Another liftgate problem

I just bought a 1996 Grand Cherokee. I needed to replace a brake light before I get pulled over, but guess what? Liftgate won't open! OK, so I pull top of panel away fro the tailgate on the inside, reach in and try to open it that way. No go. I crawled under and removed the nuts from the bolts on the striker(?) but still can't get it open. Tailgate moves about 2 or 3 inches, but the bolts can't come up far enough through the holes to let it open. What do I do next?