u/GallonOfMilk_

Hatch on my 2001 SR5 won’t open when the handles pulled nor when any of the levers are manually pulled when I have the rear panel taken off. Is there a way for me to reach and disengage the lock manually? I was thinking about taking an ankle grinder and cutting out a slot in the metal to access the actual lock mechanism from inside the Cab. YouTube has been completely unhelpful, every video is about replacing the lock and how to get it open assuming that the cable is the thing that’s the issue. Nothing talks about the situation where the cable is fine and the handle is fine and how to unlock the physical latch mechanism manually. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I’m looking to get this truck lifted 3 inches and need help doing it. What did you guys do to lift your five lug Tacomas? I plan on keeping this truck as it was received as a gift from a close friend, so please avoid just commenting “go to a six lug”. Its a 2000 Tacoma 2.4L 5 lug manual. I won’t be doing anything except very light trails and just drives between Post Falls idaho and Seattle.