how to get to rear Legacy SW lock

[snow]

I have a 1998 Legacy station wagon and the hatchback rear lock won't unlock.
I am quite sure it needs lubrication inside ...is it easy to remove the area
where this lock is? I think I can do it from the inside of the Subaru. I had
trouble with it off and on the past year, but the weather got real cold it
won't unlock at all now. Usually a few turns of the key work, but not now.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

I have a 1998 Legacy station wagon and the hatchback rear lock won't
unlock. I am quite sure it needs lubrication inside ...is it easy to
remove the area where this lock is? I think I can do it from the inside of
the Subaru. I had trouble with it off and on the past year, but the
weather got real cold it won't unlock at all now. Usually a few turns of
the key work, but not now.

They get pretty gummed up. You MAY be able to free the lock without
removing it by getting something like PB Blaster or, what I prefer, rust
penetrant and lubricant from a GM dealer (Hey, GM had to make SOMETHING
correctly, right?!

I used the GM stuff, but my lock was accessible so I just removed it. You
can try placing the little hose that comes with the can into the lock and
spray a little bit, and then repeat for a couple days. After 2-3 days try
turning the key gently and see if it starts to turn, then spray a little
more and try again later.

If this doesn't work you'll have to remove the lower panel from the
interior of the liftgate and remove the lock. I'd suggest getting a trim
removal tool, since even WITH the tool the plugs holding the panel on can
snap.

Good luck...

 

[Uncle Ben]

I have a 1998 Legacy station wagon and the hatchback rear lock won't unlock.
I am quite sure it needs lubrication inside ...is it easy to remove the area
where this lock is? I think I can do it from the inside of the Subaru. I had
trouble with it off and on the past year, but the weather got real cold it
won't unlock at all now. Usually a few turns of the key work, but not now.

On my 1999 OB, I used to have this problem every six months or so.
Apparently you can turn the key in your lock, so the lock itself is
not frozen (as mine was recently -- but see below). Can you open the
hatch by its handle? (Does the Legacy have a handle? ) or by the
remote door opener (do you have one?) If not, then it is clear that
what needs lubrication is the linkage between lock or handle and the
latch itself.

So, yes, you rip out the rear lining from the inside and spray
lubricant on the joints in the linkage. Save yourself the annoyance
of having to do this often by using a teflon-based lubricant. When I
used WD-40, it had a six-month lifetime. With teflon, the last round
of this problem was a year ago and I'm still counting.

If I read you wrong and your key won't turn, you can try Plan B: I
couldn't even get the key into the lock. So I took out the lock and
saw that there was rust among the tumblers. I sprayed the tumblers
with penetrating oil, put the lock into a bench vise, and used a small
hammer to gently tap the key into the lock without bending the key.
After it went in, I worked the key back and forth until it turned OK.
Problem solved.

Uncle Ben