how does the rear hatch key hole even work?

[YOUNG SCOOTER]

I tried to find something in the manual or online. I have the 2 door hatch. If i unlock all the doors from the door switch 2x then I can open the hatch by pressing the keyhole in. However if I walk up with my key and insert it I cannot open the hatch. I can twist it clockwise and it doesnt unlock the hatch. I tried WD40 in the lock and that didn't change anything. I just bought the car so I'm not sure if I am doing it wrong.

[ex-x-fire]

To unlock it needs to turn counter clockwise, keep lubing it.

[06YarisRS]

...keep lubing it.

Yes! This is key :laugh: Every Yaris hatchback I have bought used had a jammed tumbler. It can take several applications of stuff like brake cleaner and gently wiggling the key back and forth to free it up. Patience and gentle turning back and forth is the way. Then spray in a light machine oil. I just remove them from the car now, disassemble, clean and lubricated them and reinstall. Once it's off the car, you remove one snap ring and the tumbler assembly slides out so you can clean the cylinder bore and lubricate it. On one, I actually polished the cylinder bore with a polishing tip on my dremel tool. It is amazing how much junk builds up in there. I keep spraying the bits and pieces until the brake cleaner runs runs clear.

[Leegamer]

I think I tried it once when I first bought mine in 2008 and it seemed to barely work then. If I remember the dealer lubed it up but I never found a need unlock the hatch separately and probably never used the key on it again. lol.

[06YarisRS]

I think I tried it once when I first bought mine in 2008 and it seemed to barely work then. If I remember the dealer lubed it up but I never found a need unlock the hatch separately and probably never used the key on it again. lol.

I don't it's a great design, or at least it's one that needs regular maintenance. I don't use mine with key much either, since I have power locks.

[billfires]

I have a 2010 2 dr with manual locks. I use the hatch probably twice a week and just lube it annually. Bill C

[myfirstyota]

I think your best bet is to remove the lock from the hatch. Ive had to do this on almost all the locks on my cars. Its not hard at all. Lots of good write ups on here. Clean, lube, reinstall, maintain.

I have to clean and lube the lock on my hatch at the moment as well. Its also sticking.

Edit: I cleaned the lock cylinder earlier today. Man, was it gunked up. I dont think it was ever serviced before. So I figured I'd throw a couple pointers out for anyone looking to fix their sticky or non functioning hatch lock.

1) You will need snap ring pliers or a crafty way to remove the snap ring on the back of the lock mechanism.
https://imgur.com/a/R6HykXh

2) You can get the lock cylinder housing out with a 10mm socket fairly easily. However, it will be much easier to get it back in if you remove the latch mechanism.

3) Once the lock cylinder houing is removed from the hatch, you'll need to remove the snap ring from the back of the lock mechanism. Inside is a spring and a plunger type thing. Don't worry, nothing will go flying.
https://i.imgur.com/Spg6uaf.jpg

4) Once the spring and plunger assembly is removed, you should be able to push the lock cylinder out the back of the housing. Be careful though, there's a thin o-ring you don't want to break.
https://i.imgur.com/IWPOks9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qpAMZOF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/W5T1ZnF.jpg


Now you should have the 3 pieces apart. Housing, spring and plunger, and lock cylinder. Grab some parts cleaner and a tooth brush and go to town. Don't be afraid to get a small screwdriver and scrape build-up off.
This is what they should look like when you're done cleaning
https://i.imgur.com/ViBPU1O.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/134GouG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pG4Mc0s.jpg

At this point you should be able to see the lock tumblers through a hole on the side of the lock cylinder. What I did was take a small screwdriver and pack grease in there. I kept pushing the grease in and turning the key inside the lock cylinder until everything was moving smoothly. You can see the lock tumbler access port on top of the cylinder full of grease and see grease squeezing out of both ends from being packed in.
https://i.imgur.com/YXNMwqB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CT4FIuQ.jpg

I even spread a thin layer of grease inside the lock cylinder housing
https://i.imgur.com/v2ZojI4.jpg

Now just reassemble and wipe off the excess grease before installing back into the hatch. And don't worry too much about reassembly, it really only goes together one way. Dont forget to insert and remove your key wiping it clean each time. Dont want grease where it shouldn't be!

[enviri]

still having a rear hatch key hole must suck :P

[HDS]

I am working on this right now. It's incredible what a PITA this design is. So much crap gets into the rear lock. I have ran the tumbler and other parts through the ultrasonic cleaner multiple times and lots of elbow grease and the tumbler is still stuck. I think I might need to replace it. I don't really use it though, I use the central locking. But it hasn't worked either because the tumbler is stuck, can't rotate or move in and out.

Thinking of turning a new blank from stainless that would just be a button and holder for the lever arm so the central lock can work.

I wish there was some kind of plastic or rubber cover to put over the handle...