Tailgate lock
- Thread starter JD1964
- Start date
As I recall that’s bolted on from inside. You can get the trim panel off but it’s gonna damage it because there are screws on the side of it
Mine got jammed. I tried to open it on and off for a year. Then one random day, I put the key in and wiggled it and the lock at the same time and it just opened. Curse gone. I took the panel off and lubed everything and have not had trouble since.
Fortunately, I've never encountered that problem before. But wondered what I would do in a situation like that, Trying to remove the trim panel from the inside is surely going to destroy it. As Brian pointed out, there's a few screws that are not accessible with the tailgate closed.
If there's a method of releasing the latches on both sides of the tailgate...hmmm! I wonder.
I never tried it before.
The license plate pocket is screwed on from the inside of the tailgate, so that won't work.
So, like you guys, I'm at a stalemate.
If there's a method of releasing the latches on both sides of the tailgate...hmmm! I wonder.
I never tried it before.The license plate pocket is screwed on from the inside of the tailgate, so that won't work.
So, like you guys, I'm at a stalemate.
Maybe the answer is to do something ahead of time, before it happens. Like make a way to release the lock from inside. A removable access panel? A steel rope that just barely sticks out the bottom of the door and can be discretely pulled? I say this because my Jeep has suffered a broken hood release cable three times now. I ran an emergency wire that will release the hood lock and taped it to the inside lip of the hood and covered it with electrical tape to hide it. I am sure something like that can be fabricated, stay hidden, and be there when needed. I don't think I ever had the inside panel off so I am not sure what is in there. But I am going to do something since it seems to be a common problem.
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I suppose I could always drill the lock cylinder out and just replace the assembly. It sucks though because we already replaced the door lock set (driver, passenger and tailgate) so those are all matched. It was a couple years ago but dang, that tailgate cylinder could not have been used more than a dozen times since the car isnt driven that much.
I know it is a dying skill, but can't a new lock be re-keyed to match? I do it all the time on my house locks. Every factory manual I have ever seen had a section on re-keying locks.
Mark,
I've had a spare tailgate lock re-keyed to match my door locks in the past. Drilling out the lock cylinder and sticking a screw driver thru might be the answer...or a locksmith might be able to open it. I'm not sure.
I do like your idea of setting up a fail safe system to be able to release the tailgate lock without hurting anything. As for cutting an additional access door in the plastic panel, I don't know about that. Finding replacement tailgate panels are like trying to find the elusive hen's teeth. They're just one of those unobtainable items.
Jack, I agree with not ruining a back panel unless it was absolutely necessary. I am sure that the lock mechanism can be operated by a wire or cord from outside the door. It will mean opening the panel and eyeballing it all. If it can be routed down to the bottom, where it hangs out a tiny bit, that would be ideal. Or maybe tucked behind the bumper? Or even make an access hole BEHIND the license plate? Unscrew plate, pull wire, open door. I like that idea even more. I have only had one instance where the window would not stay locked. After a lot of grief I fixed it. But the OP's situation has me worried. This needs to be explored further. 
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