Hi all...

Encountered a problem with the tailgate lock recently & thought I'd note it here, in the event anyone else has come across the same issue. Here's the scoop...

Using the key fob OR driver's side door controls:

* Tailgate & rear window unlock does not work. Handles on tailgate feel like they're stuck half way and are going to snap off it I tug on 'em any harder.

* I've had to crawl thru the back of the 'Mada and jiggle the white tailgate Release, then crawl out and attempt to open from the rear (difficult when the back is full of groceries, or a Great Dane). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

* This is the bizarre part: when the car has been locked and sits for more than a couple minutes, the tailgate and rear window unlock just fine... unless it's just a fluke.

I'm assuming there is something wrong with the locking mechanism (yes, I should belong to Mensa with that astute observation), but haven't found it to be worth a special trip to the stealership just yet. More of a PITA than anything else.

Anyone have the same problem?

~ Zire :D

I am also facing the same issue with the tailgate door with my '06 Armada. I cannot believe these type of issues are happening within few years, and there is no option to open with the key. The dealer was saying it will cost $500 to replace the part.

hello i have the solution ! i had the same problem started over a year ago on my 04 first it started like when i would unlock with remote it would partially unlock and the tailgate lock would feel like it was caught on something then it would open but it got worse , i found myself crawling from the inside to move the while plastic lever down , then one day someone checked it for me , also noticed that the window lock was not working and he saw that the cable that would control the window lock was off from the inside plastic pink piece that holds it so he reatached it then the window worked but the rear latch would not open from time to time i though in cold days it would not open but it was not that either , then i installed a 20,000 watt stereo that took up all my space in the back so i could no longer crawl through to open the lock from the inside then i was locked out ! so we had to take apart the rear vent motorized glass and reach the inside plastic latch to open then we connected a temporary plastic tie rap to the white lever on the inside and hanged its tail outside the rear door and only me and him new it was there , so if i had to open it i would just pull on it from the outside. then i went to the dealer and purchased the rear lock mechanism for $115 , it had the actuator motor and one cable that connects to the rear hatch lock and then i would connect the rear window cable from the old lock , but the only problem is that it still was not unlocking completely with the new lock ! so my friend decided to spray wd40 into the area where the white plastic handle moves up and down inside ? and presto ! it was now fully unlocking ! boy if only one of us would of thought of that wd40 sooner huh? it would of saved me $115 ! so there you have it guys all you need is to spray wd40 in there , i was advised to clean it eventually so it wont do it again.....i hope this helps you guys !:D , ps ninanth dont spend $500 that is a ripoff ! all dealers want to rip you off ! try the wd40 spray in the inside where the white plastic handle moves up and down locking and unlocking the locks , at worst case if you need the lock its only about $115-$130 for the entire set easy to change...

Hey, I have the same p roblem, by the way, I've seen you around in the city. Nice grill. Did you remove the locking mechanism to spray the wd40 or you did it from the outside?

What part is white in the locking mechanism? Please I need to follow through with this the same way you did. Any current problems with the rear lock?

no i sprayed it while it was still on vehicle , :Dthe while plastic lever is the one you can reach from the inside of vehicle? only my rear plastic section has been off for quite some time now , not sure if that made it much easier......but email me at bigman503nyc@hotmail.com and we can hookup , ill tell you were our shop is in bklyn.

Still scratching my head here lol. Did you remove the rear door panel? or you sprayed the hole in the emergency taiilgate handle?

I tried WD40 today. I lifted the bigger trunk door handle from outside and inserted the WD40 tube through the hole that is seen when the handle is lifted, and sprayed few times. At least few times I tried after WD40 spraying it seem to be working. I hope it stays that way.

There are two levers...one for rear trunk door and the small one for the rear glass...I used the hole beneath the big handle for the trunk door to spray. I kind of judged the area that need to sprayed based on where the inside white lever is.

Thanks BIGMANNYC for the suggestion!

I will try that thought. I will see Bigman nyc if the problem persists.

I sprayed the WD-40 with the little door off with the white lever at the lowest level and gave it about three squirts and it works almost too good now. lol. Before it would only come half way down. This fix saved me a lot of money! If it comes back no worries I have plenty of WD-40. Thanks for the advice BIGMANNYC!

Man, a video will help me. I know, i know, but i just want to make sure I fix it. Hey, I installed my own HID's and change my oil. But this fix is so important that for some reason i just dont get it. Listen, I call this denial, yeah, theres is a fix but im not processing it LOL.

This is going on right now with mines. But I think I broke it.

I hope we get this problem fixed. It is like a cancer for our Armadas.

I guess I have to visit the dealer. I can't deal with this crap.

Well, yesterday i visited Big Man NYC in Brooklyn and he was able to fix his. The problem is that I have the automatic door and therefore that was another baseball field. He advised me to remove the whole lock and grease it. I will do it over the weekend or I will order another lock if the problem persists.

Here's a picture where I am inserting WD40 spray tube through the hole accessible after lifting the door handle.

8472

Do you have a motor back there?

Because I have a motor and so far I have not been able to fix it.

Mine is a manual door. You cannot really see though that hole after lifting the door handle. But I could insert spray tube without any obstructions. I was just spraying to an area where approximately the inside white lever is. If you open the trunk and take a look at the white lever through the inside opening, you will be able to judge the approximate area where you want to spray from outside.

Well, same thing other people have told me. But they all had manual doors.