Yet Another Tailgate Problem

[ColoradoAV]

Here's a problem that we have just encountered tonight. ?Again, we're having problems getting the tailgate closed. ?This has NOTHING to do with the rubber strip between panel 3 and the tailgate. ?Somehow the latch on the passenger side of the tailgate moved (attached pic). ?The latch is facing in the complete opposite direction from where it is supposed to. ?What happens is when I try to close the tailgate, all it does is bounce back. ?It doesn't even make it to the rubber strip ?. ?Unless there is a way to get that latch facing the right way, the there is no possible way to shut the tailgate.

By no means are we willing to drive around with the tailgate down ?. ?I have done everything I can to get that latch facing in the right direction but it won't budge. ?It looks like the AV might have to be taken in for a repair tonight.

Here's the pic of how the latch looks as of now. ?Sorry. It looks as though I zoomed in too far on the latch but it's there. The situation is so bad the tailgate is leaning up against the garage door.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what can be done?

 

[ColoradoAV]

Update: We did just get the tailgate shut, but it's still not quite right. It's one of those latches where only one side latches and the other side is loose. It may or it may not fly open tomorrow. I'm not really sure.

 

[dmacker]

There are at least three dealer TSB's out on the tailgate. One of them should cover your problem.

Good luck.

 

[ygmn]

Can't see pic....but maybe the one side already latched closed....kinda like someone rubbed against it and the latchy thingy closed ....I cannot see pic....

If so...have someone put screwdriver in latchy thingy and you open tailgate handle while they force the latchy thingy back to open....

HTH

 

[dvd_rules]

There are at least three dealer TSB's out on the tailgate. One of them should cover your problem.

Good luck.

Ok... what is a TSB??

 

[Blueruck]

Ok... what is a TSB??

A TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin - GM puts these out to dealers to let them know about reoccurring problems with a vehicle...

 

[rogerh]

ygmn is right, the latch appears to be in the closed position. Now because you slamed it in the closed position the latch is out of adjustment.
The dealer should be able to adjust it and get it back in shape.

 

[ColoradoAV]

You guys seem to be right. ?The latch WAS in the closed position until we got it shut but that side still didn't latch. ?It was just in a good enough position to get the other side to latch. ?My dad put a call into the service department at Luby Chevrolet but had to leave a message.

Thanks for all the help so far....

 

[ColoradoAV]

You guys seem to be right. ?The latch WAS in the closed position until we got it shut but that side still didn't latch. ?It was just in a good enough position to get the other side to latch. ?My dad put a call into the service department at Luby Chevrolet but had to leave a message.

Thanks for all the help so far....

We got a call today from the service department. My dad just asked why the tailgate in general has trouble getting shut. The answer was a little surprising. The service rep. said that there is a TSB on the tailgate handle.

Has anyone heard of this?

 

[ygmn]

YES it was mentioned in here before...somthing to do with it binding or something....I think AVALANCE brought it up...search in this ection for the thread.

 

[ColoradoAV]

Well, the Av went into the shop yesterday for repair work. The tailgate does shut differently now but I still didn't think it felt right. Well the reason is that the retards that did the repair job did it in a way that now there is about a 2 milimeter gap between the tailgate and panel #3 when the tailgate is latched .

I poured water down that hole and lo and behold the water had no problem getting into the bed.

The service rep said that he will be sending out a survey report so now if he wants a half way decent report then he's going to have to do the right job and do it fast or else his feedback will be pretty poor .

The AV will be going back in pretty soon to be fixed again. I think that the service rep will be worried enough about his feedback that this time they'll do the job right!