Hi all ...

Well here's a project that went bad... I tried to remove my stock rusted tailgate cables to replace them with the Help brand at the local Advance Auto. I got the 10mm bolts loosened that hold the cables to the tailgate, but neither one would screw all the way out of the tailgate.

So ...I re-tightened them and just had to fiddle with the right side latch which never closed properly (bad idea). Jammed something in the tailgate, which I released by tapping with a screwdriver blade, then I finally slammed the tailgate shut OK.

However (here it comes), when I tried to open the tailgate to test things part of the tailgate handle snapped off and now the tailgate is jammed closed. Pulling the handle has no effect.

Do I need to open up a panel in the bed-side of the tailgate to get access to release the gate? It has a rubber mat on it, which I can easily remove, but I can't see if there are sheet metal screws underneath to gain access to any panels.


Arggghhh .. I hate it when that happens!

Thanks,
rlp

 

Haven't done it, but yeah, that panel comes off.

I think my 1993 has torx/star-head bolts that hold that panel on (can't remember), so be ready for that if your truck has 'em.

 

Thanks Gamma... will try this evening and see what's going on. I suspect there may be some type of clip on the end of those cable bolts preventing them from completely threading out ->maybe a safety feature(?), but it makes changing the cables a pain.

-rlp

 

If they get the server back up, you can look thru the Tailgate photo album in my signature link to see how the mechanism works and how to fix it. They say it should be up shortly.

 

Hi all ...

I got the tailgate un-jammed ... got access after removing the bed-side panel in the tailgate (12 T-30 sheet metal screws and it was off). Took me awhile to find the little tang to press to release the right latch, but I finally got it.

After removing both the left and right side release assemblies from within the tailgate it looked to me like the right side had been mangled and the parts wouldn't mesh correctly ... will search through salvage and Ford parts to see what it might cost to replace it and the handle.

FYI .. I think what might have happened is the rubber tailgate protector (was on the truck when I bought it last year) should have been trimmed a little more. The right side was stopping the tailgate from closing flush, and after all the slams to get it closed I think something gave out.

Thanks!

-rlp