Toyota Trucks: 98 4-Runner hatch problem

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has any tip/tricks for getting the
hatch open on a 98 4-runner. I'm not sure what's wrong with it a this
point but basically the latch won't release. I wanted to try and get inside
the door itself by removing the trim on the inside but I'm not sure where to
start on it...I don't want to crack it either.

I though it may be possible to get at the nuts which hold on the "catch
bar/loop" for the bottom portion of the latching mechanism (for lack of the
proper term)...but it's difficult to access with the spare tire in place,
and the spare seems pretty difficult to lower with the hatch
closed....hmm!?!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Randy V.P.

Thanks for the description of the hatch...I'm going to have to go out and
pickup one of those Hayne's manuals. I've used them before and they are
definitely worth the money...I've just never had anything wrong with the
4-runner yet that justified buying it. :-)

Once I got inside the door I noticed that the problem was that the actual
handle/trigger portion was loose and and had popped over the rod connecting
it to the latch. Once I had it back in place it was just a matter of
tightening it back down and it's as good as new!!

Thanks again for the advice.

Randy

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