Tailgate Assist Issue

[02Steve15]

I have the Dee Zee tailgate assist on my truck. I noticed that the tailgate has been dropping while I've been driving on several different occassions. I use more force to close the tailgate and it clicks in place, however the tailgate continues to drop at random times. Has anyone had this issue before and what was causing it? I was going to mess around with it this week and see if I could find the problem..

 

[stimpy433]

It's probably not the tailgate assist, there have been quite a few threads on people having trouble with their tail gate dropping randomly. I think they ended up having something to do with the latch replaced at the dealership under warranty.

Here's a link to one of them: http://www.ramforum.com/f41/tailgate_randomly_opening-86191/

 

[02Steve15]

I think it's the assist preventing it from seating properly, somehow. I've had the truck for almost 2 years before putting the assist on and after the install of the assist, this issue started happening. Sorry, I probably should have mentioned that lol.

 

[stimpy433]

I think it's the assist preventing it from seating properly, somehow. I've had the truck for almost 2 years before putting the assist on and after the install of the assist, this issue started happening.

That's strange, maybe you don't have something installed correctly??? I have one on my truck and it opens/closes just as easy as before I installed it. Maybe post a couple of pictures and someone can point out if something looks wrong....

 

[02Steve15]

Here are a few pics:







My only guess is to loosen that silver piece in the third picture and maybe push it a little more towards the cab to allow more space for the cable to fold and that plastic piece on the cable to have more room when the tailgate is closed. Other than that.. no clue.


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[quietpeen]

like stated before it is probably unrelated to the tailgate assist. I would take it to the dealer for the latch(but that's just what I would do). Its a documented issue.

 

[Tom88]

Nothing to do with the assist. It's the locking module in the tailgate. Take it in for warranty.
Check that link out that somebody posted and read through it. Mine also started doing this at about the 2 year mark. It's an easy fix. The dealer will know about it as soon as you explain it.

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[02Steve15]

May as well get that recall taken care of at the same time I suppose. I'll try and bring it in tomorrow.


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[brianw0048]

Disconnect the strut and see if it continues...

 

[02Steve15]

I can't get the strut off. Tried with a flat head to pop the tab but the tab won't budge and I don't want to break the thing. I wanted to test it and see if it would drop without the strut but I have a feeling the dealer will use this as a crutch so they won't have to replace the part under warranty, even though it doesn't interfere with closing the tailgate and I can clearly hear it click when the locking mechanism catches upon closing the gate. I'll bring it in tomorrow AM to have them check it out and get my safety recall done.

Drove home today and the tailgate was down upon arrival.


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[Tom88]

There is a little clip on the end of those rams that have to slide out to get it off the ball. I took mine in with the assist on it and they never questioned it. If you want to test it out for yourself, go out to your truck, start it and then toggle the door locks with the buttons on the door. A few unlock and lock sequences and your tailgate may drop. That's when it does it, when the doors and tailgate are being locked. Won't do it on the unlock. Near the end before I took it in, I would manually lock my doors before I started driving. If the gate dropped, I'd get out and close it before driving. If not then I was good until the next stop.


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[02Steve15]

There is a little clip on the end of those rams that have to slide out to get it off the ball. I took mine in with the assist on it and they never questioned it. If you want to test it out for yourself, go out to your truck, start it and then toggle the door locks with the buttons on the door. A few unlock and lock sequences and your tailgate may drop. That's when it does it, when the doors and tailgate are being locked. Won't do it on the unlock. Near the end before I took it in, I would manually lock my doors before I started driving. If the gate dropped, I'd get out and close it before driving. If not then I was good until the next stop.


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Just gave it a shot and on about the sixth time I hit the lock button it fell down. Thanks for clarifying that, I'll mention it to the dealer tomorrow.


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[smitty21]

I had the same issue on my Dakota, and taking everything off, it was the lock mechanism it self. Had to replace the lock.

 

[02Steve15]

Dropped the truck off at the dealer and they said apparently Ram issued a bulletin about the tailgate issue recently.

Scheduled for service tomorrow but I'll be pressed for time so I'm just gonna have it stay overnight..


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[stimpy433]

Dropped the truck off at the dealer and they said apparently Ram issued a bulletin about the tailgate issue recently.

Scheduled for service tomorrow but I'll be pressed for time so I'm just gonna have it stay overnight..


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Glad to hear you are getting it taken care of so quick.

 

[Firebird]

This has been an issue for Ram. My buddies truck has been doing the same thing (no tailgate assist) and warranty fixed it.

 

[02Steve15]

Picking the truck up now. Recall is all set but the actual part for the tailgate is on backorder.. gonna be another couple weeks. They said I was the second one today for the tailgate.


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[02Steve15]

Just got out of the shop. They replaced the rear actuator in the tailgate. It took a little under 45 mins to complete.


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