Rear hatch won't open on my 2008 Pt Cruiser. It doesn't have power assist, you have to push up under the logo on a rubber sealed switch. How can I open it?

The hatchback vehicle and similar has an inherent problem that has been increasing since the rear screen wiper was first fitted to them. Wires must pass from the vehicle body into the tailgate and at this point the wires flex every time the hatch is opened and closed. Standard wiring is not designed to flex so much, so often, for so long and in such a wide temperature spread yet the vehicle manufacturers use standard cable rather than "extra flexible wire" and arctic rated insulation so it isn't surprising to sometimes find one or more wires at or near that stress point have broken. Usually this isn't a great problem or inconvenience - except when the vehicle has an electric tailgate release and that is the wire that has broken..

The fault with your tailgate could be a lack of supply from the front or a break anywhere in the supply or a faulty release switch or even the release mechanism itself but apart from checking the fuses there are few practical steps to take until the tailgate is open.

I have so far been called upon to open two such tailgates and not being a car thief or a locksmith I know only one way and that is to climb inside the luggage space and to do whatever it takes to remove the interior trim panel from the tailgate. It was then relatively easy to disconnect the release and apply 12 volts to the exposed terminals via a pair of probes and I was lucky and the lock instantly released. One needed a new push button and the other a wiring repair.