Awesome, thanks!

On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 6:04 PM Jim. Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> John, there has been a lot posted about it, and I did mine long ago so I
> will try and remember. When it is light enough tomorrow I will try to send
> you a picture of where the wire goes through the inside hatch sheet metal,
> that is the one of two holes you have to drill. A picture will keep you
> from having to make a couple of trial holes like i did. They are tiny
> though, and they are hidden by the rear mattress unless you look up at the
> inside of the door with the hatch open.
>
> 1. Acquire a bicycle brake cable at a bike shop. It will have a small
> piece of metal swaged onto the end of it that will act as a stop. Pick up a
> small cable clamp. I don't remember where mine came from but I doubt it was
> a bike shop, probably Ace or Home Depot. Pick up a garage door pull handle
> or whatever you want to use as a pull handle. The poly garage door pull
> handle is safe on things if you shut the hatch with something in the way,
> and it is easy to find in the dark. I think I took mine of the emergency
> release on my garage door and replaced it with something else like a lawn
> mower pull handle.
>
> 2. Remove your rear door card.
>
> 3. Work from inside the car. Examine the mechanism to locate the metal
> piece that, when pulled (from the inside, or pushed by the button from the
> outside) and punch a dimple and drill a hole through it large enough for
> the brake cable to pass through but not large enough for the swaged end to
> fit through. Insert the cut end of the brake cable through the hole from
> the inside.
>
> 4. Going by the picture I send or your own good sense, drill another hole
> through the inside door sheet metal that will allow the new hole to align
> as closely as possible with the first hole you drilled. The idea is to give
> the cable a fair pull without a lot of angle that could make it stick or
> wear the cable out easily. Lead the cut end of the cable through the rear
> hatch sheet metal hole you just drilled and test it to make sure it works
> by pulling on the wire to ensure it will release the hatch lock.
>
> 5. Use the small cable clamp and the handle of choice to affix the handle
> to the end of the cable and trim the cable.
>
> 6. Refit the rear hatch card.
>
> This works the same on all years and all styles as far as I know.
>
> Jim
>
> On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 1:09 PM John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Jim, I have an electric lock but the driver motor is mechanically
>> disconnected from the lock. Don't plan on putting it back that way.   Can
>> you better describe your solution? Or send a picture. It could be that I
>> have a different lock.
>>
>> Planning to come your way one of these days for a visit now that I have
>> my van back. Be nice to see you again.
>>
>