Disabled rear lock

I have a 95 Blazer and the rear hatch lock quit working. The electric fob still activates the door locks and I can hear the hatch servo function but the lock will not release the glass. I went inside and pulled the latch but it will only partly release the door and the glass will not let go.
Can anyone give me some pointers on fixing the lock and getting the panel off with the door closed? Will I be able to get the panel off without taking a sledgehammer to the back glass??
Thank you for your time,
L Smith

welcome to af.
i actually just had this problem with my new truck. This is a very common problem. There is a plastic piece on the actuator that is hooked to the linkage that releases the glass. when this plastic piece breaks, the actuator will still work but it is not connected to anything so the glass will not release. I got lucky with my rear interior panel because it was missing the screws on the side of the panel that hold it to the tailgate. I'm guessing yours are still in place. The only option then is to carefully pull up the carpet insert in the panel. You will see a small opening in the metal plate below the latch that will allow you to manually release the glass after hitting the hatch release button on your remote. Then lower the tailgate, remove both tailgate panels and see if that plastic clip is the caulpret. If it is, you can go to a salvage yard and buy a used stock actuator or you can go to the dealer (like i did), and get the updated actuator that has a redesigned, stronger clip. This updated actuator is about $70. hope this helps you.

Thank you for your reply. It came just in time as I had my teeth showing and the hammer raised and ready to swing. Never would have figured out the latch!
I believe I will go for the new clip considering the money just saved by the post.
Glad to be a member of the forum.
Again my thanks, LS

that plastic piece is now a discontinued part after the redesigned one came out in 05 so if you just want the plastic piece and not the actuator, you will have to go to a junkyard and pick one up. let us know how you make out.

Hi - this is my first reply on Af. I have a 95 blazer with the same backglass issue. I have tried to release using the manual release (located under carpet directly below the latch assembly)but still won't open. I can hear the motor run when using the emergency release but still the glass won't release. Is there something else that can be done. I suppose the next step is removing panel and checking for the plastic piece. Thanks!
This site is awesome, alot of information available, but still have alot of Questions on this 95 blazer. (no start- no lights on dash for 4x4 etc):runaround: