Nothing is actually broken but sometimes it just won't unlock. I tried to repair this by cleaning and lubricating but no success. what works every time though is pushing the opening lever forwards (opposite of opening, which is to squeeze it towards you), then operating the remote or drivers 'unlock' rocker switch one more time!

Or you can just spend the 30.00 bucks in new hardware and be done with it. What your doing now will eventually stop working also. Salt spray gets trapped under the handle and it rusts out.

 

 

nipper

Product Name: HANDLE. REAR GATE OUTER FOR 1995-1999 LEGACY OUTBACK WAGONS (item 4) (yes, it rusts out)

Item#: 62150AA211

Unit Price: $21.00

Quantity: 1

Shipping Method: UPS Ground -- residential

 

Just bought one myself

You've probably already fixed yours, but for posterity...

 

Same thing happened to mine. There is (or maybe was) a spring that forces the handle back to the closed position. On mine, there's a bunch of rusted wire. When you press the lever, the spring doesn't return it back to the position. Sometimes the hatch won't close, sometimes it won't lock, depending on how far the handle returned, you had to manually push the lever back.

 

I opened the back panel up once to see if I could put a spring on the actual locking mechanism, but I sold the car before I ever got around to doing it.

I would imagine that a '97 Impreza wagon has a similar mechanical and electronic assembly. Does the lock work properly when actuated with the remote or internal switches? If not, your problem might be elsewhere in the wiring.

 

My lock stopped working electronically. I pulled another lock at a wrecking yard and replaced the original. No help. Just a additional comment: my backup lights stopped working shortly after the lock did.

 

Long story shorter: I found the wiring harness severed in the upper right hand (passenger side) corner near the hinge. Of the dozen or so wires, 4 were completely broken and 4 more where about to go. A lot of splicing and taping and everything is working fine again.