Today, I had an unlock failure on my 2007 Chevy Tahoe LT 5.3L. Here are some specifics. Drill the marked circle, but I recommend you drill it a bit bigger than 1/8th inch. It was a bear releasing it using the 1/8th-inch hole. I drilled two-bit sizes larger (see pic below), which made it much easier. In my case, I could hear the solenoid click every time I hit the button (indicating I had power and it was trying), but the latch wouldn't disengage. I off road a lot and assumed dirt and dust was making the mechanism stick after 235000 miles.

To be clear, you will be poking in at a slightly downward direction to hit the release. You can feel around with your coat hanger or metal rod until you find something that gives. I succeeded with a coat hanger, but the second time I found it easier to use a slightly stiffer and larger metal rod (drip system hook for poking down irrigation drip lines). Once released, I blasted the latch with WD40, removing dirt with Q-Tips and paper towels. I worked the latch back and forth, sometimes having to rerelease it manually as it would get stuck. Eventually, the electronics released it reliably, and I kept cleaning and working it until it moved smoothly.

I've left the little metal rod in my car for future emergency use.

Hope that helps.


Cleaned latch below.