tailgate problem

[Toms99Ranger]

Forgive me if this is wrong place or has been covered. I did a search but found nothing related.
I'm having a problem with the side latches on my 99 Ranger longbed. in the past when the weather was cold (well "chilly", this is FL) the latch on one side would not latch unless i pushed in really hard. I recently had the truck repainted and now i can't get it to latch at all. Tried moving the latches, but no luck. what am i missing?! Thanks for any ideas or help! Tom

 

[KELLY88]

Sounds like the latches are binding somewhere. Did they make any squeak or anything like that? Even those few metal components use a little bit of grease in them. Take the cover off the inside of the tailgate and take a look at the components and look for anything obvious. Put up some pictures too if you could.

By the way, what part of Florida?

 

[Bob Ayers]

I had the same problem with my 1999. Remove the inner cover (as previously suggested), and you will see where you can gease the linkages, and latch mechanisms. I used white (lithium) grease to lube mine, and it works great now

 

[Toms99Ranger]

Thanks, Kelly,
I'm down the road from you in Orlando. The latches ARE dry. These are the side latches. There are no parts inside of the tailgate. It just seems like an alignment problem, and i don't know why i can't get them aligned. I will try the grease first. Boy, will i feel dumb if it's something as simple as that! Thanks for your reply.....Tom

 

[Bob Ayers]

Thanks, Kelly,
I'm down the road from you in Orlando. The latches ARE dry. These are the side latches. There are no parts inside of the tailgate. It just seems like an alignment problem, and i don't know why i can't get them aligned. I will try the grease first. Boy, will i feel dumb if it's something as simple as that! Thanks for your reply.....Tom

Yes, there are linkages inside the tailgate that need to be lubed, along with the latch mechanisms.

 

[KELLY88]

Yes, there are linkages inside the tailgate that need to be lubed, along with the latch mechanisms.

Ya there has to be. Its the linkages between the outside latches at the ends of the tailgate and the handle in the middle.

 

[Toms99Ranger]

oops, Sorry y'all. Yer right. Ok, gonna find a shady spot, some grease, ( I think I have some bike grease here) and i'll lube it up. Thanks to all for the advice!

 

[Toms99Ranger]

Thanks to all for the advice! Greased the parts up and all is cool now.