99 Jimmy tailgate not opening

[howr01]

The rear window on my 99 Jimmy wont open, Therefore the rear hatch tailgate wont either.. I can operate and hear the acuator operate from both the dash button and the rear external hatch button. The window wont pop open. I tried the internal so called "mechanical " opening method by inserting a long handle screewdriver into the notch located inside the rear hatch door...actuator or solenoid still operate, but window still doesnt pop open..even when I had an assisatant pull up on the glass externally while I I probed the door...Im at a loss as to how to open this piece of crap..Am I stuck with the dealer route or do you guys know how to get this thing open !!

[msdough]

Any luck with this? My '96 is doing the same thing.

[rlith]

This one is a pain in the arse...I had the same thing with the nub on the end of the plastic actuator arm on the motor broke off.. Just takes a little patience, a coat hanger and a flash light

Remove the inner door handle via the 2 small phillips head screws underneath..

Now pull the top hump of the rear panel out you will have just a couple of inches of flex in it. (You may want someone to help while you concentrate on everything else)

Now bend the tip of your coat hanger in the shape of an L and shine the flashlight into the space between the handle and the plastic panel. You will see the latch that releases the window (and possibly the problem) Pull the bottom of this latch and the window will release.

Lower the tailgate. Now remove the phillips head screws on both sides of the panel. Working your way from the top to the sides pull up on the panel (don't pull the bottom of the panel). Now lift up and out and a slight angle.

Remove the 20 7mm screws from the panel and set the inner panel aside. Track down what broke and repair. Install in reverse.

[ChrisGood]

I had this same problem, but my back door wont open either. You have to push it towards the passenger side if i remember right, and that stupid piece of plastic dont try fixing it, once you get the window open and can get inside the cowl you might try wiring the two parts together. I used some thin copper coated steel, like you find in the center of coax, and wired the two together so that the actuater still pulls it across, no problems since. The good part about the wire versus plastic, its less likely to break.

On another note, does anyone know how to get the door itself open if it wont unlock? I can not get the back door/gate (not window) to open at all. I guess the actuator is burned out because it will not unlock with the remote or by the inside button. I need to know if there is some way to slim jim it or manual release like you can the window so i can replace it