How to Diagnose Tailgate Power Lock (and funny story)

[MrCreosote]

The power lock on my tailgate quit working.

It worked up until I had to "break out" of my cargo van when I first bot it and inadvertently set the childproof switch on the sliding door. I was working on the inside in the summer so I had the AC on so I closed the side door. I couldn't get out because of the cargo bulkhead. HaHa. Justlike in a Police car.

I got out by peeling the tailgate "door" panel back, squeezing my hand in there, blindly feeling for lock mechanism. I quickly found something and got the tailgate open. However, after that the actuator simply did not work.

I scrutinized everything back there and I didn't damage anything physically - really.

My problem is that I don't know if it is the electrical signal, or the actuator. (Imiss the good ole days of buttons and solenoids)

The only way I know how to diagnose it is to determine if there is a good signal first.

Is there a simple way to do this? (I can put an oscilloscope on the connector, however, I still don't know what the desired signal is.)

THanks in advance,
Tom

[PteHoward]

Woah.. Slow 'er down a bit... Similar problem happened to my freind after he slammed the door in a fit of rage..

Just put a multimeter onto the connection with a multimeter. Should be two wires, plug them in and have an assistant lock and unlock the door by pressing the button. It should read +12V, then Zero.

If yours happens to only have one wire, which I cant say Ive seen, put your negative terminal to ground then try again.. If no voltage is here, there is more then likely a bent/kinked/broken wire.

Now if there is voltage, grab a mechanics stethocope. Put it directly on the actuator and have your assitant press the buttons. If you can hear something out of the actuator, gently pull the actuator and try to assist it. Sometimes if the actuator is manually pulled out and the unlock button is pressed it will push itself past its limit switch and basically not work.

Good luck.

[MrCreosote]

Pte!

You may have found the problem! When I was trying to unlock the tailgateby stuffing my hand behind the door panel, i could have very well put the actuator past its range.

I'll ahve to check that out!

Thanks for the tip!
Tom