Help: How to unplug the rear hatch release button?

[Shannon Whitehead]

#280708

Sorry, no photos, but I used a small screwdriver to flip the “catch” thingamajig on the harness. If you unhook it from the clip holding it to the hatch body, you’ll be able to see it a lot better as you pull the slack toward the opening. Use a flashlight and you’ll see how it releases….it’s hard to explain. If you have big hands, it won’t be easy. I sat on the shelf inside the car facing toward the rear of the car when I did mine. It made it a lot easier to see everything than trying to stand behind the car and look straight up.

When you put it back together, you just snap it in from the outside. That part is easy.

[ACR08]

#280718

SA Heat, thanks for the response. I was sitting in the same place. Which way do you pull to get it out of the clip holding it inside the hatch body? I couldn’t even figure this out. I thought it was probably clipped in place, but couldn’t tell.

[Shannon Whitehead]

#280724

First, I’m assuming you removed the inside panel….If I remember correctly, it’s a few 8 or 10mm bolts. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a couple of openings, I think I pulled a push-pin out from the body by getting my fingers into the larger opening and pulling straight down. That push pin is to the right when facing toward the rear of the car…..it’s holding the wire and harness against the hatch body. Once you pull that pin out, you’ll get a little more slack in the wire and you can get to the harness a little easier. There’s no a lot of slack though. Shine a small flashlight through the opening and you’ll get a better feel for where everything is. Be patient. Getting the harness to come apart if you’re having to use much force, you aren’t flipping the right part to release it (if that makes sense).

[ACR08]

#280730

This all makes sense. It’s the push pin I’m struggling with. I’ll take another look at it and try pulling straight down.

Thanks.

[Shannon Whitehead]

#22367

Hello,

So I broke the rear hatch release button on my Viper. I’ve read the recent post about this and am sourcing the $30 dollar Caravan part (5080529AD). Last night I was trying to uninstall the broken release button and was not able to get it unplugged from the wiring harness. What is the secret? If anyone has pics that would be a big help since the plug is very hard to see. I’m trying to avoid braking anything else (usually, for every one thing I fix I also break something else).

Also, how does the new release button install? Do I just push it into place from the outside?

Thanks for the help.

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