2000 Tailgate won't open

[HiddenMountain]

I tried looking up my problem in the search, but as usual, I seem t be the only one in the universe with this problem.....

So far I've managed to get the rear panel off and I found the little linkage to the cable, pushed it and got the hatch open. Yay! arty:

Looking inside, I could see the little plastic clip and the rod that should have been clipped to it. Snapped it back together, thinking what a cheap POS setup, and hoping that was the fix.

Nope...:AK47:

So, I am approaching the guru's, hoping for the answer.

Oh, and it's snowing, just to make it a memorable experience.

Thanks eh

 

[I_bRAD]

I tried looking up my problem in the search, but as usual, I seem t be the only one in the universe with this problem.....

So far I've managed to get the rear panel off and I found the little linkage to the cable, pushed it and got the hatch open. Yay! arty:

Looking inside, I could see the little plastic clip and the rod that should have been clipped to it. Snapped it back together, thinking what a cheap POS setup, and hoping that was the fix.

Nope...:AK47:

So, I am approaching the guru's, hoping for the answer.

Oh, and it's snowing, just to make it a memorable experience.

Thanks eh

The answer to what? Sounds like you already figured it out!

 

[HiddenMountain]

The answer to what? Sounds like you already figured it out!

Well, it seems that just hooking up the little rod to the clip doesn't fix it. Something else is fooked in there.
Are there any diagrams, or how-to's that anyone knows of? I've searched and can't seem to find any...

 

[blaze17]

I believe you just have to rotate the assembly a little one way or the other.

 

[dogtail]

I tried looking up my problem in the search, but as usual, I seem t be the only one in the universe with this problem.....

So far I've managed to get the rear panel off and I found the little linkage to the cable, pushed it and got the hatch open. Yay! arty:

Looking inside, I could see the little plastic clip and the rod that should have been clipped to it. Snapped it back together, thinking what a cheap POS setup, and hoping that was the fix.

Nope...:AK47:

So, I am approaching the guru's, hoping for the answer.

Oh, and it's snowing, just to make it a memorable experience.

Thanks eh

I've messed with this issue on 2 of my 99's, I access my rear hatch daily, even multiple times a day. One common thing is the white plastic clip on the rod. Another is the latch assembly. You can try lubing up the latch assembly and WD40 in the cables. But if you really want a more solid fix, buy a new latch assembly from the dealer, that's what I did. Here's a how to by - 4RunnerCali http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...your-rear-liftgate-lock-assembly-3rd-gen.html

 

[HiddenMountain]

I've messed with this issue on 2 of my 99's, I access my rear hatch daily, even multiple times a day. One common thing is the white plastic clip on the rod. Another is the latch assembly. You can try lubing up the latch assembly and WD40 in the cables. But if you really want a more solid fix, buy a new latch assembly from the dealer, that's what I did. Here's a how to by - 4RunnerCali http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...your-rear-liftgate-lock-assembly-3rd-gen.html

Dogtail, Blaze17, Brad... thanks for the replies.

This thing is my mobile toolbox, so access is kinda important. Thankfully it's Christmas so no big need to use it for work, but it would be nice if it still worked.

Dogtail, The latch mechanism is fine. If I push on the little arm it unlatches no problem. I hooked the rod back up to the white plastic clip, but it's like there's a piece missing? Don't hold me to that, it just seems odd that the thing wasn't hooked up and when it was, still nada.

It did stop snowing though...

 

[kolelt]

I to have issues with my rear hatch. The lever gets stuck. Have to push it back manually. Been doing it for a while. But as long as it locks and opens. I don't care. I have to like push on the truck to open it. It's funny watching other people trying to open it hahah

 

[dogtail]

Dogtail, Blaze17, Brad... thanks for the replies.

This thing is my mobile toolbox, so access is kinda important. Thankfully it's Christmas so no big need to use it for work, but it would be nice if it still worked.

Dogtail, The latch mechanism is fine. If I push on the little arm it unlatches no problem. I hooked the rod back up to the white plastic clip, but it's like there's a piece missing? Don't hold me to that, it just seems odd that the thing wasn't hooked up and when it was, still nada.

It did stop snowing though...

Sounds like the latch/lock assy lock is hanging up. It must be a solenoid that releases it, I never smashed one apart, (I should have), so not sure exactly what the electro-mechanics are. By hand, the rod will always open it though, I do know that. For $120 bucks for the new assy, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and cancel out that item.

 

[JayRolla]

I to have issues with my rear hatch. The lever gets stuck. Have to push it back manually. Been doing it for a while. But as long as it locks and opens. I don't care. I have to like push on the truck to open it. It's funny watching other people trying to open it hahah

Mine does same thing. Just a little push on the latch abs it opens.

 

[I_bRAD]

Dogtail, Blaze17, Brad... thanks for the replies.

This thing is my mobile toolbox, so access is kinda important. Thankfully it's Christmas so no big need to use it for work, but it would be nice if it still worked.

Dogtail, The latch mechanism is fine. If I push on the little arm it unlatches no problem. I hooked the rod back up to the white plastic clip, but it's like there's a piece missing? Don't hold me to that, it just seems odd that the thing wasn't hooked up and when it was, still nada.

It did stop snowing though...

The connector should accept the end of the rod like a grommet, but then there's a snap that swings around the axis of the connection and attaches to the rod to prevent it from coming off. Perhaps this is broken.

If the latch works the problem must be the handle. Have you checked to make sure something isn't busted in there? The mechanism is actually fairly flimsy. It's also possible to put the handle back together upside down so careful to pay attention of you take it apart. To get the handle off you'll need to remove the license plate and the bezel surrounding it. This is easier to accomplish if you unbolt the window regulator. Drop the rear window an inch before you start and you'll have a much easier time getting it all back together.

Edit: I had this same problem a year or so ago and I'll be damned if I can remember what the fix was. I do remember that once I started poking around it wasn't terribly difficult to figure out what the issue was. Good luck!

 

[HiddenMountain]

The connector should accept the end of the rod like a grommet, but then there's a snap that swings around the axis of the connection and attaches to the rod to prevent it from coming off. Perhaps this is broken.

If the latch works the problem must be the handle. Have you checked to make sure something isn't busted in there? The mechanism is actually fairly flimsy. It's also possible to put the handle back together upside down so careful to pay attention of you take it apart. To get the handle off you'll need to remove the license plate and the bezel surrounding it. This is easier to accomplish if you unbolt the window regulator. Drop the rear window an inch before you start and you'll have a much easier time getting it all back together.

Edit: I had this same problem a year or so ago and I'll be damned if I can remember what the fix was. I do remember that once I started poking around it wasn't terribly difficult to figure out what the issue was. Good luck!

Well, what an exercise in frustration...

Are there no diagrams anywhere on the internet? Since I have no idea what I'm supposed to be seeing when I poke around in there, and I really don't want to f*** with the window mechanism if i can help it, it looks like there's a broken spring perhaps? The little nob on the back of the handle should engage with the little fulcrum which the rod is attached to, correct?

Any help is appreciated! I have beer but there's no way I'm starting on that until I figure this tailgate thing out!

 

[I_bRAD]

Well, what an exercise in frustration...

Are there no diagrams anywhere on the internet? Since I have no idea what I'm supposed to be seeing when I poke around in there, and I really don't want to f*** with the window mechanism if i can help it, it looks like there's a broken spring perhaps? The little nob on the back of the handle should engage with the little fulcrum which the rod is attached to, correct?

Any help is appreciated! I have beer but there's no way I'm starting on that until I figure this tailgate thing out!

Back door assembly instructions from the service manual attached. That's the best I've got for you! I'd never looked at that section of the manual before but that's what they've got. You don't have to remove the glass, you can leave it attached to the regulator and slide the whole thing around as needed. If your tailgate is anything like mine you'll want to leave those glass bolts be (you will break them and have a new problem to deal with)

Seriously though, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out. If you can work the latch with the rod the problem MUST be between the handle and the latch. Look for broken pieces, disconnected rods etc. When you pull the handle does it actuate the bell crank? Does that move the rod? Is the rod disconnected at the handle end? If I recall you can bend the tab on the bellcrank to get better engagement with the handle. I wish I had some pics for you, but alas I'm going by memory!

 

[I_bRAD]

This might be useful too- back door exploded view.

 

[HiddenMountain]

OK, beer...

After letting it sit outside and think about how bad it's been, I went out there to finally get it fixed. One simple little trick and it was done. I really didn't want to take the window regulator assembly out so with dexterity and cursing, I found out that the bent end of the rod goes into the little hole. I clipped the plastic thing on and for good measure I stuck a small ziptie on it.

Thanks for the advise and help everyone. Beer's on me...

 

[I_bRAD]

OK, beer...

After letting it sit outside and think about how bad it's been, I went out there to finally get it fixed. One simple little trick and it was done. I really didn't want to take the window regulator assembly out so with dexterity and cursing, I found out that the bent end of the rod goes into the little hole. I clipped the plastic thing on and for good measure I stuck a small ziptie on it.

Thanks for the advise and help everyone. Beer's on me...

good! For future reference, to "remove" the window regulator it's just the 4 bolts holding it to the sheet metal and then you can move the regulator/glass around as an assembly enough to get access to everything.