busted rear hatch sensor - hatch is closed...?

[racermcphee]

drive a 1999 Subaru Outback. the sensor in the hatch is bad. how do i go about either fixing it or replacing it?

[Huffer]

Might help if you tell us what sensor it is.

[racermcphee]

its the sensor that tells the computer whether the rear hatch is shut or not. the car thinks the rear hatch is still open, even when it's not.

[Huffer]

That's the light switch on the rear - there are two sliders on the sides of the rear cabin that are spring loaded. Are these damaged?

[racermcphee]

i'm not sure bout those, i'll have to check them out in the morning. i was under the assumption that it was the release in the middle.