Release Vibe rear window (hatch) glass?

[Percival P. Cassidy]

One of the local "remove the part yourself" wrecking yards has a Vibe
with the rear glass in better shape than mine, but of course the vehicle
has no battery and the normal way of unlocking the glass does not work.

Any ideas on how to release the glass without power?

Perce

[Percival P. Cassidy]

Post by Percival P. Cassidy
One of the local "remove the part yourself" wrecking yards has a Vibe
with the rear glass in better shape than mine, but of course the vehicle
has no battery and the normal way of unlocking the glass does not work.
Any ideas on how to release the glass without power?

How about this idea? Take along a small 12V battery (e.g., from a lawn
tractor or UPS) and find a convenient connection point to energize the
release mechanism. But where would be a good place to connect it?

Perce

[Paul in Houston TX]

Post by Percival P. Cassidy
One of the local "remove the part yourself" wrecking yards has a Vibe
with the rear glass in better shape than mine, but of course the vehicle
has no battery and the normal way of unlocking the glass does not work.
Any ideas on how to release the glass without power?

How about this idea? Take along a small 12V battery (e.g., from a lawn tractor or UPS) and
find a convenient connection point to energize the release mechanism. But where would be a
good place to connect it?
Perce

You will have to find the wiring diagrams.
A good GM dealer should have them and let you look at them or print a paper copy.
The wiring info will also show where the connectors are located.
Or,check the diagram for wire color code and cut the wires at a convenient location.

[Percival P. Cassidy]

Post by Paul in Houston TX

Post by Percival P. Cassidy

Post by Percival P. Cassidy
One of the local "remove the part yourself" wrecking yards has a Vibe
with the rear glass in better shape than mine, but of course the vehicle
has no battery and the normal way of unlocking the glass does not work.
Any ideas on how to release the glass without power?

How about this idea? Take along a small 12V battery (e.g., from a lawn
tractor or UPS) and
find a convenient connection point to energize the release mechanism.
But where would be a
good place to connect it?

You will have to find the wiring diagrams.
A good GM dealer should have them and let you look at them or print a paper copy.
The wiring info will also show where the connectors are located.
Or,check the diagram for wire color code and cut the wires at a convenient location.

I didn't find a wiring diagram, but I took a jump-start device with me
to the junk yard. I removed the plastic lining of the hatch, then cut
and stripped the ends of the four wires heading toward the bottom of the
window opening. I figured that the thicker wire (white insulation)
probably was the "common" or ground, and connected the output of the
jump-starter between that one and a white-and-black striped conductor
(it just happened to be the first one I tried) -- "clunk!" and the glass
was unlocked.

I got a pair of roof-rack cross rails at the same time. My Vibe now
looks more "complete."

Another of the Vibes there had the whole hatch and both the
driver's-side doors locked, but there was nothing I needed from it.

By the way, I just discovered for the first time since we got our Vibe
about 18 months ago, that the key that works in the ignition does not
unlock the hatch. Is that the way they all are?

Perce

[Paul in Houston TX]

Post by Paul in Houston TX

Post by Percival P. Cassidy

Post by Percival P. Cassidy
One of the local "remove the part yourself" wrecking yards has a Vibe
with the rear glass in better shape than mine, but of course the vehicle
has no battery and the normal way of unlocking the glass does not work.
Any ideas on how to release the glass without power?

How about this idea? Take along a small 12V battery (e.g., from a lawn
tractor or UPS) and
find a convenient connection point to energize the release mechanism.
But where would be a
good place to connect it?

You will have to find the wiring diagrams.
A good GM dealer should have them and let you look at them or print a paper copy.
The wiring info will also show where the connectors are located.
Or,check the diagram for wire color code and cut the wires at a convenient location.

I didn't find a wiring diagram, but I took a jump-start device with me to the junk yard. I
removed the plastic lining of the hatch, then cut and stripped the ends of the four wires
heading toward the bottom of the window opening. I figured that the thicker wire (white
insulation) probably was the "common" or ground, and connected the output of the
jump-starter between that one and a white-and-black striped conductor (it just happened to
be the first one I tried) -- "clunk!" and the glass was unlocked.
I got a pair of roof-rack cross rails at the same time. My Vibe now looks more "complete."
Another of the Vibes there had the whole hatch and both the driver's-side doors locked,
but there was nothing I needed from it.
By the way, I just discovered for the first time since we got our Vibe about 18 months
ago, that the key that works in the ignition does not unlock the hatch. Is that the way
they all are?
Perce

Thanks for the update. Glad it worked out.
(cars and electronic wire colors are opposite that of house wiring.
Black or green blk/grn is ground.)
I don't have any experience with Vibe keys or the Toyota equivalent.
It sounds like GM considered that a trunk with a trunk key.
Like in the old days. Nowadays, cars only have one key lock - on the driver's door.

[Steve W.]

Post by Percival P. Cassidy

Post by Paul in Houston TX

Post by Percival P. Cassidy

Post by Percival P. Cassidy
One of the local "remove the part yourself" wrecking yards has a Vibe
with the rear glass in better shape than mine, but of course the vehicle
has no battery and the normal way of unlocking the glass does not work.
Any ideas on how to release the glass without power?

How about this idea? Take along a small 12V battery (e.g., from a lawn
tractor or UPS) and
find a convenient connection point to energize the release mechanism.
But where would be a
good place to connect it?

You will have to find the wiring diagrams.
A good GM dealer should have them and let you look at them or print a paper copy.
The wiring info will also show where the connectors are located.
Or,check the diagram for wire color code and cut the wires at a convenient location.

I didn't find a wiring diagram, but I took a jump-start device with me
to the junk yard. I removed the plastic lining of the hatch, then cut
and stripped the ends of the four wires heading toward the bottom of the
window opening. I figured that the thicker wire (white insulation)
probably was the "common" or ground, and connected the output of the
jump-starter between that one and a white-and-black striped conductor
(it just happened to be the first one I tried) -- "clunk!" and the glass
was unlocked.
I got a pair of roof-rack cross rails at the same time. My Vibe now
looks more "complete."
Another of the Vibes there had the whole hatch and both the
driver's-side doors locked, but there was nothing I needed from it.
By the way, I just discovered for the first time since we got our Vibe
about 18 months ago, that the key that works in the ignition does not
unlock the hatch. Is that the way they all are?
Perce

Should be a single key.