This morning I got to wondering about what would happen if there were no electricity available to unlock the hatch. There is no place for a key, and the Fit doesn't have an inside release. I didn't want to disconnect the battery, so I did the next best thing.

I was connecting the unit for the trailer wiring, and I had the rear wires exposed. I unplugged a large white connector and closed the hatch. I was unable to open it. I could open any other door in the car, but not the hatch, since it opens electrically. It's not just the locking/unlocking. It's also the opening. When you reach under the emblem and press that button, the catch releases electrically - unless there is no power available. That seems like a major shortcoming.

We need a clever person to design a simple manual method of releasing the hatch catch.

 

You did not need to unplug that large white connector in the back to install trailer wire harness. I agree there is a shortcoming without a manual release. Like a trunk without a manual release from the inside, which I beleive by law all cars need to have it. May be exempt if a hatchback.

 

My new model Camaro trunk refused to open. No key opening option on that either. In my case, an emergency cord in the trunk is available after crawling through the back seat. Plenty of power but had to take it to the dealer. $250 bucks later, found that the power cables had kinked, and needed replacing. All cars should have a key opening on the trunk as a back-up.

 

I know I didn't have to unplug that connector, but it gave me a little more room to get to the wires running to the lights. I put the liquid tape on the soldered joints, so I'll tape up the whole bundle and run the green wire to the right side.

I guess the hatch would be exempt from that law because you could exit through a door.

 

Check page 429 of your Owners Manual for the emergency procedure for opening the tailgate from inside.

es

 

I don't see this as a shortcoming at all.

If your Fit's battery doesn't have any juice, you need to worry more about getting a jump or buying a new battery than you do about opening the hatch.

Fold the backseat down and get your stuff out via the rear side doors.

 

Thanks for that. I did a search for "hatch," with no good results.

 

That depends on what's in the back.

 

Same here - finally found another reference to "tailgate" and that was the magic word.

es