Tailgate problems in Alaska

[Turbo Terry]

So after having my slide in truck camper on for most of our short real summer (100) days I unloaded it in the driveway and today reinstalled the tailgate. This will be my third time on this truck. My neighbor helps me as it is heavy and awkward and we are old. The plug in is a bit of a pain but it’s our third time. Plugged it in hinges were in position cables connected . Tailgate was open closed but it will not open now.Camera works fine but no tailgate light as before . It will not open. I watched him plug the wires together. And checked them pushed in all the way . I started the truck no alarms or anything. Tailgate is stuck shut .

 

[User113]

The thing that most often holds the tailgate from opening would be the latch. Is it locked? Is the lock jammed?

 

[Turbo Terry]

We don’t know if it’s jammed. It’s all electronic. It not dirt or water related

 

[User113]

It might well be an issue with the wiring then. See this image. This is where the tailgate connects to the truck. This is where to start, since both the latches and the light are not working. The camera, which is working, is the round connector, the latches/lights are the oblong one. I would start by carefully probing for 12v on the lighting circuit coming from the truck on the oblong connector. If there is no 12v going to the lights, then look upstream. If there is 12v from the truck side, then clean and reconnect the oblong connector, and make sure the tailgate has a good ground, the ground comes through that connector. I'm guessing the camera circuit uses a separate ground, since it's a totally different signal. If that still doesn't fix the problem, then it might be at the connector near the handle, which you can get to by removing the access panel on the tailgate. That is where the wires to the latches and the wires to the lights split up.

 

[Turbo Terry]

We really can’t probe anything. The tailgate is up and no wiring is exposed

 

[AH64ID]

Sounds like the wiring isn’t fully seated.

You will need to remove the access cover and open the tailgate manually. With the tailgate down you can recheck the wiring.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Yes that’s what we thought we might do today. Was getting late in the day. Has to be the wiring

 

[Turbo Terry]

Took the cover off and tripped the two latches and it opened right up . Opened wiring holder pushed one connector in about a 1/8 inch ? Works fine. Live and learn right