Tail Gate Problems

[Coalbunny]

My truck is a '01 GMC Sierra, 5.3 liter 4x4 with automatic tranny.

 

My tailgate won't open. I lift the handle, I hear it unlock, and it moves a little bit, but it seems it won't completely unlock. It has a bed liner, and I havn't figured out a way to open up the tailgate yet. Has this happened before? What was the problem? How did you fix it?

[pm26]

My truck is a '01 GMC Sierra, 5.3 liter 4x4 with automatic tranny.

 

My tailgate won't open. I lift the handle, I hear it unlock, and it moves a little bit, but it seems it won't completely unlock. It has a bed liner, and I havn't figured out a way to open up the tailgate yet. Has this happened before? What was the problem? How did you fix it?

 

First look for signs of obvious interference to movement. Then, liberally spray the hinges with WD 40. It's a good start.

[nootron69]

My truck is a '01 GMC Sierra, 5.3 liter 4x4 with automatic tranny.

 

My tailgate won't open. I lift the handle, I hear it unlock, and it moves a little bit, but it seems it won't completely unlock. It has a bed liner, and I havn't figured out a way to open up the tailgate yet. Has this happened before? What was the problem? How did you fix it?

 

Is this truck new to you? If not, did you possibly tweak your box out of square somehow? Maybe your latches aren't totally disengaging?

[jblakeney]

My truck is a '01 GMC Sierra, 5.3 liter 4x4 with automatic tranny.

 

My tailgate won't open. I lift the handle, I hear it unlock, and it moves a little bit, but it seems it won't completely unlock. It has a bed liner, and I havn't figured out a way to open up the tailgate yet. Has this happened before? What was the problem? How did you fix it?

 

You might be only opening one side. Pull handle and while pulling on the handle pull one side of the tail gate check for movement then do the same to the other. One rod could have broke loose from the handle.

 

If so Don't go ohhhh crap.... pull the bezel off grab the other linkage and give it a tug while pulling up on the handle..... Then get the necessary parts and fix it.

 

Jbo

 

Edit: If you use WD-40 come back and lube it up with some white lithium lube. As the WD-40 will only wash away rust and the grease that was their. WD-40 is a water displacement product that work well to free loose fasteners.

[knipper_03]

Its the mechanism behind the handle. When you pull on the handle two "arms" close and then pull on metal rods to disengage the pins that lock your tailgate closed. Corrosion set in on the mechanism and the two arms overlap each other case them to stick. Take the plastic bezel off around the latch, use your finger and thumb and squeeze these two arms to break them loose....at some lithium grease or anti-seize and you good to go! Ill search for a pic for reference

[knipper_03]

See the two tabs? or arms? Thats what im talking about Could very well be the broken plastic holder that hold the rods to the latches. Ive never had once break always been stuck from cold weather

[Metro12]

It says on the bottle, if after 4 hours you can't get it down, to call your doctor.

[knipper_03]

It says on the bottle, if after 4 hours you can't get it down, to call your doctor.

 

 

Or post it online for everyone to see......just PLEASE NOT this site!

[Ranger482]

Try this. Pull the tailgate handle with one hand, pulling outward like you are trying to open the tailgate. As you are doing that, take your other hand and push inward on the tailgate pretty hard and it should come open. I have to do it on mine sometimes.

[AlenWoods]

Pull the tailgate handle and give it a nice love tap with your fist it will come right open.

[06pirate]

Drive to downtown Seattle and park it overnight. Your tailgate will be not only open but MISSING the next morning.

[LAGA]

I have to push my tailgate in with my shoulder while lifting up on the handle to get it to release.

[khancock]

I have to push my tailgate in with my shoulder while lifting up on the handle to get it to release.

Not to be a jerk but its winter, could one of the latches just be frozen? Happened to me before after a hard winter rain.

[Coalbunny]

See the two tabs? or arms? Thats what im talking about Could very well be the broken plastic holder that hold the rods to the latches. Ive never had once break always been stuck from cold weather

 

Ok Half Ton, I'll see what I can do.

 

Thanks for all the input, guys! I appreciate it a lot!

[Coalbunny]

Drive to downtown Seattle and park it overnight. Your tailgate will be not only open but MISSING the next morning.

Uhhhh, no thank you.

 

 

Pull the tailgate handle and give it a nice love tap with your fist it will come right open.

Tried that. Didn't work.

 

 

Try this. Pull the tailgate handle with one hand, pulling outward like you are trying to open the tailgate. As you are doing that, take your other hand and push inward on the tailgate pretty hard and it should come open. I have to do it on mine sometimes.

Tried that. Didn't work.

 

 

Drive to downtown Seattle and park it overnight. Your tailgate will be not only open but MISSING the next morning.

Tried that. Didn't work.

 

 

I have to push my tailgate in with my shoulder while lifting up on the handle to get it to release.

Tried that. Didn't work.

 

 

First look for signs of obvious interference to movement. Then, liberally spray the hinges with WD 40. It's a good start.

Did that, no signs of interferance.

 

 

Is this truck new to you? If not, did you possibly tweak your box out of square somehow? Maybe your latches aren't totally disengaging?

Truck is new to me by a year or so, did not tweak the box as I wasn't in a spot to. I agree on the latches.

 

 

You might be only opening one side. Pull handle and while pulling on the handle pull one side of the tail gate check for movement then do the same to the other. One rod could have broke loose from the handle.

 

If so Don't go ohhhh crap.... pull the bezel off grab the other linkage and give it a tug while pulling up on the handle..... Then get the necessary parts and fix it.

 

Jbo

 

Edit: If you use WD-40 come back and lube it up with some white lithium lube. As the WD-40 will only wash away rust and the grease that was their. WD-40 is a water displacement product that work well to free loose fasteners.

I checked and it seems this is the problem. So exaqctly how do I remove the dang bezel?

 

 

Its the mechanism behind the handle. When you pull on the handle two "arms" close and then pull on metal rods to disengage the pins that lock your tailgate closed. Corrosion set in on the mechanism and the two arms overlap each other case them to stick. Take the plastic bezel off around the latch, use your finger and thumb and squeeze these two arms to break them loose....at some lithium grease or anti-seize and you good to go! Ill search for a pic for reference

Ok, as I said, I think something is broke. Now to remove the bezel..... since I have no idea how to......

 

 

It says on the bottle, if after 4 hours you can't get it down, to call your doctor.

Sounds like you've been drinking too much tap water again. Man, you oughta ease off that stuff reall really slowly, and get back on the beer. It's better for ya.