I want to replace the lock cylinder for the rear hatch, and my local locksmith informed me that I would have to take my bumper off the car, but that just seems crazy. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with getting to the key cylinder.

Thanks

Michael

 

bump

 

Seems like you could do it from the inside, take the bose out if applicable and see what is you can get to it from there.

Tim

 

You HAVE to get to it from the inside. The locking "pin" is on the inside. You have to remove the hatch plastic at the rear to get to it.

I can take a picture if you want...but you do have to still get to it.

 

I just had my bumper cover off and it looked to me like the cylinder would have to be pulled straight out the back, after releasing it from the inside, meaning bumper needs to come off

 

How hard was it for you to take your bumper cover off?? Is there a way to take it off without messing up the paint, and are you Positive there isn't a way to get the look off from the inside. I don't know why Mazda would make the cylinder to where you would have to pull the bumper off.

 

I am not positive, did'nt pull mine. I just looked thru the Service manual and did'nt see anything conclusive there either. There are 3 studs on each side of the bumper cover that stick forward into the fender. 2 of the three need nut removal inside the fender, inside the car, IE interior panel removal. The other 2 can be removed from below the car. There is also a row of fasteners across the top of the cover. Should take about an hour.

 

I'm still looking for someone that has taken their lock cylinder out of the rear hatch. I would like to find out before taking all the interior apart only to find out that I have to take the bumper cover off.

 

Well, I took the panels off my trunck(spring cleaning) and decided to clean and lube the lock while I was at it but my conclusion was that the lock is impossible to take off with out taking off the bumper, FWIW.

 

bump

 

Wait until I get home from work tonight and I will take a look

 

I've done it. In fact I have replaced every lock cylinder on the car.

To remove the rear cylinder you have to remove the bumper. The cylinder slips out the rear of the car and it won't fit through the opening in the bumper cover so off comes the bumper.

Remove the trunk trim around the latch. Then reach in and remove the actuating rod and the clip holding the cylinder in place. Now you have to remove the bumper. I in fact didn't bother to remove the bolts in the bottom of the fender on the left side, but removed the ones on the right side and all the others. Remove and unplug the reverse lights as well. By being very careful I could pull the bumper away from the car far enough to slip the lock cylinder out.

No way in hell to remove the cylinder from the inside.

 

Thank you DamonB

Finally someone that's taken the bumper off.

One more quick question. When you took the bumper off did you scratch or chip the paint. reason I'm asking is because I had the entire car repainted about a year ago and I'm pretty sure they didn't take the bumper off to paint, and I don't want to pull the bumper off and there goes some paint. I know the qustion sounds crazy, but the more I know before hand the better I feel taking this bumper off.

 

It will crack the paint where the bumper meets the fender. They were painted seperately at the assembly plant

 

My car was fine; no damage to the paint. Just be aware that even after you remove the nuts the bumper is still snapped onto the body with a couple large plastic clips. You have to yank on the bumper surprisingly hard to get it to pop free.

 

Was your car repainted with the bumper on? I was thinking that crack where they meet might be bridged by new paint and not crack open very nicely.