nees1212

OK, I searched the site and found the answers on how to pop off the trim with the door closed. I was able to then open the hatch. I found that the bolt fell off the handle, and I put it back on. That's when I realized my problem might be more than just that. With the hatch open, if I squeeze the handle, the rod on the inside will move left to right. There isn't a whole lot of tension on this rod, just the little bit the spring gives. Now, when the rod moves, it is not pulling the cable to open the latch. On the drivers side in the rear hatch where the rod and cable connect, the two mechanisms they're in spin freely of one another. The rod piece will rock back and forth without pushing on the cable piece. If I push on the cable piece, it will open the latch, but the rod doesn't move at all. I assume these two should move together. Any clue as to what the problem is as I will not be able to open the hatch with the handle if I close it.

In the below pic, you can see the rod that is coming from the handle. I have pushed this over as though the handle is being squeezed. The piece that has the cable connected that goes to the latch does not move at all. If I push on that piece, the latch will open, but the rod does not move.

BTW, the pic is from looking up at an open hatch as you're facing the front of the 4runner.

nees1212

OK. I found today that if you crack the rear window just a little to release the tension off of things, the handle will work. The rod has tension and does not move freely. When the handle is moved causing the rod to move, the cable pulls on the latch. However, when the window is all the way up, the handle does not work. I'm going to keep looking at it, but if anyone has any idea what the problem is now, please let me know.

nees1212

OK. I figured it all out.

aowRS

Care to share?


Andreas