Rear gate will not open....

[atkonkler]

Its been a long...long time since I was last logged in....I got heavily involved with the FiST community and Own a now 300WHP Fiesta ST. I am done toying with it and have decided to get back into picking away at the little things with the TY....The rear gate will not open any longer.....What is the best way to get that sum bitch to open? drill out the lock? Pull out the panel in the inside that cover the internals? just looking for a good starting point!

 

[keith455]

If you can do it pull the rear interior panel out and then open and replace the lock.

 

[IGottaSy]

The mechanism uses two Z rods going from handle to each latch. Maybe they came off? I just opened the tailgate on a 69 chevy. One of the Z rods was off plus it had lots of rust. Squeezed Z rods together using a wire and the old column shifter. Scratches not an issue since I sold it for its "patina" to some guy.

 

[atkonkler]

If you can do it pull the rear interior panel out and then open and replace the lock.

You can pull the rear lift gate panel without opening the gate?