NEED HELP XUV Latches on left side of endgate. Headscratcher!

eccchief

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2019
Posts
2
Location
Rapid City SD and Ukiah CA
I have enjoyed many hours with several of you, learning about my 04 Transformer on GMT. I've R&R's a few normal things over the years (bought it new in early 05). Best truck I've owned. This latest project I could use some help with:
Rear window and Endgate finally needed attention. Lots of research done and I tackled the job with enthusiasm. Watched the great videos at RJWatch and kept a search going for the other components and how they all work.
So, the window became stuck closed. I could hear the latches and the motor trying and noticed the left corner of the glass move slightly, but the right corner was tight. Couldn't open the gate either way with the glass tight.
Working inside I removed the cover and stiffener panels, EGCM, and found the manual releases on the driver side latches (Thank you GMT for that info). I determined the problem was in the cable on the original regulator and cut it loose, allowing me to lower the glass. That allowed me to get to the bolts that connected the glass to the regulator. Removed the rear glass and set aside. Removed both left side latches for cleaning and testing, as both had become intermittent. Watched JR's video a couple more times and proceeded to carefully disassemble both units and clean them, lube them with silicone white grease, test the motor with 12V(good), then reassemble. Tested them by pushing to locked position and plugging them in to their connectors. Pressed the outside release and both latched opened. YES...I had it! Cleaned out the whole inside of the tailgate, lubed the glass tracks and installed the new regulator and reinstalled the glass. Window went up and down with both switches. Set the new limits with the inside o/h console switch, then tested the key at the back. Window operated normally, checked the roof, it operated normally too! .. YES! Reinstalled both latches and closed the gate...NADA... Neither gate latch will close. Tried resetting latches to closed and reopening them by button with the gate ajar, still NADA. Removed them and reopened them and checked everything, put them back together, reinstalled...same result. OK, here is the perplexing part.: I can remove the latch, disassemble, re-assemble and put it in the locked position manually, plug it in and it will release normally when I press the button ,...but only one time. After that, I cannot manually lock it again unless I disassemble and reassemble it. Any ideas?
 
Paging @TollKeeper , please pick up the white phone....
 
White phone? When the hell did this get installed? :)

Going to have to likely redo the WatchJRGO cleaning process. Its not just a matter of cleaning, and re-lubing, but activating the switch, cleaning again, activating, cleaning, activating, cleaning, etc, etc, etc, etc. I talked to JR about his time with those latches, and he had to repeat the process a good 30 times! Once he did that, the switches FINALLY started working correctly. All while spraying a wet lube in there. Then once your sure its cleaned, going with a dry lubricant, and putting it all back together.

My latches do the same thing. If I take a deadblow/softblow hammer, and pound on the outter door material around the latches 5 or so times, I can get them to release internally, and allow me to close the door. Might be something to do until you can take it back apart.

I have a entire spare tail gate, I really should pull that thing apart and rebuild those latches.. I just dont wanna! LOL!

I-dont-wanna-do-things GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY


Rapid City, SD? One of my employees lives up that way. That last snow storm had everything up there screwed pretty good!
 
Thanks Gents. After the first time I took them apart and serviced them, and had the problem, I have had them apart 3 more times, cleaned the mechanical side with spray cleaner, blew it dry, and had the same results. After your comments, I think I'll disassemble and soak the mechanical side in my solvent tank for a day, then cycle it a bunch, soak it some more, blow it dry and lube it again. If it works, I have some PB Graphite spray that I'll load the inside of the mechanical side with and see what happens.
btw, I've been taking pics to share on this process when I get through it. Re snow in RC, my place is 12 miles south of the city and we've had repeated snowstorms this year, more than I can remember in a few years, but not that much accumulation. The Sierra Nevada has been pounded all the way to San Diego though. Their drought is over!
 
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