Tailgate Locks

Well, guess what? Truckaddons.com has apparently gone of out business. Lovely. Guess I'll be using my

$80 PL5500 , Standard Lock

PL5500 after all. At least I got "something" from them before they closed up shop...

Andy

 

Finally routed my wires for the power option, looking at the pictures Adio posted, on my glare ridden laptop, I ran the wire up the drivers side. The two wires are in two different connectors, but I soldered the wires together and all is good. However, I realized that now if I want to unlock the passenger side door I am putting the tailgate solenoid through double duty since it moves each time I hit the button on the remote. So I'll be pulling it apart and running it up the passenger side. I will have to read over the instructions again, but I don't recall it specifying the passenger side of the truck.

 

Has anyone installed the Pop and lock

$191 PL8540 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Smart Lock Combo with Bolt Technology for Toyota Tacoma, Fits 2005 to 2015 Models (OEM Color Black, PL8540)

PL8540 in a 2014 tacoma?
I just did today. Everything went smooth but there are gaps around the camera (picture below). The hole is not a perfect fit. Could this be an issue in the future for any reason? bugs can go in or moisture? Does this only happen with the 2014 tacomas?

 

I just looked at my 2012 and I also have holes down in the corners. I hadn't noticed that before, I will probably apply a bead of black RTV to seal it up.

Left



Right

 

Mine only unlocks with the passenger side. Ran my wires up on the drivers side nd tapped into the proper wires on the harness. one click - driver - 2clicks, passenger and tailgate.

 

What year truck do you have? And do you have a picture of the "proper wires" you tapped? The ones that it called out in the instructions were not even in the same connector in my 2014, and definitely unlocked on every push of remote button.

 

Just received and installed the Pop & Lock

$80 PL5500 , Standard Lock

PL5500. Noticed that it would not stay locked. Upon further research, it appears the thin plastic tab highlighted was cracked and not able to ride on the bump, and gravity caused the lock pendulum to slide towards the unlocked position.



Considering a return and replacement. However, in the meantime, I placed a rubber band on the pendulum so that the lock is always locked. To unlock the tailgate now, a key must be inserted and held in the unlock position while the tailgate is opened. As soon as the key is released, the tailgate is in lock mode again. At least with this method, I will never forget to lock the tailgate.



Also, the metal tab that covers the keyhole broke after the first use. This PL5500 is just cheap plastic, not like the metal Chevy S-10 P&L tailgate lock I had that lasted over 10 years. Very disappointed with the quality.

EDIT: Thanks to a suggestion by Jimmyh, I have replaced the rubber band with a spring:

 

I think this is what happened to the first 5500 I received also. It, too, would not stay locked. I sent it back and got a replacement. I'm pretty happy with it now but only about 95 percent of the time. Every now and again the lock will seize up (in the unlocked position) and I can't open my dang tailgate. I have to jiggle it for a while until it loosens up, but it feels cheap and like i'm going to break it trying to open it. It came with plenty of grease on the lock so i'm not sure what the problem is, but i'm contemplating taking it off and going back to stock.

 

Just got the pl8540 for $116. Free shipping no tax. Here's the link;0)

http://www.buyautotruckaccessories....p-and-lock-power-tailgate-lock/partid.217884/

 

I've read through the thread and I'm ready to do the wiring in my tacoma but I can't find anywhere the right wires to tap for a 14 tacoma. I want to make sure I know it all before I do it.

 

I have the

$80 PL5500 , Standard Lock

PL5500 and also have the exact same problem that you have. That black plastic rocker arm has a little piece that holds that pin up in the lock position, but mine arrived with the rocker arm broken. Then I got another one through warranty, and it had the same damn thing. Both of them broken brand new out of the box! I've attached a pic of that little piece that broke off. The PL5500 appears to have no durability. If it can't even last through shipping, how does Pop&Lock expect to last very long in your truck?



The only thing I could to remedy this issue was to do something similar to what you did and I'm just using a bungie-cord to pull the rocker arm back to the locking position permanently. I just can't think of anything else to do besides order another one through warranty and see it actually arrives in working condition.



Here's a video I just shot that shows the difficulty I've had the PL5500. And there's another issue I had with the first one with a broken handle mechanism. I'll get a picture of that on my next post. Since you have the same part, you might want to be aware of this issue as well.

https://www.youtube.com/v/OAqhCW7AOTA

 

Sorry, Didn't even realize i missed this. I will snap a couple pics when the rain subsides.

 

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Truckaddons reputation was crap. They had so many consumer complaints and accusations of fraud that it was a matter of time before they either went out of business or were indicted federally for mail fraud.

 

I am selling a

$191 PL8540 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Smart Lock Combo with Bolt Technology for Toyota Tacoma, Fits 2005 to 2015 Models (OEM Color Black, PL8540)

PL8540 and another Pop and Lock in the buy sell trade section if anyone wants one.

Pop And Lock PL8540 BOLT OEM Key Power lock Camera cutout! NEW!

 

Wow, great video, shows exactly what I am experiencing! I like that it remains locked always until the key is used, so I never forget to lock my tailgate.

Thanks to a suggestion by Jimmyh, I will be abandoning the rubber band soon for a metal spring with a grip washer to hold it on that pendulum peg.

Looking forward to your other pics of the 1st P&L you received that had a broken handle mechanism.

 

Haha I agree! At least I know it's always locked so its better than nothing I guess. I'm curious to see what you could rig up on that piece by using a grip washer and a spring so keep us posted if you discover a better solution.

Just FYI, on my first one, the tailgate handle broke after just 2 weeks after I installed it. You'll see on the 1st pic below, there is a little black plastic piece protruding from the back base of the

$80 PL5500 , Standard Lock

PL5500 that helps hold the coiled spring in place (the spring pushes the black lever above to make contact w/ the handle and activates the spring mechanism when the handle is pulled) Anyways, that little piece of plastic broke off on my first one (2nd pic below) and the tailgate handle was loosely sitting within the frame. In the 3rd pic you can see the little dinky plastic piece that broke off and it's not like I was being harsh with it or anything, it just got cold one day and it broke when I opened the tailgate. So heads up to you or others that this seems to be yet another issue w/ the PL5500.

 

There seems to be alot of issues with the new pop&locks. I have the 8540 The plastic is alot thinner than oem handle. The brass threaded cylinders, that are molded into the plastic handle, broke free. If you compare it to oem, you can see the plastic is alot thinner. They sent me a new one. They said I probably over tightened it. I seriously doubt that. I used a 1/4 inch ratchet and torqued it down light. On the second install, the plastic was already cracking. I made sure to be especially careful and it still started to Crack. I even tried to use a quarter inch torque wrench, but my torque wrench wouldn't go low enough. I lightly snugged it down and it still started cracking. I added jbweld to the plastic surrounding the 4 brass barrel nuts. Then I ran black silicone on all gaps on the outside after installation. It seems OK for now. If I have anymore problems, I'm going to the

$104 pl8521 pop & lock – power tailgate lock for toyota tacoma, fits models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

pl8521 with stock handle. I like the 8540, but I can't recommend it. At least until pop&lock makes it more heavy duty. I also recommend buying a cheap set of harbor freight plastic molding pry tools. When the tailgate freezes in the winter, use the pry tools between the plastic tailgate cover and your tonnea cover. Do not pull the pop&lock handle. It can't take it like the oem. My old pl5300 could. I guess it was made better.

 

I got a pop N Lock for christmas. Where are you guys running the wiring from the tailgate to the cabin? Im reading that you have to run wiring up to the engine bay, through the firewall, and then into the cabin. Is there a way from the bed of the truck to the rear of the cabin instead? Thanks.

 

I ran my wire up the cabin floor under the driver seat. You will see a bundle of wires that pass through to the cabin (2014 Tacoma)

 

Have the

$94 PL5400 Black Manual Tailgate Lock with Bolt Codeable Technology for Toyota Tacoma

PL5400 issues been resolved? My problems is a little different.

I have the

$104 PL8521 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

PL8521 (older power model) on my 2013. I also have a cap and a cap lock. Occasionally, for whatever reason, either the cap or tailgate solenoid will refuse to fire. I did have one solenoid completely fail on the topper and had to replace. Problem is, once the power option is not working you need a backup. For the cap/topper, the lock is keyed. Not so for the tailgate. I'd like to replace the OEM tailgate handle with the PL5400, but as I can tell from the pictures and website description, the power option for the Pl5400 uses a different bracket setup. I've contacted P&L to see if they will sell just the bracket - the wiring will be no different and the solenoid should be the same - *should*...

Having both the truck cap and tailgate lockable/unlockable with the key fab is really convenient