1996 Mercury Villager. At xmas time I opened the back hatch to get presents out and take into the house- well my bf didn't shut the back door properly - ie he didn't flip the black 'lock' thing back into the door- so when it shut- it didnt totally shut. Anyways - by the time i realized the back inside light was on and it kept popping up that a door wasn't closed all the way- It was too cold out and the lock must have froze? The door will not latch when i close it. I've gotten deicer and tried like 5 times- i've had my mom help me- my brother help me- and we cannot get it to latch when the door gets closed. Because the light stays on in the rear for 60 minutes when the door is open back there- everytime you turn off the car or open the doors or whatever- it's wore my battery dead 2x. Finally i just took out the back lightbulbs- hoping until the weather gets warmer this will help... Apparently it didn't- because once again my battery is almost completely dead!
2007-02-04 23:59:38 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Sorry if my wording is wrong- by Trunk i mean the back Liftgate.
2007-02-05 00:01:49 · update #1
First ensure the area where the back hatch locks onto is clear of debris. This should be an indentation dead center, on the bottom of the hatch opening. THere should be a piece of metal that the hatch lock grabs.
Second get a can of WD-40 and ensure that it is room temperature. Spray up into the lock on the hatch and up and around the handle that opens the back hatch. You should be able to work the locking mechanism with one hand and the handle with another and keep working it from locked to unlock. Try that.
Still won't latch, then I would guess that you may have bent or moved the alignment of the hatch lock by trying to force it to shut. Any body shop should be able to adjust that in a matter of seconds so it will shut and the cost should only be $20 or so.. just ask if they could simply take a look and do a quick adjustment and what that would cost. Most of us technicians are pretty good hearted people.
2007-02-05 00:09:47 · answer #1 · answered by shovelkicker 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Buy a new spray can of WD-40 which has the swivel red soda straw attached. Push the red soda straw into the lock where the key normally goes and spray liberally. Also spray WD-40 into the door lock mechanism that holds the door closed. Hopefully the lock itself is just frozen and not broken. Try to exercise the lock once you get the key turning smoothly. You might remove the fuse that powers the lights to keep them from staying on.
2007-02-05 00:14:42 · answer #2 · answered by bobweb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds like the lock is closed.lift the door and look at the lock mechanizim. you should see a piece of metal that looks like a finger. have someone turn the key in the lock and hold it there then take a screwdriver an move that finger so its open BUT KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY CUZ IT MAY PINCH YOU after yuo get it opened spray a good penetrating oil on it and a light coat of lithium grease on the latch it hooks to close the door and reopen it to make sure its working and your done
2007-02-05 00:51:12 · answer #3 · answered by bearman48064 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you borrow the use of a heated garage for 1/2 a day?
Park it inside and the problem should go away; or
plug a heater in near the frozen lock?
Both?
2007-02-05 00:04:11 · answer #4 · answered by wizjp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say use a blow torch, on the metal bracket in where the tailgate locks. This might free up the latch. If not take the whole van to a heated carwash and maybe the hot water might also free it up. Good luck
2007-02-05 00:09:40 · answer #5 · answered by imdachef2003 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Heat up a key with a lighter and put it inside the lock, should
de-ice it.
2007-02-05 01:25:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where do you live that it's been freezing since before Christmas???
It may not be frozen, but broken.
2007-02-05 00:09:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋