Back Hatch Will Not Unlock or Lock

[jessks]

A few days after having someone replace all of my light bulbs on my 2007 Pathfinder - my back hatch stopped locking or unlocking. I have considered that it is possibly the lock actuator, however, I am now reconsidering that inital thought. I do hear a distinct 'thud' sound when i press the lock button on the key fob and it is forceful enough to rattle the license plate a little. Could it be possible that the lock is just not catching and the gentleman that replaced my license plate bulbs inadvertently messed something up?

[rgk]

I had this problem and solved it by spraying liquid wrench onto the locking mechanism - the thing that meets the horseshoe latch just above the bumper.

You will need to remove the rear door panel by popping two plastic pieces out from the inside handle and unscrewing the bolts. Then pop the entire plastic door cover out. At least that's how it is on my 2002.

The mechanism is connected to the keyhole by way of a few small rods connected by a plastic joint. In your case, the gentleman might have disconnected it.

[DAiNiUS]

I had this problem and solved it by spraying liquid wrench onto the locking mechanism - the thing that meets the horseshoe latch just above the bumper.

You will need to remove the rear door panel by popping two plastic pieces out from the inside handle and unscrewing the bolts. Then pop the entire plastic door cover out. At least that's how it is on my 2002.

The mechanism is connected to the keyhole by way of a few small rods connected by a plastic joint. In your case, the gentleman might have disconnected it.

Would this liquid wrench work on the normal door lock actuators as well? 2.5/4 of mine are dead and I don't feel like blowing all that money to replace them.

[rgk]

That depends. Are you talking about an electric actuator, as in power door locks? Liquid wrench is the same thing as PB Blaster - it breaks up rust and lubricates. So if it's a bad motor you're talking about, no it won't help. In my case a spring needed lubrication, which Liquid Wrench provided.

However, if you've got a bad electrical connection or bad ground, cleaning the connections with a wire brush and spraying them with electric terminal cleaner might help.

[DAiNiUS]

I'm not exactly sure how the whole mechanism works to be perfectly honest. I know that two of my door locks do not lock/unlock using the key fob or the button inside, but they do work if I do it manually. This leads me to believe that it's a door lock actuator issue. Interestingly enough one of the doors unlocks but won't lock. Odd.

In any case, thanks for clearing that up rgk.

[jessks]

**Update**

So as it turn out, the mechanisim was infact just lose. I had my mechanic take a look when he was replacing my suspension and he was able to get it back to working.

It's the little things that are so irritating...

[rgk]

I know that two of my door locks do not lock/unlock using the key fob or the button inside, but they do work if I do it manually. This leads me to believe that it's a door lock actuator issue. Interestingly enough one of the doors unlocks but won't lock. Odd.

I would remove the door panel, clean the contacts going to the door lock actuator, and lubricate all moving parts.