Hatch opening mechanism won't work

Rear hatch is locked or unlocked with a key. (if equipped) • To open the rear hatch, insert the key into the lock, turn it to the unlock position and pull up the rear hatch by pressing the handle (DOOR). You can also lock/unlock the latch (but not release it) with the central door lock system. • If unlocked, the rear hatch can be opened by pressing the handle (DOOR) and pulling the hatch up. • To close the rear hatch, lower and push down the rear hatch firmly. Make sure that the rear hatch is securely latched.

Unfortunately, the 04 Golf does not have a back-up release lever on the inside of the trunk lid so there are only a few options. You can try and get the trunk motor/latch to work again or remove the plastic trim on the inside of the hatch to gain access to the inner workings.

The trunk latch is released by a electric motor when you press the release button on the drivers door or by holding down the trunk release button on the remote. If you can hear the electric motor in the hatch moving when trying either of these methods, then your problem is most likely a broken plastic lever that connects the motor to the latch.

Some Golf/GTI models had a lock cylinder in the exterior handle on the hatch that can be used to gain access to your interior.

If none of these methods are working for you, then the last resort is to climb into the interior and remove the trim from the back of the hatch. There are screws tucked into the grab handle pockets on the trim that need to be removed before pulling the plastic off (the trim panel is held on with metal spring-like clips that sometimes come off the plastic and stay on the hatch and can easily be removed from the hatch and re-installed onto the plastic trim.

Hope this gives you a good place to start.

Is it the back hatch? Can you pull the rod on the broke side & pull handle at the same time?

Try adjusting the latch mechanism.

The lock assy

you should be able to pull the back hatch panel from the inside and trigger the mechanism and that should do it .

sounds like the system needs lubricated you'll have to remove door panel to access the rods as well as the lock mechanism clean off an lub check for any bent or loose parts rubbing

First, on the rear hatch, there is an actuator. On FX, when you close the trunk, it kind of **** the hatch closed all the way. When you press lock on the remote, this same actuator locks it as well.
Now,
1) when you unlock the car from the inside, go back there and press the button to open the hatch door manually, do you here any noises?
2) Close all doors, go back close to the hatch button and using the remote , lock the car and then unlock the car. you should hear a sound from the actuator locking and unlocking the lock on the rear hatch!

If you don't hear this, your actuator is inop.
Next step would be to check the fuses inside the car, on the left bottom driver side, and outside on the battery compartment.
It might be just a fuse.
If all fuses check ok, your actuator is most likely gone! Not ea expensive fix, just time consuming!

NOW, if you can hear the noises, then something is either broken inside the actuator or one of the cables is loose!
Hope that helps.
Also, what year and miles on your fx?

The motor is atached to the lever by a small blue plastic piece. When this plastic gets old and cracks you will still hear the motor working but the glass will not pop. First undo the two screws on the handle in side. The plastic part of the handle will come off. to open you will have to pull the plastic back in the center (dont pull to hard it can break) and reach the mechanism with your hand. push the lever twords the passanger side of the car and the glass will pop open. after that take the plastic of the tail gate with the two screws on the side and pull it until the clips that hold it on let go. You will then be able to see the broken plastic piece. you can zip tie it together but its worth it to replace it.

You need to climb in the back and remove the plastic panel from the hatch to access the lock. There may be a small access door over the locking mechanism to help you avoid removing the whole thing. Could be dirty and sticky and fixable with a bit of graphite lube.