Pop and Lock PL8521 Power Tailgate Install (2012 Tacoma)

it was the kit

$107 PL8521 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

PL8521, that's taxe in, I already have the camera, not sure what it will have in the package I didn't opened it yet. but its everything I need... little expensive but I don't have to drive to the US to get one.

 

Nice, little cheaper for sure. oh too late for me now already got mine at home, just need to the Truck to install it.

 

Four months? Good grief. Okay, time for a pep talk. It's an easy Saturday or Sunday afternoon install, so get at it, Mark. Just follow the instructions. If you need more, look at the images here. I didn't have those images when I installed mine. Today I'd print them off to have handy. Nearly impossible to mess up with all that available.


Okay, you have convinced me to give this a shot myself. Was going to have the accessory dealer install it for $100 but I will tackle it. Still uncertain about pulling panels to find the wiring to hook into but I am sure it is not the ultimate challenge.

 

Epic write up. Installed this on my buddies Tacoma and it took literally a half hour. Thanks a lot!

 

Great write up. Planning on using it pretty soon, so thanks. But I did have one question.

My bed cover locks from the inside when I close it. To unlock I have to pull the tailgate down and then unlock the cover latches underneath. Which leads to my question with this product.

What happens if the lock gets stuck in the locked position? Malfunction, or maybe a wire comes loose, etc. Has anyone given thought to how to get it open?

Thanks,
Jp

 

It (lock stuck with a bed cover) has been discussed. Don't remember if it was in this thread or another. Also don't remember whether a solution was firmly established. At this point, many thousands have beed sold (the company makes them from several pickup trucks), with no reports of a lock failure that I'm aware of.

 

kinda reminds me of the fj rear hatch lock but it has key lock aswell, too bad tacomas dont have this option using manual/remote locks or do they? other then aftermarket

 

The same thing that happens when something else malfunctions, or another wire comes loose... You fix it, or pay someone else to fix it, right? If you ask me, it's all about the install. Install it right the first time and you have little to no problems.

 

Many thanks to the OP. The factory supplied directions are rubbish and finding the two necessary wires could have been an ordeal.

 

You did well for sure. There must have been a price drop on the Electric Version since I bought mine earlier this year. Oh well, either way it's dam worth it and am very happy to be able to lock up the tailgate and use the locks on my G4 Elite cover to secure everything in the bed.

 

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this post. Just finished installing the lock. Thanks to all of your detailed descriptions my install was easy and tidy.

 

I just helped a family member install a manual pop n lock on his 2013 Tacoma. The key difference between the manual and the power lock kits is that the manual one disconnects the handle from the operating linkage. The power lock only blocks it. Enough muscle, and I believe the power locked handle could be forced. The manual handle can't, you could pull on it all day and nothing will happen when locked.

From the looks of it, the manual pop and lock could be modified to be power OR key operated. The design is very similar to a normal, factory door lock. It also looks like there is enough room to add a power actuator. Maybe someday I will try it. It appears it would be more secure, and would solve the problem of opening the tailgate after the power actuator takes a dump.

 

Okay, lets get past this misconception. To do that with the power lock (force it), you'd have to bend either the metal mounting bracket or the metal bar blocking the tailgate handle movement. Since the metal on both are quite substantial (not thin stuff), you'd likely break the plastic tailgate handle clean off long before bending either of those parts. Certainly nothing wrong with the manual lock you selected, but the power lock is quite robust as well.

 

are the wires under the passenger seat or under glove box?(the wires I splice into)

 

The wires are behind the side panel - next to where passengers place their feet, Santo. Pull straight up on the plastic door sill (scuff guard) to pop it off, unscrew the knob holding the side panel on (the knob is located at the front of the panel), and then pull the panel directly towards the rear of the vehicle (it pops off as well, so expect some resistance).

The tailgate lock wires are normally brought into the cab through the large rubber grommet under the seat (already has a large bundle of wires), ran to and along the channel normally under the door sill, and then to the side panel area. The wires you want to splice into are located towards the front of the side panel area.

Leave the plastic sleeve on the tailgate lock wires until you reach the side panel area. This usually requires using a screwdriver or similar to spread the large rubber grommet under the seat and someone above to help pull the wiring (complete with plastic sleeve) into the vehicle as your feed it from below.

 

I don't know what other places get for these but Amazon is 82 bux.

$107 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

http://www.amazon.com/Pop-Lock-PL85...353801530&sr=1-1&keywords=power+tailgate+lock
Bill

 

The issue is the single mounting bolt. Two bolts, and you would have to bend something. One bolt, the whole thing can pivot.

Ultimate setup, IMHO, is manual keylock with power actuator custom mounted to it. No more worries about the power actuator failing and getting locked out.

 

No, it can't pivot. The mounting bracket for the electric lock mounts flush against the bracket securing the tailgate handle - two large flat surfaces fitted flush against each other. Again, you'd have to physically bend one of those brackets (the flat surfaces or something else) before the lock itself could possibly pivot. And, again, you'd certainly break the plastic tailgate handle long before that. Any suggestion that the lock could pivot is simply incorrect.

 

if you're afraid of it pivoting why not just use red loctite adhesive. I'm pretty sure they'll be zero budge there.

 

Just got mine installed today, the only thing I found it very loud when it unlock or lock... not sure if someone figure a way to reduce that noise... its not a big deal really but more and OCD thing for me.