How to fix a punched in hatch lock?

[Whitey]

Long story short;
I'm looking at a 99 4Runner. It's got a lot of things in its favor EXCEPT it looks like someone tried to break into the hatch by punching the lock in. I couldn't get it open althought the owner swears it opened yesterday. You can hear it unlocking from the drivers unlock switch.
So what are your thoughts on getting the hatch open and ultimately fixing the lock?

[4x4mike]

I would say you have to get the door open to remove the door panel. Once inside you've got a lot of room to get around. I've been back there but wasn't there for the lock so I can't help with any more than that.

[corax]

you should be able to buy a lock cylinder from the dealership and have them re-key it to match the other locks

[MTL_4runner]

I would say you have to get the door open to remove the door panel. Once inside you've got a lot of room to get around. I've been back there but wasn't there for the lock so I can't help with any more than that.


X2

You'll need to get the plastic panel off the hatch in order to unlock the hatch and replace the lock. The dealer can certainly supply a rekeyed version that matches your current key.

[Bob98SR5]

or if you buy it and put money down, make it a condition of the sale that he fixes it. it would be less time consuming for him to get the lock cylinder replaced than you b/c of the time between the title transfer, time to process by dmv, etc

[NC994Run]

I would pull the plastic off from the inside and make sure that the linkage for the handle has not loosened/ fallen off.