Problem opening tailgate

I have 1970 Chevy station wagon that has the tailgate that opens both ways (or at least it is supposed to do so). I can open it like a regular door (that works). Unfortunately, when I use the handle in the middle it does not open. I can hear and see the right side unlocking but it is unlocking it the wrong way (swing).

Is there a trick that I am missing or I need to take it apart to see what's not working?

Thanks.

 

I'm having a very similar issue with the tailgate of my '89 Country Squire. I've tried it before and it worked just fine, but lately it seems like it's getting stuck on something. I've been thinking about spraying with oil to see if that helps.

 

I've never been able to flip mine down either..only swing it open. I am also wondering "How" its suposed to work... I have what appears to be a sliding lock at the top of the gate...but it seems jammed or something... window needs to be down to access it, so I am assuming this is the only way to let the gate down too... I think I need to pull off the interior panel and try to figure it out I guess.

 

I am going to take the tailgate's back cover off this weekend and look inside. I bet it is just a lever or something that either unlocks one side (swing) or both (drop down).

Thanks for replies. I see that I am not the only one.

 

It's all in how you bite your lip.

IIRC you lower the window, then use the interior handle to drop it down.

 

I have the same issue on my 73 Country Sedan. I took the back panel off, did some adjust but to no avail. I'll tinker with it again when I get a chance.

 

eery stuff going on

Did we all just go into the "Tailgate Triangle" or something?..I'm having problems with the tailgate on my Colony Park as well...It's got the lock thing that goes up and down(I think they call them door blanks,but I could be wrong)and it doesn't pop up to unlock the door.Maybe all I need is a slim-jim and the talent to use it effectively(no,I'm not a car thief) I'm thinking if I can get it unlocked,it'll work just fine...The next important question is; how would I get the interiour panel off,if I can't open the door?..The window goes up and down just fine.It's the best working window in the car.Except for the screeching.

 

It is a tough one if you cannot open the tailgate Taranau. Mine opens one way but not the other (I have two handles) so I may be able to get the back panel off to take a look inside. I know that we all have different wagons, but I will try to take pictures. If we post them here, chances are that they may help somebody in the future.

 

This might help all of you. It's A Dodge Ramcharger site, but it seems they high-jack with other cars too:

This google list is a special one from their thread topics:

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partne...etm8042teo&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=tailgate&sa=Search

Main page:
http://ramchargercentral.com/index.php?topic=121634.0

 

I got mine open today! I got out the WD40 and spayed everything that looked like it was supposed to move. I then pulled the inside handle up very hard. Then it came open. This may not work for everyone, but it worked for me. Even with all the lube, I still had to pull really hard to get it to flip down. Good luck everyone.

 

Mine has a handle on the outside,for opening it like a door---and a handle on the inside,for opening it like a tailgate...Also on the inside is a chrome door lock thingy that's supposed to to pop up and down,when I turn the key in the lock on the outside...BUT,that parts not working anymore! I'm thinking,if I can get the door lock thingy to pop up,then I'll be able to open the door,no problem...Hopefully it's just loose wiring or a bad solenoid. Which means,I'm not so sure dousing the back of my car in WD40 is going to help. I can remember seeing some Sixties Ford and Mercury wagons(a 1968 Commuter in particular,comes to mind)that had crank up and down tailgate windows.

 

mine makes a clicking noise when the window gets to the point where the tailgate will drop. it sounds kind of fragile, so im wondering if some of the problems people are having are with that linkage that activates the inside handle.

and as far as the door lock knob going up and down, mine gets stuck sometimes, and i have to wd40 it to make it work. for some reason these tailgates trap alot of junk and it makes the door locks and windows do odd things.

 

Yesterday, I took the back panel off and still haven't had a clear access to the inside gears. Sprayed WD-40 but that didn't help (except my window cranks easier now). I think the rod that should activate the other lock is loose or got detached from something. I was able to see it move down but it looked like it wasn't pushing anything.

 

Inspector Clusoe? Sounds like you've made progress.