I will one-day make my own manual release "cable" to attach inside the rear hatch, like a fuel-door release on some cars that have an electric actuator that fails...a 'rip cord' if you will.

The sad part is...most new cars from 20xx(?) had to have an "emergency trunk release from inside" built in to protect anyone from getting locked in a trunk...although we dont have 'trunks', you would think Chevy would have used one such mechanism as a back-up for when the touch-pad failed...since they dont have a key/lock part.

My Lincoln Mark VIII uses an electric button in the driver's door panel to work the actuator to open the trunk...might have to investigate that as an option as well.

if I venture in to this, I'll keep you posted.

Snoopy...thanks for taking the time to visually show/explain this to folks. Very un-selfish of you.

 

what about a way to trim up the removable panel so that we could depress it and it causes it to release, make it kinda into a button instead of having to rip it off and fish in with a screw driver?

 

I don't think so, But give me a few days and I will post a How-To on tha was well. Should be fairly easy! First, Solder all your connections in your car, NEVER use butt connectors or quick splices. They can fail after time. I'll get it done!

 

New Tutorial Up:

Located at: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/how-liftgate-emergency-switch-22192/

Add a switch for the Emergency Release.

 

Ok, I have never looked with the latch in the closed position. Will spend some time looking again.

 

does this still unlock the gate when the battery is dead?
i'm trying this first thing in the morning!
i just had the hardest time getting to my battery with a locked gate that wouldn't open.

 

Yes, but I believe the gate needs to be locked for this procedure to work.

 

bee_ump a good information thread.

 

My battery died, and I needed to get the hatch open. Through your detailed explanation, I was able to do so. Thank you very much.

 

QUESTION: Inside the engine compartment, there is a red battery connection for jumping the engine. If the battery is dead, why couldn't you just attach a 12-volt supply (charger or another battery) to that jumper connection to energize the system long enough to release and raise the liftgate?