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Midgate not lowering

Mike007

New Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2021
Messages
5
I tried to lower my midgate on my new and used 2007 Avalanche.
No problem folding seats and locating the black midgate latch in the middle
When rotating the latch it makes a clicking sound.
I cannot get the midgate to lower and separate from the window.
I want to lower and keep the glass in place.
Are the latches known to fail on these? It seems something is stuck.
The locking glass storage tabs seem to have nothing to do with the midgate dropping,
but I tried them both locked and unlocked. The midgate may have not been down in a couple years.
Any ideas why it is not dropping would be greatly appreciated.
 
IS window still in?
DOes cross bar seem to want to come with it?

I would remove window..
on top in channel where window goes just a few inches left of center is small little pin that sticks up.

This pin whether up or down controls whether the cross bar comes down or nor.
so yours may be stuck.

With window in it should be down to HOLD crossbar in truck and it remains and midgate drops by itself.

With window out the pin is up and the midgate & crossbar are lowered so the entire back of the truck is open.

Spray some sort of lube in there and on ends of cross bar where their latch is and on midgate latches

So try it with window in and with window out...

Sometimes the last person to shut might not have shut it enough and it did not latch on the SECOND latch so it is hung up.

PLAY with it.

PS do this with tail gate open so you are not fighting air pressure when shutting midgate.
Have tailgate open when shutting midgate with covers on so air has somewhere to go.
 
What ygmn said.
My midgate is tricky to relatch properly, once it's been lowered.
Not sure if I've had trouble getting it to lower, however. It's been a while.
I suspect something is gummed up as mentioned above.
I don't use it often enough to be concerned, so I haven't gotten around to lubing up the latches and stuff.
But I'd definitely start there - by checking and lubricating all the associated moving parts.
 
And the round plastic knobs that hold the rear glass in it's storage spot are hooked up to NOTHING.

They just rotate into place to hold the glass, nothing more.
 
When I bought my avalanche, the midgate had not been lowered in around 8 years, previous owner didn't know that it dropped down... Anyway, I had to push from the bed of the truck, the seals were stuck pretty good and just needed some extra force. Make sure the crossbar retracts properly as noted above, but then it might just take an extra pull while the window is out or have a helper push from the bed.
 
On my, new to me, used 2013, the previous had never lowered the midgate - so it would not open. Turned out that the flap on the inside the bed of the truck had adhered to the midgate wall, not allowing it to open. I took a putty knife and seperate the flap (is a black plastic grate that is upright when mid-gate is closed) in the bed. That flap has a foam piece, and the cover of the foam had come off and the glue underneath had adhered to the midgate wall.
 
IS window still in?
DOes cross bar seem to want to come with it?

I would remove window..
on top in channel where window goes just a few inches left of center is small little pin that sticks up.

This pin whether up or down controls whether the cross bar comes down or nor.
so yours may be stuck.

With window in it should be down to HOLD crossbar in truck and it remains and midgate drops by itself.

With window out the pin is up and the midgate & crossbar are lowered so the entire back of the truck is open.

Spray some sort of lube in there and on ends of cross bar where their latch is and on midgate latches

So try it with window in and with window out...

Sometimes the last person to shut might not have shut it enough and it did not latch on the SECOND latch so it is hung up.

PLAY with it.

PS do this with tail gate open so you are not fighting air pressure when shutting midgate.
Have tailgate open when shutting midgate with covers on so air has somewhere to go.
Thanks. The crossbar does seem to want to come with it.
 
SpottyJ I had a similar experience with foam and glue residue on midgate and flap.
 
can you just take the back window out I just bought an 08 avalanche and don't have any idea how the back works
 
can you just take the back window out I just bought an 08 avalanche and don't have any idea how the back works
Yes, there are two latches at the top of the window. Pull those down and remove the window. There will be a release in the center top that serves as a safety you will need to depress. The window stores in the mid-gate behind the rear seats.
 
Update on this issue: As stated previously I could not lower the midgate.
I took the window out and realized it was installed inside out. The precious owner also
appeared to put adhesive strips along it to keep the midgate from moving. Once the adhesive broke free
I realized I was back to normal. I realized the problem upon placing the glass in midgate glass holder in the cab.
I could get the glass in to lock it. Thanks for the comments everyone. I hope this helps someone here in the future.
Best vehicle I have ever owned. I need to deliver a 10' long tube tomorrow so this fix comes right on time.
 
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