Hey guys,

Having a little trouble with my tailgate latching. For a while it would take a couple slams to latch it, but now it won't at all. I've never messed with the internal workings of the tailgate, so I was wondering if anybody had any advice to fix my problem. It seems the the handle isn't even doing anything anymore. I don't know how they work, but I don't hear anything rattling around as if something came loose. Let me know what ya think. Thanks. Tim.

 

if it feels like your handle's not doing anything....I'd lube (wd-40,) the handle pivot, its right under the handle itself, you might have to take the bezel off to get to it...word of advice, if you attempt to take the bezel off, don't be surprised that it breaks..they are tricky sometimes

 

Had the same situation with mine last year....had to continually "slam" the tailgate two or three times to get it to latch..........What happened was that moisture had gotten under the bezel and had put a coating of rust on the latch part itself, causing the rods to not return back (keeping them in the "open" position) after releasing the handle. I took my bezel off, took the latch assembly apart and cleaned it up with a wire wheel. I then used some white lithium grease when I reassembled it. My tailgate latches with the push of one finger now............Hope this helps!

 

I'll have to give it a try. Does that bezel just pop off? I don't recall seeing any screws holding it on.

 

the bezel kind of pops off, its supposed to have some double sided tape on the sides of it and you kind of have to push up on it to release the 2 bottom retainers, they just slide down into the tailgate itself to keep the bezel on

 

ok, thanks, sounds easy enough. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

 

Sounds like they got you the info you need. I had the same problem just had to lube the mechanism and the tabs on my bezel broke so I bought and ebay special to replace it.

 

oh...I've got 2 bezels if you end up breaking yours as well...

 

Been down that road. GM put those little **** ant tabs on there. Real easy to break. Let us know how it goes.

 

Come on guys you know GMC is profrssional Grade. I had the same trouble with mine the bezel broke when I put it back in.......... its sill broke