Tailgate will not open

[AquaMan]

All, My tailgate will not open.
I took the rear tailgate panel off to clean out sand that blew into the tailgate when the window was accidentally left open. While doing so, I initially thought I could gain better access to the drivers side if I took off the electrical panel -- after removing the bolts and ONE electrical plug (to the motor that closes the tailgate) it was apparent this was not needed. I put back together and re-plugged the motor to the latch. However, when project complete and tailgate closed, the motor did not engage and now the tailgate will not open.
I attempted to "normalize" all locks and windows (per the manual), but still no luck.

Does anyone know how to get it unlocked without going to the dealer?

 

[Pirate VI]

this happened to me when I installed my back up camera. One of the wiring harnesses ( while physically clipped in) can be a bit loose and not make contact. Try to pull the plastic off the inside of the tailate while u are in the trunk ( it is possible but a bit tricky) and wiggle and push the wiring onnectors together. When looking at it from the inside of the truck you will see one plugged into something on re right hand side ( the most obvious connector there) I would be willing to bet this fixes the problem.

Edit: after rereading your post it sounds like the wiring you unplugged and the one I am talking about are the same. That Is a good sign, go try it out. :bigok:

 

[Kmvreter]

You said "normalize". Did you do this by locking and unlocking the doors using the driver's door lock/unlock master switch? If the other doors lock/unlock and your windows power up and down then I don't think it's a fuse. Does the rear door key switch still lock and unlock the vehicle?

 

[AquaMan]

Thanks for the suggestion, Pirate VI. Unfortunately, I just tried that again, and still no luck.

I "normalized" all the locks per the manual and they all function properly. Everything in the tailgate functions properly with the key also (window up/down, lock/unlock doors) with the exception of unlocking the tailgate itself.

Puzzling, and get a bit frustrating...

 

[AquaMan]

Kmvreter - I tried the drivers side master door lock/unlock also to no avail. The tailgate motor itself (that auto locks/unlocks) is not engaging.

 

[Kmvreter]

Thanks for the suggestion, Pirate VI. Unfortunately, I just tried that again, and still no luck.

I "normalized" all the locks per the manual and they all function properly. Everything in the tailgate functions properly with the key also (window up/down, lock/unlock doors) with the exception of unlocking the tailgate itself.

Puzzling, and get a bit frustrating...

Doesn't look to be a fuse because other things work. It still points back to the connection as Pirate VI had. Can you use a ohm/volt meter and check for power at the connetor. Not sure which wire but you should see 12V cycle on when you hit the lock/unlock. If you have that then it is the connector on the motor or the motor itself. Try to send 12V to the corresponding pin on the motor connector to see if it cycles.

You have an '07. If it is still under warranty then let the stealer work on it.

 

[loths]

Did you solve the tailgate problem

Doesn't look to be a fuse because other things work. It still points back to the connection as Pirate VI had. Can you use a ohm/volt meter and check for power at the connetor. Not sure which wire but you should see 12V cycle on when you hit the lock/unlock. If you have that then it is the connector on the motor or the motor itself. Try to send 12V to the corresponding pin on the motor connector to see if it cycles.

You have an '07. If it is still under warranty then let the stealer work on it.

Did you manage to fix the problem? I installed a read view camarna, unplugged some plug carefullly.. know the back door does not open. The window works, and the wiper too? Please let me know. Thanks!

 

[Mark86]

How about unplugging/replugging the battery? Maybe it is a stupid glitch that this would correct. Even though it is a long shot, I like starting with the simple things.

 

[loths]

How about unplugging/replugging the battery? Maybe it is a stupid glitch that this would correct. Even though it is a long shot, I like starting with the simple things.

Thanks I though about it... I only opened the rear panel, unpluged the cables and installed the rear camera. I did not perform any electrical work. I just physically installed the camera and very carefully unpluged some cables... It was working fined before.

the only thing I can think of is that I did not disconnected the battery when doing all this... so with the battery on, may be someting happend when and unpluged and plugged back the cable... WHO knows...

I love the car, really do, but I much prefer the old fashion cable system.

 

[loths]

Tailgate will not Open- PROBLEM SOLVED

How about unplugging/replugging the battery? Maybe it is a stupid glitch that this would correct. Even though it is a long shot, I like starting with the simple things.

Dude, YOU WERE RIGTH.. Disconneted the battery, waited about 5 minutes, connected back, tailgate door open. AMAZING! THANKS

I dont know if to praise Toyota or... cool it open, so simple to remedy, but how will you have opened the tailgate if the mechanism was damaged!

 

[RevoRunner]

That fixed it for me too... thanks

Love this forum... thanks. Fixed it for me. After reconnecting... I did have to do the lock... unlock thing 3 times from the driver side too.

 

[piptraderfx]

What does "normalize" mean??

Just bought a 2004 4runner limited yesterday and the rear hatch will not open. Looked on the forum and found multiple posts about disconnecting the battery and then "normalize" locks and then it opened. The truck didn't come with an owner's manual so I can't reference that.... please help!

 

[Uneek]

Just bought a 2004 4runner limited yesterday and the rear hatch will not open. Looked on the forum and found multiple posts about disconnecting the battery and then "normalize" locks and then it opened. The truck didn't come with an owner's manual so I can't reference that.... please help!

Not the exact way Toyota describes it in the manual, but it's worked for me every time.

Fully open the window, continue to hold the open position of the switch for a few seconds. Then fully close the window, continue to hold the close position of the switch for a few seconds. Do this for both the driver side and rear window. Test to see if the auto open and close function has been restored. Repeat if it hasn't.

If you have a moonroof, do the same for the slide and tilt function by holding the respective sides of the switch. Test to see if the auto open/close function for slide and tilt has been restored for moonroof.

 

[purrfactor]

so glad i found this post! some jerk smashed out the back window last friday and after the glass was replaced i was informed that the tailgate would not open. even had it added to the glass claim so if it was indeed broken it could be replaced due to the damage.

waiting to hear back after the body shop took it apart to see if they will cover a new one... read this, went out unplugged the battery, waited 5 min, plugged it back up and did all the window things suggested and lock unlock with the key fob and it worked!!!!!!

thanks guys!!! i have a dog that is going to need to get in and via the hatch due to an upcoming surgery and i was getting mad that i might be stuck buying a replacement part!!

LOVE T4R!!!!

 

[MICA4R]

THANKS T4R.ORG!:cowboy:

 

[Northern Bigdoggy]

Love this forum... thanks. Fixed it for me. After reconnecting... I did have to do the lock... unlock thing 3 times from the driver side too.

What exactly did you do as far as the unlock think 3 times? did you just hit the unlock button on the driver side door 3 times and that was it, or was it a combo of unlock/lock each 3 times? I am hoping that this works if i can figure out what order of unlcok thing you did. So after unplugging battery, the rear hatch opener would not open the tailgate until you did this unlcok procedure you are referring too? thanks....

 

[chuntmd]

After a rear camera install, same issue. A 3 driver's lock/unlock combo did nothing. Pulled the neg battery (I've just set the preset on the new HU
Over night, reconnected the neg. Nothing. Then did the 3 unlock/lock combo and viola!

CEH

 

[rossinboulder]

Battery Disconnect & Door Unlock/Lock Worked 2003 4Runner

Thanks! I never would have come up with solution w/o this forum. You guys rock!

 

[rossinboulder]

Try cleaning the positional sensor if tailgate door wont latch

I have a 2003 4-runner whose tailgate latch stopped working. Just a follow up. The disconnect battery followed by 3 lock/unlock worked for a while, but then the problem came back after the first time I opened then closed the hatch again. So, I took off the tailgate plastic panel, removed the latching mechanism. The mechanism has a tiny plastic postional sensor (has 3 small wires coming out, is attached by 2 small philip's head screws. I then used a can of compressed air used to clean computer keyboards and such and directed the blast of air into the 4 tiny holes in the face of the sensor. Then I worked it back and forth several times and cleaned again. I put it all back together and now the door latches fine. We'll see how long it last this time!

 

[Claydn]

Tailgate won't open

Thanks for the tips in this post. I have an 04 4Runner that was having this exact problem. I unhooked the battery, and it started working again. It stopped shortly thereafter so I used WD40 on the lock and unhooked the batter again, and everything seems to be working great.