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TAILGATE WONT LACH PROPERLY

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014.

  1. Aug 30, 2014 at 9:53 AM
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    J.Z.Alba

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    J.Z.Alba [OP] Well-Known Member

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    A little help here... I have a '15 tacoma DCLB and i noticed that the tailgate is not closing properly or latching properly on the driver side without slamming it hard. Thus doing so, it is hard to open especially with the installed pop-n-lock. if I only close it normally, the passenger side of the gate will latch no problem but the driver side will not latch completely(partially). If done so like this, opening the gate is easy. I was thinking if the rubber stopper is the culprit? I greased the mechanism to no avail... any suggestions?

    Edit: it's like that as well when even with the OEM handle before i replaced with PNL
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2014
    J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014
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  2. Aug 30, 2014 at 9:57 AM
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    TrdSurgie

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    TrdSurgie revised

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    Who installed the pop n lock? Have them fix it.
     
    TrdSurgie, Aug 30, 2014
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  3. Aug 30, 2014 at 10:03 AM
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    KenLyns

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    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    Did you grease the latch or the handle mechanism? The handle mechanism is underlubricated from the Pop N Lock factory and needs a few squirts of white lithium grease (applied from inside the tailgate) to operate smoothly.

    Did you install the Pop N Lock yourself? Did you follow the guide here? http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-pl5300-2009-tacoma-cam-install-tutorial.html

    Are the red and black plastic rod bushings in good shape?

    Cimg1852_f482b6ee78a47cfe3f3eda3c3468ea07a08a77e1.jpg
     
    KenLyns, Aug 30, 2014
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  4. Aug 30, 2014 at 10:13 AM
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    J.Z.Alba

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    J.Z.Alba [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I installed it myself... but I followed the instruction and the youtube video by PNL.:(
     
    J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014
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  5. Aug 30, 2014 at 10:15 AM
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    J.Z.Alba

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    J.Z.Alba [OP] Well-Known Member

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    J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014
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  6. Aug 30, 2014 at 10:16 AM
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    B737

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    B737 Throbbing Member

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    THIS^

    the whole tailgate system is under-lubricated from the factory. open the tailgate up, and lubricate the latch, and where all the rods go and what they hinge on, the little plastic guides, latches ect... use lots of grease. i had to fix my 2012 myself about 6 months into ownership and its hasnt given me a problem since.
     
    B737, Aug 30, 2014
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  7. Aug 30, 2014 at 10:24 AM
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    J.Z.Alba

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    J.Z.Alba [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'll try that..
     
    J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014
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  8. Aug 30, 2014 at 10:27 AM
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    KenLyns

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    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    KenLyns, Aug 30, 2014
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  9. Aug 30, 2014 at 10:53 AM
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    TOY33

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    TOY33 Well-Known Member

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    I like the new 5400, they should come from factory like this.
     
    TOY33, Aug 30, 2014
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  10. Aug 30, 2014 at 11:00 AM
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    J.Z.Alba

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    J.Z.Alba [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yes I did. I just came back from the garage and looked at the problem... I was right about the rubber stopper on the gate. It was a little too thick. I removed the rubber stopper and the gate closes and opens with no problem... I will have to either shave off some of the rubber or just leave it off. I don't see any problem if I don't put the rubber stopper back on. The passenger side rubber stopper is still installed.
     
    J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014
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  11. Aug 30, 2014 at 11:02 AM
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    J.Z.Alba

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    J.Z.Alba [OP] Well-Known Member

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    .....and oh i put some more grease and all mechanism.....:)
     
    J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014
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  12. Aug 30, 2014 at 11:02 AM
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    J.Z.Alba

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    J.Z.Alba [OP] Well-Known Member

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    +1 here
     
    J.Z.Alba, Aug 30, 2014
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  13. Aug 16, 2015 at 8:16 AM
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    mikecoscia

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    mikecoscia Well-Known Member

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    I'm having the same problem with my 15. The driver's side of the tailgate needs to be slammed to fully latch, making it harder to open the tailgate. I removed the rubber stopper and it seemed to fix the issue. Removing a factor part seems like an odd way to fix the problem. Can the latch just be realigned?
     
    mikecoscia, Aug 16, 2015
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  14. Aug 16, 2015 at 9:00 AM
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    Doublecross

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    Doublecross Well-Known Member

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    ARE cap, wade inchannel vent visors, weathertec floor mats, ranch hand grill guard, tuffy security boxes in bed, lockable tailgate handle. Still have stuff that needs to be installed and still have stuff ordered lol.
    I used a small hole saw and cut a hole on both side on tailgate cover so when i close tailgate the rubber stopper goes into hole and closes on the metal of tailgate instead of cover lol now closes and latches on both sides
     
    Doublecross, Aug 16, 2015
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  15. Aug 17, 2015 at 8:07 AM
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    mikecoscia

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    mikecoscia Well-Known Member

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    That works too, but I don't want to cut anything. I might take it to the dealer and have them take a look. I imagine loosening the striker and sliding it forward would fix the issue. However, then the gate my not align with the body.
     
    mikecoscia, Aug 17, 2015
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  16. Sep 26, 2015 at 1:30 PM
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    mikecoscia

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    mikecoscia Well-Known Member

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    So just spent an hour and half at my dealer trying to figure this out. Even looked at another taco on the lot....no issue with the tailgate closing. We adjusted the striker plates and greased everything up. We could adjust the plates so we didn't have to slam the tailgate, but the edges of the gate did not sit flush with the body. If we had them sitting flush, had to slam the gate and pull hard on the handle to open it.

    If we removed the rubber bumpers it closed and opened fine. If we removed the plastic tailgate cover and kept the bumpers on, it closed and opened fine. As soon as you add the bumpers it's a PITA to open and close the gate. To the point that it broke my pop and lock latch. Yes, I know the solution is to remove the rubber bumpers, but why does it work fine in other vehicles? Something is out of an alignment and neither I or the dealer can figure it out.

    Anyone have any suggestions?
     
    mikecoscia, Sep 26, 2015
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  17. Sep 26, 2015 at 1:56 PM
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    Doublecross

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    Doublecross Well-Known Member

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    ARE cap, wade inchannel vent visors, weathertec floor mats, ranch hand grill guard, tuffy security boxes in bed, lockable tailgate handle. Still have stuff that needs to be installed and still have stuff ordered lol.
    cut holes like i did lol
     
    Doublecross, Sep 26, 2015
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  18. Sep 26, 2015 at 2:12 PM
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    Dogdad

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    Dogdad Well-Known Member

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    So your tailgate was fine until the pop n lock was installed...?
     
    Dogdad, Sep 26, 2015
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  19. Sep 26, 2015 at 3:47 PM
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    Doublecross

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    Doublecross Well-Known Member

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    ARE cap, wade inchannel vent visors, weathertec floor mats, ranch hand grill guard, tuffy security boxes in bed, lockable tailgate handle. Still have stuff that needs to be installed and still have stuff ordered lol.
    not mine it was closing like that since i picked it up from dealer
     
    Doublecross, Sep 26, 2015
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  20. Sep 26, 2015 at 4:03 PM
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    T4RFTMFW

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    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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    Trim the rubber pads.


    Duh.
     
    T4RFTMFW, Sep 26, 2015
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Pop & Lock PL5400 Black Manual Tailgate Lock with Bolt Codeable Technology for Toyota Tacoma
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