420A 98 Eclipse GS advice for my fiance's car please

[Rd75]

My fiance has a 98 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS.

Her hatchback is stuck closed and I have tried doing the turn of the key while somebody pulls the latch trick, I've greased the latch, and read what she showed me about taking the panel off the latch and everything else she showed me.

The problem is I believe the hatchback shocks or struts have frozen shut because it has set so long and won't let me pry it open, either. The shocks are up inside where they can't be accessed without the hatchback being open first. Can't open a hatchback without the shocks being replaced so I'm in a catch 22 situation.

Can anyone please advise what I to do so I can get it open? The problem wasn't the trunk latch that you put your key in and I've never had a hatchback before that the shocks were inaccessible from inside the car, so I have no idea what to do.

 

[pauleyman]

Have somebody pull up on it while you turn the key. Unlikely the struts are the problem.

 

[Rd75]

We tried and it only opened about an inch, just enough to get a little board between and used that is leverage and it still didn't work. If pried any further, it would have broken the plastic trim underneath.

I pulled the latch out also and all is well with it. I read where she showed me, because she's a member, the thread post on how to take apart the tumbler and another post on shots having been stuck so since I've tried fixing the tumbler and the spring seems fine, the only other thing I know would be to replace the shocks maybe and order a spring from the man she showed me had springs on here for sale before.

It's acting like when I had to deal with her door latch little hook shaped thing sticking and it needed lubricant and acts like it doesn't want to release just the same.

 

[pauleyman]

We tried and it only opened about an inch, just enough to get a little board between and used that is leverage and it still didn't work. If pried any further, it would have broken the plastic trim underneath.

I pulled the latch out also and all is well with it. I read where she showed me, because she's a member, the thread post on how to take apart the tumbler and another post on shots having been stuck so since I've tried fixing the tumbler and the spring seems fine, the only other thing I know would be to replace the shocks maybe and order a spring from the man she showed me had springs on here for sale before.

It's acting like when I had to deal with her door latch little hook shaped thing sticking and it needed lubricant and acts like it doesn't want to release just the same.

If the struts are blown, the hatch is heavy. If it's open I say stick your hands in there and lift it. Doesn't sound like a latch problem as you have it open.

 

[Rd75]

If the struts are blown, the hatch is heavy. If it's open I say stick your hands in there and lift it. Doesn't sound like a latch problem as you have it open.

The latch isn't releasing all the way because I can only get a thin piece of wood in between and I pried it but it would not come open. Before this happened it was heavy and hard to get open but it would open and I could pull the hatchback open all the way. It's acting as if it has like a j hook that won't release, like the door latch has that closes over the u-shaped piece on car to keep the door closed.

I had a friend pulling up on the hatchback where it opened about an inch at the same time I was trying to pride open at the same time her son was holding the latch release massage the seat while my fiance was turning the key in the hatchback. That didn't work either.

Have somebody pull up on it while you turn the key. Unlikely the struts are the problem.

It's like this little thing is stuck on the part it latches to.

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[luv2rallye]

See if you can remove the rear panel from the inside and if you can then open it or unbolt the latch.

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[Rd75]

Ok thank you