Hatch not opening

For the last 2 weeks i haven't been able to open the hatch on my 2002 MKIV GTI. When I press the release (key or door) you can hear the mechanism try to release the hatch, but when I go to actually open it the handle doesn't catch. It feels like I'm trying to open the hatch without having pushed the release.

I've tried to use the key, but it only goes in halfway. I was thinking maybe I had a buildup of salt or something in there, but now I'm thinking that something is jammed. I've climed into the back from the inside and can't see anything stuck in there.

Any bright ideas on how to go about fixing the problem? I'm thinking about trading in for one of the new GTI's and would prefer to have this problem fixed before they do the appraisal on my current vehicle.

Thanks guys.

Any help out there?

Ideas to get me started?

Yea, climb in the back and take out the 2 philips screws in the handle. Pull the rear lid cover off and manually pull on the latch release and open the hatch. You will need a new latch and maybe the little white plastic things that hold the latch release rod in.

Thanks! I'll look at it tomorrow.. hopefully it goes ok.