that way. You may have to force it open that way. It is either rusted inside or something is binding the latch/lock itself.

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

I'm having the same problem with my 98 Durango. When it first started acting up I could some times get it to open by pulling up on the handle with force, then it would suddenly pop open. Eventually, it just quit working altogether. I never used the key to unlock it, because the key fob was much easier. When I tried the key, I too have the same problem with it not inserting completely in the lock. I've tried WD-40, white lithium, PB Blast, you name it. Nothing has worked, and the tumblers seem completely froze. A lock smith couldn't do anything with it either. However, I don't think the lock is the problem. I hear the accuator working with the electric locks, however when I pull up on the handle it won't open. It feels more like something in the opeing mechanism itself, maybe like a slipping, or disconnected cable, or latch.

The problem is how do you remove the inside panel to get inside where the working parts are, if you can't get the door open? I don't see any exposed screws. Does the panel pop off, or do you have to have the door open to do this? If so, then how do you get inside the back panel if the door won't open? Is there a way to remove the panel with the door closed, or do you have to cut a hole in the panel itself and hope you cut in the right place, which seems impossible because I don't know what the problem is.

This is a major pain in the butt, and any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave in PA

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

I've been having the same problem.

Tugging on the gate handle a little bit more used to open the gate then stopped working.

Multiple "opens" and "Locks" with the remote worked for a short period and then stopped.

I was so upset the day that I couldn't get anything to work I lost my temper and kicked the gate, just below the handle. The body dented inward however it popped right back into place when I tried the handle one last time. The gate opened as if it was brand new. After that I began to punch the gate just under the handle and I would get the same results every time.

Too bad that only worked for about a month. Short tempered again I kicked once more. The dent (under the handle from the last kick) no longer pops out and when I use the handle and I have no problem opening the gate!

However,

Now the gate won't always latch when I close it and I have to close and reclose it a few times before it does.

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

Abuse to a Durango is not tallerated in this forum! [sm=badidea.gif]

I would have to say the reason it won't latch all the time is the gate, and /or striker are out of alinement now.
I've not yet had a problem with the rear hatch on my Durango, but I have fixed a lot of truck tail gate handles
just by lubing the pivot points and arms that connect the linkage were they contact the handle. I would remove
the hatch inside panel, inspect and lube the latch, linkage, pivot points and adjust the rods if needed.

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

On my 2000 D, the rear lock actuator would not lock the hatch at all, even when the OEM alarm was set and all the other doors were locked. Had to have it replaced (It was 4 years old). Now, 2 years later, the key will NOT turn the lock at all. The alarm will lock and unlock the hatch and that is fine for me becasue I really don't need the key to unlock the hatch anyway, I always use the alarm keyfob. Since it is never used, and has now gone bad twice in 6 years, I plan on replacing it with a back-up keyhole camera to go right in that place. No new hole needed. Damned if I'll fix it again and never need it/use it prior to it failing again.

How to get it opened on yours, if it is locked and won't move? Dunno. That situation sucks.

IndyDurango

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

Same problem for me, but first of all if someone have his hatch close and can"t open it, i reach the lock from the window, just pull the plastic cover and it's easy. Second, the lock actuator would lock the hatch. Just clean it and add some grease so it should be ok. Third, my key dosn't work and it seem that i'll be living with it that way!


Dodge Durango
Blue Patriot
4,7 Magnum
2k

RE: Rear Hatch won't open, key won't turn in reare gate cylinder...
 

Rear hatch locks must simply suck.

I had mine replaced when that actuator would no longer lock the hatch. Alarm would be on but the hatch was openable by the handle. This was 2 years after the key lock quit working. Realized that by accident since we never use the key on it anyways. Had it replaced/fixed at the dealer and now, the key doesn't work again. Locks do respond to the alarm fob so I'm leaving it as is for now.

IndyDurango