Tailgate stuck

So I have a 17 and the tailgate is stuck. I hear the latch actuating on the left side but not the right. I recently had the tailgate off and at a Bodyshop to repair a dent. I’m guessing the rod that goes to the latch is off, plastic piece probably broke. Luckily the factory Tri fold is up. The screws for the cover aren’t accessible on the sides and bottom with it closed. How can I unlatch the right side? Tia

 

So overwhelmed with the responses! thanks for nothing at all, the pleasure was all mine obviously. Yeah

 

This is not too tough on a 2nd gen, so I'm surprised it is on a 3rd gen.

If you posted pics from inside the bed looking at the tailgate, it might let those of us who don't own a 3rd gen make suggestions.

 

Hey brother. I'm sorry no one responded with any advice. Sometimes other hot topics forces a post like this out of view too soon. I wish I could help but I honestly don't know. But this couldn't be the first time this has happened so hopefully someone in the know will see your request for help this time and respond with a path forward for you. Good luck!

 

Not sure if you can pop the taillight out and unscrew the D ring that the tailgate latches too

If its the lock thats broken maybe you could unscrew the tailgate panel (i know about half the screws are inaccessible with it up) with half of the panel unscrewed maybe you could reach your arm down there and jimmy the lock’s rod arm…?

all i can think of…

 

You should be able to access all the screws to take the panel off

 

Unlock the tailgate and slip a flat head screwdriver into the side that is not unlocking and push in the little metal locking tab/piece. This will get the tailgate down and you can remove the panel and see what's going on.

 

Nobody cared that’s why they didn’t respond

 

Yep, once thats done, its pretty straight forward to see whats the problem.

 

Disassemble the inner skin. Take off the top cap, then remove all the screws on the tailgate inner face. It will not simply "fall off" as Toyota engineers decided to make the panel captive when the gate was closed. Start on one side and work it out, then pull out the other side. Then you have access to the actual mechanisms. I was able to get mine open with channel locks on the cables, but I saw it was also feasible to unbolt the latches from the gate as well. Have fun, it was not easy to get the panel out but one it was out I got it opened easily. Look around in there for debris while it's opened. Mine was jambed up by a lot of small rocks from a load of gravel I was hauling but I saw some other schmutz in there that was blocking one of the weep holes.

 

I did fix it yesterday. Fortunately the factory hard cover was up. I popped the tailgate cap after I removed the few accessible screws that hold the cap and tailgate panel on. Luckily the rod had popped off at the handle and I was able to shove my arm down into a spot it didn’t fit into grab the rod and pulled it to release the right side. I zip tied all 4 connectors and reassembled