liftgate won't unlatch

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

dehler25

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Posts
11
Reaction score
1
Location
florida
Here's an odd one, First generation, the liftgate won't unlatch with the electric lock or the key, upper window works fine. I would remove the interior panel but it seems that the attachments are on the sides securely placed and not being able to open the gate inaccessible. Other than the exterior handle is there a way to trip the latch? Surely they didn't think the latch could never fail.... then again.
 

00XTL

Full Access Members
Joined
Mar 2, 2014
Posts
118
Reaction score
53
Location
North Carolina

Plati

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 4, 2016
Posts
2,782
Reaction score
1,364
Location
.
This probably wont help much but ... a few years ago my 2003 XLT same deal, pull the handle on rear liftgate and it doesn't unlatch & open. No other way to get it open (mechanical latch). Tried it a bunch of different days with no go, So I wrote it down to fix that. A few months later I had forgotten about it and voila ... it was working again! So maybe if you wait a while it will just start working again. Mine still works years later.
 

doodlebugs-93

Active Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2020
Posts
34
Reaction score
13
Location
Virginia
hello my name is Patrick, I had the same issue with my 02 expedition but both of my cables went bad so I went to ebay and ordered both cables when I received them they were a little long but I used each of my factory cables that were broke for the exact length cut the two cables that I had ordered off ebay because the new cables were just a little to long trimmed them to the exact length put the new cables here is a enclosed pic of the exact cables that I had ordered and the best part is both cables cost less than $20.00 for both. both of my factory cables broke at the ends. check out ebay.comreplacement cables.jpg
 
OP
OP
D

dehler25

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Posts
11
Reaction score
1
Location
florida
When I looked at the interior cover I mistakenly assumed it was secured around the corners. The video showed me I was over complicating it and it came apart relatively easy, I could then trip the latch to open the gate. I bought the dorman replacement ends that 00xlt suggested and will pick them up in a few minutes. The plastic retainer fails and that renders the assembly OOS. Thanks for the info it really made a difference. Gotta love forums as the same stuff seems to fail and someone saw it first!
 
Top