I have an 83 wagon and i cant get the rear lift hatch to lock the key will only turn to the right, which doesnt lock it. It wont turn to the left at all.I am just making sure that theres not another way to lock it before i start taking things apart. It doesnt have auto locks i dont know if thats an option on 83's.

Thanks David

Your key will only turn 90 degrees. I believe straight up and down is open and sideways is locked. Sorry, been a while since we had ours.

 

EDIT, I just realized what you were trying to say. Take the interior panel off of the hatch. Inside you will see the linkage and lock cylinder and such. Look for a rod that is laying down in the bottom of the hatch. You'll see where it connects into the cylinder.

if its like my 90 wagon then turning it to the right unlocks it and it should turn a ways to the left about 45 degrees from stright up and down that locks it, try and squirt some liquid graphite in it mine stuck for a long time but that stuff freed it up.

Yeah, you'll want to turn the key 45 degree's clockwise to lock the hatch. And to unlock it just turn it back until the key is vertical.

 

You should be able to remove the key once its been turned clockwise to keep the hatch locked.

 

-Brian

45 degree's is diagonal. It needs to be vertical or horizontal.

Oh yeah, forgot there were 360 degrees in a circle. Correction, 90 degree's to lock/unlock.

 

 

-Brian

does your handle work ?

 

i found my handle doesn't 'return' when pulled to open the door

{broken spring?}

 

then it won't lock

if you bring it back down by hand it works fine

 

i know of a couple of subes that do that

Thanks a lot looks like i need to take the pannel off and take a look at the lock from that side.

Thanks for the help.

David

Becareful with the plastic panels and plugs, they get real brittle....

 

You may find one of the plastic keepers on the lock mech has failed too...

 

Good Luck,

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer

01 Forester