I like the idea of chevoldsmoyota above. The idea of having a cable going to a pin (of sorts) that merely blocks the travel of the actuator that exists in the original equipment. The trick will be to either run a cable from under the left dash or maybe along side of the left seat, through the frame to the latch area. Or, have a solenoid that is normally in the unlocked position so if the battery died it would release the latch. Hummm. . . thinking, thinking, thinking.

Dan
"I think I can, I think I can"
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