issue Tailgate cables different lengths

Bbowen826 · January 30, 2014

Has anyone else noticed their tailgate cables are difference lengths? I just noticed yesterday when I open my tailgate only one cable has tension on it. The other has a lot of play to it. I can even stand on my tailgate and it doesn't pull tight. I went by the dealership today and at first they tried to tell me this is normal. They showed me other trucks on the lot that had some play with one cable. The difference was those cables would tighten when I put weight on the tail gate. I was concerned my tail gate would twist causing damage or having that much weight on one cable could cause it to fail. The dealer finally agreed to swap them with a different truck. When they removed the old ones their was almost a quarter inch difference in length. At least I got the problem resolved. I was surprised how many trucks they showed me with this problem and they don't have a service bulletin at least.

LTZTom · January 31, 2014

PULEEEEEZE!!!!!!!

glioma · January 31, 2014

Reminds me of an old ad from the 60's.

Dnt · January 31, 2014

It does seem a bit trivial but I bet the tolerances for the cables was not met by the suppliers and no one had caught this until this sharp eyed consumer Bblowen826 spotted it.

Dear GM rep person please have the factory QC check the cable lengths and have the supplier replace all previously distributed cables and make sure all future units are within tolerance..... I will have to check mine tomorrow. What was the build date for your truck Bblowen826?

1kwik72 · January 31, 2014

I just noticed there is indeed a bulletin on this today. It indicates it is normal for only one side to be tensioned with no load on the gate due to normal build variance. It did indicate they should both have tension with a load on the gate. Sounds like the OP had one a bit further out than what is normal.

pm26 · January 31, 2014

It does seem a bit trivial but I bet the tolerances for the cables was not met by the suppliers and no one had caught this until this sharp eyed consumer Bblowen826 spotted it.

Dear GM rep person please have the factory QC check the cable lengths and have the supplier replace all previously distributed cables and make sure all future units are within tolerance..... I will have to check mine tomorrow. What was the build date for your truck Bblowen826?

Factory who?

pm26 · January 31, 2014

You know, if these trucks cost $ 11k to buy new, maybe stuff like this would be amusing.

With $ 50k+ sticker prices, not so much.

Bbowen826 · January 31, 2014

My truck date is 08/13. I can understand it being acceptable when you put weight on your tail gate and it holds the load. But mine would not even come close to being tight without twisting the tail gate. Makes it even worse when their is a TSB on the issue and the dealer didn't even bother looking. They place all this new technology on these trucks and it cost 50k but can't make cables the same length.

OkieDavid · January 31, 2014

I have the same problem with only one side having tension when under load (my 200+ lb fat ass standing on it) but I haven't mentioned it to the dealer. I guess I didn't really figure it a problem, just a little strange.

Dnt · January 31, 2014

where do you find the build date at on these 2014 GM trucks? I do not even know when mine was built and would like to check that, it might be a real OLD one and have to be junked out or traded soon...........

pm26 · January 31, 2014

http://www.automotiveforums.com/t300699-chinese_tailgate_cables_.html

mzodarg · January 31, 2014

My truck date is 08/13. I can understand it being acceptable when you put weight on your tail gate and it holds the load. But mine would not even come close to being tight without twisting the tail gate. Makes it even worse when their is a TSB on the issue and the dealer didn't even bother looking. They place all this new technology on these trucks and it cost 50k but can't make cables the same length.

What should we expect from the lowest bidder? Lol

2016 Sierra Owner · January 31, 2014

The QC manager Sum Ting Wong must have had the day off when those cables were made.

pm26 · January 31, 2014

This is deja vu, guys. Read my link in the post # 11 on this page. These posts go back to 2004 when this problem surfaced. About 4 million GM trucks were recalled for this problem back then. Apparently GM did not take any steps to prevent reoccurrence.

BTW, this is a safety issue as the single cable holding the weight of the tailgate plus the load can fail under heavy load such as moving an ATV over the tailgate, then the load is transferred to the slack cable, which is then shock loaded and can fail. This can have ugly consequences and result in damage to the tailgate, personal injury, or worse. Do not ignore this issue. There is no excuse for this.