Tailgate won't latch

One side of my '05 tailgate won't latch. It's the latch in the gate itself as I can't secure the bed extender either. I don't see anything visibly wrong. Any suggestions please?

 

Here's a link to an aftermarket Pop&Lock instal. This should show you how to remove the tailgate cover. The clip which works from the latch may have come off or become broken. Take the back off and have a look, and take/post some pictures of what you find.

Frank

 

My '93 has had an issue with the tailgate latches too. First, remove the cover, similar to Highland Logan's link. The mechanism is very similar to mine. Next, use a lock lubricant spray with graphite and lube the sliding latches on left and right side of the tailgate very liberally, then do the same to the mechanism at the center of the gate. Those outer latches slide in a tunnel so spray both ends of the tunnel with the moving strikers at both extremes of travel. This got me working again but a few weeks later had to open it again. This time after the lubing, I added a tension spring to one leg of the middle mechanism to help it return. The spring was about pencil diameter and approx 2" long and used heavy wire to secure it's ends. The latch pulls slightly stiffer now, but always latches.
In my case, probably father time, and dust, working against the mechanism.
Best of luck.

 

Thank you for the help. I found that that the problem is a homemade "fix". I lubed the problematic latch, and found it was working properly. I followed the heavy gauge wire and found that it's too loose so that when the handle is released it doesn't close the latch. I got it working for now, but it looks like I'll be replacing the handle itself soon.

This is how the inside of the handle should look:


Unfortunately, this is how it does look:


Thank you again!

 

Ahhhhh yes. You are missing that lil', red, doofremus-hemus that holds the rod end. Perhaps someone else was in there first and damaged the link or just lost it out of carelessness. Hope the new mechanism isn't very pricey.

 

I just broke one of those, anybody know what it is called so I can get a new one? Link?

 

Thanks man!