tailgate wont open
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2005
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tailgate wont open
i have a 95 bronco, and i do not have the key for the tailgate, and i cant get it open, it almost seems like it is locked. i am wondering if i need the key to get it open, or what my problem might be
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Well, unless someone has changed out the lock cylinders at sometime in your Broncos life, the door key is the same for the tailgate. Now if you have the key and it still won't work the rear glass...that might mean an electrical connection problem inside the tailgate. But as was mentioned in the previous post, the switch up front on the dash (I think it's on the right side of the steering wheel on the dashboard on the 95) will lower the glass. And again, if that switch doesn't lower it, check fuses and connections. Now...if the glass lowers and you are still not able to open it, that would be either a problem with the inside handle, latch control assembly or the tailgate latch rods. I know on my 83, some replaced the rear window once and they managed to bend the rods and it made it verty hard to open the tailgate, so much so that the latch control assembly became broken.
Don't know if any of this helped, but way back when I had the problems, no one I knew had any of these ideas to start using as a starting point for eliminating what might be the problem.
Good luck!!
Mike
Don't know if any of this helped, but way back when I had the problems, no one I knew had any of these ideas to start using as a starting point for eliminating what might be the problem.
Good luck!!
Mike
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I see you just wrote that the glass is down, so that eliminates the electrical idea. What you can try now is to remove the tailgate access panel, and once it's open, reach in, and up a little and find the tailgate latch rods (they run to the latchs on the side from the handle) try a gentle pull inward (towards the latch), try one side first, then the other...one of them might be hanging up. If that is the case, that should release that tailgate for you.
Hope it works,
Mike
Hope it works,
Mike
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Moscow ID
Originally Posted by buddhabronc
Well, unless someone has changed out the lock cylinders at sometime in your Broncos life, the door key is the same for the tailgate.
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Cross-Country
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both of my keys are different, and when i bought it those are the only 2 keys that came with it. ive tried pulling on the latch rod and it moves a little, but wont open it, thats why i was wondering if it needed to be unlocked first
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Originally Posted by sirkt
That's not how it is on my truck. The door and ignition are the same key but the tailgate is different. Mine is a 92 did Ford change things or is my truck odd?
So to me, it sounds like the latch rods are out of adjustment maybe, that is why you cannot open the tailgate with the window down. Don't be too shy, give them a solid pull inwards, you might need a friend to help so you can do them both at the same time, that should do the trick. If it doesn't...well I am at a loss for any other ideas at this time.
Mike
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OOPS...hold on, I am going the wrong way...you want to pull the rods out towards the side of the tailgate,away from the center handle, not in towards the latch. That might work better if you go in the right direction 
!
Again, good luck...I know this can be frustrating, it took me about three or four hours when I got my truck to figure it out...at the time I didn't even have a manual or any books to clue me in to what it could have been.
Mike
!Again, good luck...I know this can be frustrating, it took me about three or four hours when I got my truck to figure it out...at the time I didn't even have a manual or any books to clue me in to what it could have been.
Mike
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Originally Posted by helirich
You could put the window up. Take the inner panel off and reach inside directly to the latch. After they pop, then open the window again. Good luck
Mike
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From: virginia
yeah, i got a 96 and there are two seperate keys for the tailgate and the door and ignition. they arent even the same types of keys. one thing that comes to mind is that it might knock the tailgate loose if you hold the handle open as far as it goes and the give the gate a good whack inward and then pull it quickly outward, maybe the latch is just stuck.
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From: Richfield MN
When the window is all the way down it rests on a lever that will inable the latch to disingage,if you pull on the inside handle when the window isnt all the way down it will bend the crap out of the levers making it hard to open.
If you take off acess panel you will be able to strighten rods and get gate open.
From inside the gate you can take out your lock bring it into a locksmith and get it re keyed.
While you are inside the tailgate rebuild the rollers that the hold the window on the track regease or replace them.
http://www.broncograveyard.com/bronc...er_window_.htm
http://www.broncograveyard.com/bronco/c-82
If you take off acess panel you will be able to strighten rods and get gate open.
From inside the gate you can take out your lock bring it into a locksmith and get it re keyed.
While you are inside the tailgate rebuild the rollers that the hold the window on the track regease or replace them.
http://www.broncograveyard.com/bronc...er_window_.htm
http://www.broncograveyard.com/bronco/c-82
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On my 88' and my 90' there is no such mechinisism (the tailgate will open with the window partialy down). Maybe that has changed on later models. On the other hand, the window wont opperate with the gate open. (unless you trick it by clicking the latches on the side.
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From: Richfield MN
Im not sure when Ford added the safety switch but my 96 has one the 85 I had didnt my 90 I dont think had one.
Spending time to fix up your tailgate is well worth it.
Its nice when it works but a PITA when it dont.
Spending time to fix up your tailgate is well worth it.
Its nice when it works but a PITA when it dont.