Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: JayB on September 09, 2008, 10:40:00 AM

Title: Jammed Tailgate
Post by: JayB on September 09, 2008, 10:40:00 AM: This is going to sound really stupid but, I can't open the tailgate on my 1997 Grand. My wife has a 1998 one and about a year ago hers started playing up and would not always open, if you left it for a while and then tried the handle it would work, a good dose of WD40 followed by a good lubricating seems to have cured it fine.

My bugger will not shift at all, it has never been any trouble before but now, it won't open. I tried to open it from the unlocked state if you see what I mean. That is to say the tailgate was not locked between the time I closed and tried to open it. I have tried locking and unlocking it both with the remote and with the key, but no joy. According to the mark 1 ear hole the locking mechanism seems to functioning OK, I even tried disconnecting the battery in the hope that something would reset itself. No the extent of my knowledge does not run to much more than pulling harder on the handle if it will not open,so if anyone has any bright ideas please tell me.

John
Title:
Post by: jgsmuzzy on September 09, 2008, 10:43:57 AM: Are you sure nothinh has fallen between the boot lid and the floor, thus jamming it?

Get someone inside to boot it as you pull the handle. The sharp shock from inside may well release it.

gotta be worth a try. (obviously, do not boot it hard enough to permanently damage 'owt)
Title:
Post by: JayB on September 09, 2008, 03:18:06 PM: Well, I opened it. I never got inside and booted it, but yesterday I gave it a good drink of WD40 via the handle. Today I tried to open it whilst "gently" banging the area around the latch, and behold it opened. I lubricated the hell out of it and tried it again. I now have it at the place where it still needs a gentle tap, but it is gentle and it opens every time.

I have to take the trim off the tailgate to sort out my rear wiper, so I can give it a good coat of looking at then and see if I can sort it properly.

John
Title:
Post by: daggie on September 09, 2008, 04:42:26 PM: it will be rusted up, take it out scrape the rust off, then cover with grease :wink: the motor will not work with the tail gate open :-)
Title:
Post by: The Smiths on September 09, 2008, 08:06:41 PM: Quote from: "daggie"
the motor will not work with the tail gate open :-D
Title:
Post by: Bubba on September 09, 2008, 08:34:06 PM: i rekon
Title:
Post by: daggie on September 09, 2008, 09:23:53 PM: might be :roll:
Title:
Post by: eastryjeep on September 11, 2008, 06:20:01 PM: Take herds of digital photos as you strip anything you are unsure of - they are priceless (to coin a phrase) if you forget how the bastid goes back together!

Just my 2p worth you know