Arrgggg!!! The right side release linkage I'm guessing is disconnected inside the tail gate. Left side works fine. Gonna have to take that plate off and check the linkage I guess. Looked yesterday for that star bit in my tools but nope, couldn't find one. Tools are scattered right now... tools are always scattered. And of course I had to deliver a smoker grill yesterday after the yard sale. Picking that dang thing up and putting over the closed tail gate and then picking it up again and bringing it back over the closed tail gate was a chore for an old man. If I didn't love my truck so much I'd...........

 

I'm a sweat ball now. Fixed the linkage issue. 8 T30 head screws to take the access plate off so of course I had to go get another T30 bit because I couldn't find the one I had. Once the plate was off the problem was obvious. There is a plastic holder on the threaded end of the linkage that snaps into a hole. The little ears that hold it in the hole were broke off so it would not stay. I really didn't want to order one and wait and I really didn't want to go rummage thru a salvage yard to find another one sooooo.... I rigged it. Stripped off a 6" piece of solid copper wire and used it like a wire tie. Spritzed the whole mechanism with WD for lubrication since it's never been opened and it is a 96 Ranger. Tested it out several dozen times and it is rock solid so if it lasts me a few years then great.



ears broke off the plastic holder


rigged and solid and the whole works spritzed with WD