How do I unlock my tailgate? I am puzzled by my tailgate which I inadvertently locked while the tailgate was open. As a dummy, I clicked the latch in the lock mechanism closed, while the tailgate was open. Now I cannot reverse the move to truly lock the tailgate. How do I unlock this latch?

 

Not sure I follow your question exactly. Did you somehow close the latch on the tailgate while the tailgate was open, such that now it will not engage the striker?

Normally, the "bearclaw" part of the latch rotates around the striker when the tailgate (or door) is closed. A spring in the latch assembly assists the bearclaw to rotate to the closed position. As you lift the handle and open the tailgate, the motion of the tailgate moves the bearclaw to the open position and the spring goes over center to hold it in the open position.

If the bearclaw gets rotated to the locked position without capturing the striker, there is no force that will move it to the open position when you lift the handle. You need to hold the handle in the open position and manually rotate the bearclaw to the open position using a screwdriver or similar tool.

 

Joe, thanks very much. Your explanation was exactly described, and I was able to activate the bear claw as you suggested. The tailgate is now operational again. Much obliged!

Phil Brown
1990 Cutlass Cruiser