98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

The late on my tailgate- (the metal door, not just the window)
sometimes gets stuck,
and I can't open it unless I press dwon & in on the tailgate, while
pulling on the handle to open the tailgate.

My neighbor has the exact same problem with his 98 GC.

Is this fairly common? What is causing this ?

Can I fix it on my own- or does it require a skilled mechanic who is
going to charge me an arm & a leg?


thanks

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

Cappy2112 did pass the time by typing:
> The late on my tailgate- (the metal door, not just the window)
> sometimes gets stuck,
> and I can't open it unless I press dwon & in on the tailgate, while
> pulling on the handle to open the tailgate.
>
> My neighbor has the exact same problem with his 98 GC.
>
> Is this fairly common? What is causing this ?
>
> Can I fix it on my own- or does it require a skilled mechanic who is
> going to charge me an arm & a leg?

Couple of possibilities. Most likely the latch mechanisim is full of dirt
and needs to be cleaned and re-lubed. Chassis shift can do this but that
is usually the result of an accident (rear-ender).

Take some silicon lube and spray the latch mechanisim, that might free
it up for a while. Watch using grease removers like TB cleaner as they
can dissolve plastic. And wear eye protection when using spray cleaners.
That stuff stings like a sombitch.

--
DougW

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

Cappy2112 did pass the time by typing:
> The late on my tailgate- (the metal door, not just the window)
> sometimes gets stuck,
> and I can't open it unless I press dwon & in on the tailgate, while
> pulling on the handle to open the tailgate.
>
> My neighbor has the exact same problem with his 98 GC.
>
> Is this fairly common? What is causing this ?
>
> Can I fix it on my own- or does it require a skilled mechanic who is
> going to charge me an arm & a leg?

Couple of possibilities. Most likely the latch mechanisim is full of dirt
and needs to be cleaned and re-lubed. Chassis shift can do this but that
is usually the result of an accident (rear-ender).

Take some silicon lube and spray the latch mechanisim, that might free
it up for a while. Watch using grease removers like TB cleaner as they
can dissolve plastic. And wear eye protection when using spray cleaners.
That stuff stings like a sombitch.

--
DougW

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

Cappy2112 did pass the time by typing:
> The late on my tailgate- (the metal door, not just the window)
> sometimes gets stuck,
> and I can't open it unless I press dwon & in on the tailgate, while
> pulling on the handle to open the tailgate.
>
> My neighbor has the exact same problem with his 98 GC.
>
> Is this fairly common? What is causing this ?
>
> Can I fix it on my own- or does it require a skilled mechanic who is
> going to charge me an arm & a leg?

Couple of possibilities. Most likely the latch mechanisim is full of dirt
and needs to be cleaned and re-lubed. Chassis shift can do this but that
is usually the result of an accident (rear-ender).

Take some silicon lube and spray the latch mechanisim, that might free
it up for a while. Watch using grease removers like TB cleaner as they
can dissolve plastic. And wear eye protection when using spray cleaners.
That stuff stings like a sombitch.

--
DougW

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

Also it may be a issue with your latch post not being in the correct
position (IE the post is too far forward or way to far back).. If
cleaning it doesn't do the trick then loosen the 4 screws on the latch
post and move it forward or back about a Centemeeter tighten it back
up... this is a trial and error thing and may take a couple (say 20
tries) to get perfect.. once you have done that then make sure to use
some Locktight on all of the screws one at a time so that you don't
loose position and you are good to go :)

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

Also it may be a issue with your latch post not being in the correct
position (IE the post is too far forward or way to far back).. If
cleaning it doesn't do the trick then loosen the 4 screws on the latch
post and move it forward or back about a Centemeeter tighten it back
up... this is a trial and error thing and may take a couple (say 20
tries) to get perfect.. once you have done that then make sure to use
some Locktight on all of the screws one at a time so that you don't
loose position and you are good to go :)

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

Also it may be a issue with your latch post not being in the correct
position (IE the post is too far forward or way to far back).. If
cleaning it doesn't do the trick then loosen the 4 screws on the latch
post and move it forward or back about a Centemeeter tighten it back
up... this is a trial and error thing and may take a couple (say 20
tries) to get perfect.. once you have done that then make sure to use
some Locktight on all of the screws one at a time so that you don't
loose position and you are good to go :)

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

i cannot even begin to count on how many latchs i have replaced for this
exact same complaint, lubing it is a short term fix

UtahCherokee01 wrote:

> Also it may be a issue with your latch post not being in the correct
> position (IE the post is too far forward or way to far back).. If
> cleaning it doesn't do the trick then loosen the 4 screws on the latch
> post and move it forward or back about a Centemeeter tighten it back
> up... this is a trial and error thing and may take a couple (say 20
> tries) to get perfect.. once you have done that then make sure to use
> some Locktight on all of the screws one at a time so that you don't
> loose position and you are good to go :)

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

i cannot even begin to count on how many latchs i have replaced for this
exact same complaint, lubing it is a short term fix

UtahCherokee01 wrote:

> Also it may be a issue with your latch post not being in the correct
> position (IE the post is too far forward or way to far back).. If
> cleaning it doesn't do the trick then loosen the 4 screws on the latch
> post and move it forward or back about a Centemeeter tighten it back
> up... this is a trial and error thing and may take a couple (say 20
> tries) to get perfect.. once you have done that then make sure to use
> some Locktight on all of the screws one at a time so that you don't
> loose position and you are good to go :)

Re: 98 Grand Cherokee- tailgate latch gets stuck
 

i cannot even begin to count on how many latchs i have replaced for this
exact same complaint, lubing it is a short term fix

UtahCherokee01 wrote:

> Also it may be a issue with your latch post not being in the correct
> position (IE the post is too far forward or way to far back).. If
> cleaning it doesn't do the trick then loosen the 4 screws on the latch
> post and move it forward or back about a Centemeeter tighten it back
> up... this is a trial and error thing and may take a couple (say 20
> tries) to get perfect.. once you have done that then make sure to use
> some Locktight on all of the screws one at a time so that you don't
> loose position and you are good to go :)