tailgate won't open

[nrthrnlght]

My wife backed her '95 Passport into something and the resultant dent prevents the tailgate from opening. I can't figure out how to remove the inner plastic panel from the tailgate to see what's going on inside. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
matt

[Ramblin Fever]

Don't force it - that back glass will explode.

I had an idiot back into mine 4yrs back, and the tailgate was under so much pressure from having caved in, that I too couldn't get mine to open.

The body shop stated that if I had tried to pop it open the glass would've exploded - that's what's expensive, is that back glass.

Not quite sure what to tell you - the other guy paid for mine so I just drove it to Foreign Auto Body in Denver and let them handle it.

[DaveBez]

Originally Posted by nrthrnlght

My wife backed her '95 Passport into something and the resultant dent prevents the tailgate from opening. I can't figure out how to remove the inner plastic panel from the tailgate to see what's going on inside. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
matt

You have to cut the inner plastic out, Our lock stopped working and the dealer had to destory that panel to get the tailgate open, then fix the lock at a cost of about $220. Then a year later the lock started to fail again this time I cut a small hand hole in the plastic with a drill high speed cutting bit, then I could get my hand inside and play with the lock. The tail gate lock is held in place with a cheap metal clip that can slip off the lock. My solution was to glue the clip in place with "automotive goop" this keeps the lock firmly on the tailgate panel and insures all the links to it work to open the tail gate. The tail gate has been problem free for the last 2 years.