Klaus,

I have taken off the torx screws earlier to open up the hatch. I could feel where the long rod (coming down from the outside handle) hits the latch mechanism. It appears to be near the passenger side (and toward the outside of the door panel. This is also where the inside (the car) handle touches the latch. I still could not get the mechanism to let go of the loop.

Here's the million dollar question....

when the long rod touches the latch mechanism, is the mechanism supposed to slide somehow to the middle which makes it let go of the loop? What the heck makes the latch let go of the loop (on the strikeplate)?

If anyone has one of these things apart, I would appreciate learning how to make it let go of the loop. I cannot believe that this thing is getting the better of me UGHHH!