LC 2018+ Tailgate Lock Assembly - Help

[prharper]

Last weekend, I installed the Traill Tailor locking tailgate lid on my LC 2018. I've been able to open and close the rear tailgate without any issues.

However, today I opened it up to put some things in there and when I went to close the tailgate, it didn't completely close on the left latch. This model has the tailgate soft close system.
The right side locks & unlocks from the catch but the left side is stuck. I can hear both tailgate lock motors go on and off trying to do their thing but left side is hung up, it won't completely shut or open like the right side.

I have drawers installed so it makes it very difficult if not impossible to get to the rear panel of the tailgate. I was able to partially open the TT locking lid and get my hand back in their (battery disconnected for safety) and the left locking motor is warmer compared to the right motor. I could probably disconnect the wiring harness to the left motor but don't think it will help given that I disconnected the battery and it didn't help.

I think it would be a lot easier to resolve on a pre 2018 that doesn't have this soft close assist locking option.

Any ideas or suggestions? Is there some kind of override to get this thing to release?

 

[grinchy]

only thing that comes to mind is to reset it all by a battery 30 min disconnect. I had mine 'lock' closed a couple years ago, I'm sorry I don't remember what freed it up.

 

[LTSR]

re-check your trail tailor install. did it require changing anything near the where your problem lies? when there’s an issue with anything, the first thing i ask myself is what changed in that area.

 

[prharper]

re-check your trail tailor install. did it require changing anything near the where your problem lies? when there’s an issue with anything, the first thing i ask myself is what changed in that area.

All OEM wiring is intact. There is nothing near that lock assembly. I think it just didn't close properly and the latch carrier is stuck on that side. You can hear the lock actuator motor turn on when pulling the unlock handle.

With the rear back door, there is a way to override the latch with a screwdriver.

I can't find any parts diagrams that show this on the tailgate lock assembly.

Disconnected the battery for an hour and that didn't reset it.

 

[LTSR]

All OEM wiring is intact. There is nothing near that lock assembly. I think it just didn't close properly and the latch carrier is stuck on that side. You can hear the lock actuator motor turn on when pulling the unlock handle.

With the rear back door, there is a way to override the latch with a screwdriver.

I can't find any parts diagrams that show this on the tailgate lock assembly.

Disconnected the battery for an hour and that didn't reset it.

could it be something as it needs some silicone spray? might just be dirty. go out on a trip recently?

I have a 2018, i don't like the soft close. it seems like toyota added another failure point, albeit minor. the soft close seems unnecessary to me and it's unnatural when i open and close tailgate. hope you can figure it out and let us know what caused the issue.

 

[prharper]

I added a piece of foam rubber underneath that plastic flap that rests on the tailgate that covers the gap between the tailgate and bumper, it was catching on the Trail Tailor locking lid when closing the tail gate. Eric Sergeant had posted the foam hack in one of his videos. That's the only thing that changed. The flap still got hung up and the tailgate didn't close/lock smoothly.

It seems like the left side is halfway locked. I can make it fully lock and get it to halfway unlock where it's got some free play. The right side will fully unlock.

Parts diagram shows a half-latch switch and I'm wondering if it's that. The tail gate motors are secured in place by 2-3 torx bolts on the side of the tailgate which you can't access when it's locked.

I have to get this fixed for the Relic Run in NC next week. Have to go on business trip prior to that so it's really bad timing. Have an appt with dealer Friday AM.

To add to it, I'm sure the dealer will need access to the back panel of the tailgate and I've got drawers blocking that..... Looks like I'm going to have to dissemble my Land Shark drawers piece by piece to get out of the truck before taking to the dealer.

 

[grinchy]

this is reminding more of what happened to mind, the soft close on one side didn't fully latch (blocked by something, don't remember what). I ended up forcing it closed, and then was able to 'power assist' it (pull real hard) open during the open cycle.

 

[prharper]

I got it!!!! Pulled the fuse for the motor (passenger side fuse box). Stuck my hand back in there for like the 10th time and kept blindly feeling around until I pressed on something that released it. This is a huge relief.