'02 with tail gate lock

Does this suppose to automatically lock??

it does not unlock/lock with the door switch. Or should it?

It seems it is currently intermittent...sometimes I can just open up the tail gate ...then next, I'll have to get the key.

which way is it suppose to be?

 

AFAIK, all tailgates lock/unlock manually only with the key.

 

If it's intermittent, sometimes locked and sometimes not, then something has to be loose with the linkage. Take the tail gate cover off and check it out.

 

Thanks

verified...no wires going to the tailgate...so it must be just a manual lock.
Apparently there is a aftermarket auto lock available.

I'll check out the linkage

 

So I took the inside cover off...no apparent loose linkage...so went ahead with a good dowsing of wd 40 and the only thing I could see was that the lock wasn't fully disengaged or engaged. Made sure that it moved free and buttoned things back up

 

Mine started doing this a few years ago. I finally put a dab of RTV on it to keep it from locking, I think the WD40 will only make it worse as it will be easier to fall into the lock position.

 

well not sure how your lock was configured...on mine...with tailgate up, the unlocked position would be in the down position, letting gravity help place it in the unlocked position. Not sure whether it is just road jar/vibration that makes it creep back up into that middle ground of either locked or unlocked no-man-land.

the RVT is a good thought to keep it unlocked thou without doing anything permanent to the lock.

 

I have a 2002 SuperCrew that I inherited from my dad recently. Same issue on the tailgate lock. I can tell you what I found on mine. With the tailgate down, remove the cover on the inside of the tailgate, which will expose the operating and lock mechanism.

Issue 1. On your right (passenger side) you will see a plastic loop with a middle finger (no pun intended). The key lock rotates inside the loop and locks or unlocks the tailgate. The middle finger slides over a steel finger with a detent on it. This detent is the ONLY thing that prevents the loop from falling down into the locked position when the tailgate is closed. This interference was very marginal at best on my truck. I bent the steel finger to cause more of a "bump" for the plastic finger to overcome.

Issue 2. Even after fixing issue 1, with the tailgate down in the horizontal position, I operated the handle about 10 times and found that the plastic loop moved a little each time towards the locked position. Evidently there is enough friction and/or roughness in the pin/slots in the handle portion that caused this. I lubed that area with some silicone lube. Do not lube the issue 1 area.

All is well now. I can close the tailgate and reopen without it locking. I can send you a couple of pics if you like.

 

Thanks but mine cleared up well with just a healthy dose of WD40. just some dust in there not letting it disengage fully or unlock. Once full range of motion was returned...its been working well.

Your description is top notch & I'll keep it in mind if this gremlin returns