locking tailgate
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
locking tailgate
sorry i keep posting these questions but this is the first truck ive owend. my tailgate will randomly lock its self. the truck seemed like a good deal when i got it. im 18 and ive had the truck for 9 months now its a 2002 f250 v10 super cab short bed 4x4 xlt. it had 57000 miles and no rust when i got it in 2008 for $12,500. but other than the tailgate the only problems ive encounterd were door ajar wich i got taken care of thanks to FTE the power locks also taken care of thanks to FTE. and i cant get the transfer case into N or 4LO it shifts on the floor not the dash.
thanks
thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
No need to appoligize, post away.
My initial guess is the lock mechanisim may be loose and when it is shut it moves to the lock position. This does seem a little strange. Use your key and judge the feel of it when locking/unlocking. Remove the inside panel and inspect the mechanism/hardware. I am not quite familiar with it's exact mounting/construction. If everything checks out ok you may need to purchase a new one or a salvage piece.
The transfer case i am assuming shifts ok to 4HI and just may be seized up from not using. You may have to use a little more elbow grease to move it. I believe you will need to push down on the shifter to get to N/4LO as i am not sure if it configured the same as the later trucks but i would guess yes. You may need to get under the truck and inspect/check the shift linkage.
My initial guess is the lock mechanisim may be loose and when it is shut it moves to the lock position. This does seem a little strange. Use your key and judge the feel of it when locking/unlocking. Remove the inside panel and inspect the mechanism/hardware. I am not quite familiar with it's exact mounting/construction. If everything checks out ok you may need to purchase a new one or a salvage piece.
The transfer case i am assuming shifts ok to 4HI and just may be seized up from not using. You may have to use a little more elbow grease to move it. I believe you will need to push down on the shifter to get to N/4LO as i am not sure if it configured the same as the later trucks but i would guess yes. You may need to get under the truck and inspect/check the shift linkage.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 5
From: Minneapolis, MN
The tailgate on my 2000 locked itself too. Its been a few years now, but seems to me some lubrication too care of it. It could also be that the lock mechanism is a little loose and it's popping over (locking) when you slam the tailgate. You'll have to remove the access panel on the inside of the tailgate to get to it.
Make sure you have the trans in neutral when attempting to go to N or 4LO, you'll never get it to go if the truck is in gear. If it doesn't go with the trans in neutral, take your foot off the brake and let the truck roll a little while you try to move the floor shifter. If you still cant get it, I'd be looking for a bound linkage, but that's not very common.
Good luck with the V10, good choice!
Make sure you have the trans in neutral when attempting to go to N or 4LO, you'll never get it to go if the truck is in gear. If it doesn't go with the trans in neutral, take your foot off the brake and let the truck roll a little while you try to move the floor shifter. If you still cant get it, I'd be looking for a bound linkage, but that's not very common.
Good luck with the V10, good choice!
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Mine used to rattle itself locked all the time too. Took off the plate on the inside of the tailgate and found this. See how the round part is all the way up? (The top one next to the green plastic clip with the rod going through it)
Now see how it didn't go all the way down?
You can see the dirt and grime caked on there where the round part has moved back and forth.
Pulled mine out and cleaned it all up so it would move freely
Then added some lube, and it's been fine for over a year.
Now see how it didn't go all the way down?
You can see the dirt and grime caked on there where the round part has moved back and forth.
Pulled mine out and cleaned it all up so it would move freely
Then added some lube, and it's been fine for over a year.
