99 LTD 2 Problems....Heater and Hatch Lock

Hi Guys:
Well the LTd. has just flipped 109,000 and the problems are starting to mount.

First, my heater...I was driving last week with the heater full blast and then it just stopped blowing. So I shut it off and turned it back on...Seemed to work just fine... Then about a week later same thing...But It was harder to get it to start again....Then yesterday..It just stopped. Won't start again. There still is warm air that blows through the vents its just NOT a "forced air". All the lights come up on the panel, temp controls change when turned...
FYI..About a year ago there were some loose wires under the passenger dash....had them repaired. When the heater stopped working I wiggled them to see if they had come loose again...NOTHING! Not sure what to investigate first...please help.

Now for the locking devise in my back hatch...I too have problems with my keyless entry. But for the most part it does work...But what happends now when I open the the car with the keyless ...there is a loud almost "Grinding" sound when the back hatch is unlocked....Doesn't make this sound though when I lock it up with the keyless...any ideas?

Thanks so much...

With your heater it is probably the blower motor that went out, that is really all i could think of.

Is there a fuse or relay I can check too?

The grinding sound is a broken hatch lock - its probably not locking. Not uncommon for the GC.