Pop&Lock pain in the ass install

AhuraPro · January 25, 2016

If you look at my signature I've completed a few modifications to my 2015 Sierra. None have been a bigger pain in the ass than the pop&lock (popnlock) install. And understand I completed an HID retrofit in less time and drama. I have to say something because all of the reviews on Amazon are nothing but positive.

I spent 30 minutes installing the power lock in the tailgate but had to spend 5 hours routing cable and troubleshooting wiring. I validated 3 times I had the right unit (PL8140).

The issue is that the manufacturer ships the units with less than worthless instructions. There are numerous accounts of what the proper wiring should look like, in the end, no one tells you before you start this project, that there are MULTIPLE wires with the color code that should work for the project. So now its a matter of trial/error. Once I figured out the correct wiring (which should have never been an issue), the chincy mechanism does not function correctly all the time.

The replacement hardware is designed to allow for "some play in its operation" in order to allow the mechanism and the manual key lock to work. What I found was the operation fails to engage the lock entirely and it fails to cycle from unlock to lock 70% of the time.

I am sure there is an opportunity for someone to critique how I installed the mechanism, but be assured that it was completed with no help from the supplied instructions.

Lastly, the device is LOUD af. When you lock the truck, the tailgate is all you hear from 20 ft away.

newdude · January 25, 2016

No sound deadening in the tailgate so its going to be heard. OEM 2016 power lock tailgate is quite noisy.

FishinJ · January 25, 2016

After a while I do not hardly notice the sound. Mine has worked flawlessly since the install. Someone on hear also had instructions and a video which was very helpful. I almost tried tapping into the wrong wire but looked a little more and found the right one. With all those wires bunched up it takes a little while to find the correct one.

spectaculous · January 25, 2016

After installing two of these, I will agree that the supplied instructions are pretty bad. There is a thread on this forum someone took time to put together that really explains the install better. If your mechanism does not work correctly some of the time, you should open up the tailgate access cover and correct your issue. It should work every time with no issue...

The sound doesn't bother me. It lets me know that my tailgate is locking.

jrob56 · January 25, 2016

Here you go, other members have paved the way for you. Should help immensely. Ill be tackling it when its warm out again.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/156468-2014-power-tailgate-lock-installed/

AhuraPro · January 25, 2016

Here you go, other members have paved the way for you. Should help immensely. Ill be tackling it when its warm out again.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/156468-2014-power-tailgate-lock-installed/

That's fine, other than the fact that this walkthrough is for a 2014 Chevy. The wires shown in that install are completely different from a 2015 Sierra which is the point in my post.

jrob56 · January 25, 2016

That's fine, other than the fact that this walkthrough is for a 2014 Chevy. The wires shown in that install are completely different from a 2015 Sierra which is the point in my post.

Read dude, there are 14 pages there and so many with Sierra have used that and posted in there.

crewl1 · January 25, 2016

I have mentioned in that thread that the replacement cam should be sanded down as it is too thick as shipped and will bind. it should move freely after you sand it down a bit so that it will be able to kick through all the way to engage the lock then return to center. This will help with both the fob and key in lock method.

AhuraPro · January 25, 2016

Read dude, there are 14 pages there and so many with Sierra have used that and posted in there.

You're copping an attitude because I didn't read every post in a thread titled "2014+ Power Tailgate Lock installed" with 14 pages of info when I own a 2015 model. I wasn't looking for help, the project is done, I'm bitching about the process so anyone that only read the positive feedback thinks there aren't issues won't be surprised when they discover those issues.

jrob56 · January 26, 2016

You're copping an attitude because I didn't read every post in a thread titled "2014+ Power Tailgate Lock installed" with 14 pages of info when I own a 2015 model. I wasn't looking for help, the project is done, I'm bitching about the process so anyone that only read the positive feedback thinks there aren't issues won't be surprised when they discover those issues.

You posted it fails 70% of the time and you dont need help? The 14 and 15 silvys and sierras have differences but they are pretty similar. For what you are working on the color of the wires is going to be about it. Seems like you bought something and did no research on it before hand and instead of looking in the one thread that would help you created this one. Tried to steer you in the right direction.

What do you think the + means in that title by the way?

AhuraPro · January 26, 2016

You posted it fails 70% of the time and you dont need help? The 14 and 15 silvys and sierras have differences but they are pretty similar. For what you are working on the color of the wires is going to be about it. Seems like you bought something and did no research on it before hand and instead of looking in the one thread that would help you created this one. Tried to steer you in the right direction.

What do you think the + means in that title by the way?

A.J. Curtis · January 26, 2016

Wow! You must have a completely different wire harness then? Maybe your harness was twisted on the install at the factory? I have installed two of these and one was on a 2015 GMC Sierra and the harness was the same as my 2015 Silverado. Thanks to fundpots video the installs never took me more than an hour.

AhuraPro · January 26, 2016

Wow! You must have a completely different wire harness then? Maybe your harness was twisted on the install at the factory? I have installed two of these and one was on a 2015 GMC Sierra and the harness was the same as my 2015 Silverado. Thanks to fundpots video the installs never took me more than an hour.

I found 3 grey with green stripe wires, the first 2 were 18-20ga so imagine my frustration when I discovered that I needed to find a 3rd one that was 12-14ga which was buried in that location. And I found 2 brown with yellow stripe wires, which again imagine my frustration that the first one wasn't the right one...

DanY · January 26, 2016

I found 3 grey with green stripe wires, the first 2 were 18-20ga so imagine my frustration when I discovered that I needed to find a 3rd one that was 12-14ga which was buried in that location. And I found 2 brown with yellow stripe wires, which again imagine my frustration that the first one wasn't the right one...

Somewhere in the other thread, it tells you to look for the larger gauge wires for the door lock controls. Also it is much easier to probe the wires with a voltmeter to confirm the correct ones before you start slicing into things.