Tailgate key won't turn to left easily

[9t3lightning]

Ok wagon owners
My tailgate key switch
Will go to the right to lock
And barely turn to the left enough to to drop window
But not unlock tailgate.
And the power lock isn't working
So any way inside tailgate without
Destroying plastic cover inside?

[Tiggie]

The cover pops off like a door panel once you get the two (or 1? Can't remember) screws on the top ends. The clips are a little more robust but same idea.

Do you have power locks? If yes, Is your actuator working ok? Otherwise, Get things well lubed in there and all should be well.

May want to replace the felt on the pads the glass slides on if they are crapped out like mine. Kind of a while I'm here type thing.

[9t3lightning]

Thanks I can see one screw and feel the other(drivers side) but can't see a way to get a screwdriver in there
Yes power locks but the motor crapped out I guess
And I tried pullig the lock plunger that goes thru the panel with pliers and ripped i5 out
Ugh

[gadget73]

yeah, sounds like the lock actuator seized.

[WagonMan]

Can't you put the window down and drop the tailgate down? In that position you should be able to take the panel off and disconnect the lock solenoid. WagonMan

[9t3lightning]

It's still locked even with the window down
Something feels jammed or stuck
When I try to unlock it
I need to get the lock mechanism free to unlock it

[9t3lightning]

Gadget
So with it seized that's what would be fighting me
To unlock it with the key?

[sly]

Gadget
So with it seized that's what would be fighting me
To unlock it with the key?

Yes. I've dealt with this many times on the driver door of my beater. The box actuators are not made to allow movement when they seize up. This is why some have modified and swapped in later actuators that are less prone to this type of failure. Not sure it would work on the tailgate though as I don't have any experience with them.

Use a spare key and some pliers up real close and slowly turn the key with the pliers, gradually increasing the force. The actuator should slowly pop free of it's mounting, or at least move enough so you can get the latch unlocked and the door open. If you see the lock or key start to bend... stop and try another way.

[Tiggie]

Oh so it's locked and you can't get the gate open. I have someone continuously hit the unlock button while I pull on the tip that sticks out and it will usually unlock enough to open.

[gadget73]

yeah, thats classic actuator failure mode. It blows, but there isn't a lot to be done for it. Banging the unlock button while trying to turn it with the key or pull up on the lock lever is about your best bet. Do not break the key off.

You may be able to remove that panel from inside the car if it just will not go. I believe there is enough room to get it out of there, and then you can get inside the door to pop the actuator out.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

The tailgate panel can indeed be removed from the inside. You can use the short leg of a right-angle screwdriver (looks like your typical L-shaped allen wrench, but it's round stock with philips #2 on the ends instead of a hex all the way), or sometimes you get away with just a #2 bit that you can turn with with a 1/4" wrench, or if you're extremely lucky you may be able to even use one of those tiny bit-ratchets on said #2 bit. Either way it's annoying as all heck, but it's doable.