Can anyone ID this? Came out of the liftgate.

[prasta]

I was replacing my liftgate struts, and upon finishing the job went to shut the lift gate, and re-open it to marvel in my mechanical wizardry, when the liftgate wouldn't close.

The actuator was moving fine, but for some reason there was this loose rubber tab that was preventing the latch from opening all the way and accepting the stiker into the latch... I yanked it out, and it now appears to function as intended.

Does anyone know what this rubber tab is? Some kind of bump stop for the latch? Am I at risk of closing the liftgate, only to never be able to open it ever again?

 

[Jivewalker]

I'd stop driving it and have it towed to toyota for further diagnostics.

J/k. I just looked at mine and don't see anything like that obvious. Maybe check the tops and bottoms of the struts as there seems to be some rubber there.

 

[prasta]

Hahah. Thanks.

The piece actually came locking mechanism itself. The struts went on like a charm. That liftgate is not lightweight though.... damn.