03 tacoma tail gate latch

My 03 Tacoma’s tailgate has a hard time closing. I can not get it to latch just by closing the tail gate normally. Only way I can close it is if I open the handle then let go once it is in place. How can u fix this?

 

Lube up all the moving parts specifically the latch.

 

I had to take mine apart after my brother slammed it shut. A plastic piece got knocked out of place. Since then I only close by holding the handle and letting it go gently. I haven't had any problems after the fix. Same goes for the glove box, hold the handle to close it, when you let go give it a gentle push until it clicks. Slamming it shut will only shorten its life span.

 

The tailgate on my 2003 is, I think, a little sprung out-of-square from lawn & garden stuff hauled by its previous owner. I have to push extra hard on the passenger side to get it to latch.

The alignment of my gate could probably be improved, and the the closing too. I haven't fooled with it. Just not that big a deal right now.

But maybe you could check that your tailgate is closing "square"?

 

That is how I always close my tail gate keeps from breaking things.

On every pick up I have ever had or used.

Also things get lubed every oil change or when I walk past with the spray lube in hand.

 

Yup, mine got like that eventually, had to pull up on the handle to get it to close. I greased the latches (not the handle), both sides. Closes fine now just like it used to.

 

Mine was exactly the same a while ago. I removed the plate on the inside of the tailgate, lubed everything up, including the latches, and now it closes with very little effort.

 

One of the tailgate cables broke at some point on mine before I owned it and the owner didn't bother replacing it, so the tailgate is a little out of square. I have to be gentle with the latch and push harder on the side that didn't have a cable to close or open it. Same thing happened to my grandma's. I replaced it but that's not gonna fix how much it's tweaked already