Tailgate Broken

[RyanbabZ71]

This weekend took a trip up north. Picked up my tiller from my dad to bring back home. I locked the tailgate so when we were visiting family it wouldnt get stolen. Get home and try to unlock the tailgate and nothing. Key only goes halfway. Tried everything I could think of and it wont unlock. So I have a damn tiller stuck in the bed of my truck. I alreay have an appt for the leaf springs on Wed, dont fell like driving around with my tiller, any idea how to fix it without breaking anything?

[C. Charles Hahn]

Hmmm.... never had a problem with mine. Can you access the bolts on the inside of the tailgate? If so try unbolting the bezel/mechanism and see if you can remove it that way.

[hatfishr]

When you get it apart....check and see if anybody jammed something in the keyhole.

[RyanbabZ71]

When you get it apart....check and see if anybody jammed something in the keyhole.

 

 

No I can get the key in all the way it turns halfway and kicks back like a spring is bad almost

[Zembonez]

Sounds like something stuck in the keyhole to me. You should be able to unbolt it from the inside and pop the gate open.

[rogerf]

Had this problem several times on mine over the past few months...it's roadsalt in the lock.

 

Use WD-40 or PB Blaster to rinse the lock followed by fresh graphite liquid to lube. Also found a way to pop the lock mechanism through the tailgate handle using a screwdriver if really desperate.

 

The dealer cautioned against high-pressure touchless car washes b/c the water pressure is strong enough to force dirt/salt deep into the lock.

[MS3DALE]

I can't see it being roadsalt on his truck,Its not very old

[RyanbabZ71]

yea I dont even have 5K miles yet

[rogerf]

I can't see it being roadsalt on his truck,Its not very old

Mine only had 17K miles when this started. But it at least lasted longer than the lock for the ARE cap...one winter.

 

I'm surprised you haven't seen more of this working at a dealer. My dealer knew exactly the cause & solution as if they see this every day. I also tried to get this replaced before the warranty ran out Apr. 1st but no luck as the fix was in a spray can.

[RyanbabZ71]

no luck fixing it today. I love driving around with a tiller in the back

[CalixEros]

Take a long thin screwdriver to get it unlocked until you can fix it. Mine was caused by rusting of the internal mechanism and I've seen this in others too. Insert the screwdriver and pry at the latch to help pop it up as you're turning the key. This is what I've done for mine when it gets stuck.

[RyanbabZ71]

Take a long thin screwdriver to get it unlocked until you can fix it. Mine was caused by rusting of the internal mechanism and I've seen this in others too. Insert the screwdriver and pry at the latch to help pop it up as you're turning the key. This is what I've done for mine when it gets stuck.

 

Maybe if the truck didnt have 4985 miles I would do this. I dont want them to give me any reason to deny warranty repair.

[Metro12]

My bet is on salt/road gunk. I'm on my second tailgate handle in 26k miles. Sometimes it was the key not turning, like a springy resistance, other times it was the key not going in the lock. I would disassemble, scrub the rust and grime off, and get it working again, but only for a few months. I've been greasing the hell out of this new mechanism now!

[gmcgirl]

no luck fixing it today. I love driving around with a tiller in the back

 

 

I dont' know but it looks like you may be able to lift that out of there over the tailgate to help solve at least one problem.

[Zembonez]

no luck fixing it today. I love driving around with a tiller in the back

 

 

I dont' know but it looks like you may be able to lift that out of there over the tailgate to help solve at least one problem.

 

+1 How heavy can one tiller be? Need to have a buddy help you set it out and then make a dealer trip to get the lock fixed!