Tailgate help

[csread]

My 89 GW tailgate will unlatch on only one side.would appreciate any info on procedure to release without use of explosives.

[Dean]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by csread:
My 89 GW tailgate will unlatch on only one side.would appreciate any info on procedure to release without use of explosives. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If I remember right when I had this problem ('78 Wag) I was able to reach down along side the window and trip the latch with a long screwdriver, or was it pull up with a pc of wire, anyhow I could see the latch between the glass and the side of the gate.



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'78 Wagoneer Limited
401/Q-trac W/low range
Stock for now.........

[Ralph]

There are metal arms extending from the center handle mechanism to either side of the tailgate, which activate the spring-loaded latches. The arms were originally covered with cloth for rigidity, but the cloth frazzles and the metal arms get bent anyway. I solved this by removing them and having 1/4" rods spot-welded on them.

Anyway, to solve your instant problem, just open the window all the way and reach down with a long screw driver and trip the latch; that is, mimic the action that the metal arm would cause. Take a look and you'll see what I mean.

Once you've got it open, get some WD40 and spray it in there, something you should do periodically. But, in addition to strengthening the rods as I noted above, there is also a tendency for the inner tailgate panel itself to fatigue and crack, which makes latch problems even worse.

[ClarkGriswald]

He he he thats kinda funny.. nothing stronger than a piece of steel with some cloth wrapped around it. It would be cool to be the guy at AMC that had to wind the cloth around the rods..

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88 Grand Wagoneer
D44's front\rear
Warn 20990 Lockouts
AMC 360
TF 727
NP 229 (Funky)
Custom Hacking Via S.P.A. (Standard Polish Archetecture)