Hey everyone! I've been reading and learning so much lately on here, and finally joined to ask you all for some advice.

Mysteriously, I went to close my tailgate today and it wouldn't latch shut. I don't know what could have changed. The handle works fine, and both triggers are moving fine. I re-greased just to be sure, but it seems the problem is that they're not going all the way into the square that's mounted to the sides of the bed.

It's also weird that all the body panels are in alignment and the tailgate closes completely, just doesn't latch.

Has anybody seen this before? Any insights?

Thanks!!

__________________
1999 2wd Mazda B2500 SE ext cab 5spd (only 46,000 miles)
Carbon Fiber dash
Leer Shell Cap with Yakima Racks
30x9.50 BF Goodrich AT KO on 15x7 ProComp Series 52 Gloss Black wheels

This happend to me in my ranger... Ur rite that they dont go in all the way, let ur tailgate down, and pull the latches upward then when u close it, pull the handle out, then release it, that should work, least it did for me... Good Luck

__________________
2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Offroad Supercab (ZOMBIE SLAYER)4.0L, Four Door, Flareside,
Mods- 3" BL, 15x8 Black Rock D-Windows (Aluminum) 32x11.50 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Kenwood Stereo, Custom Painted Grille, Black Aftermarket Headlights, Custom Ford Ovals by (buggman), '08 Seats, Herculined Rear Bumper, Mustang Dome Light... More to come..

I have to give mine a extra little shove to make sure it latches or when I take off I hear it plop down. Haven't really looked into it though.

__________________
2000 Ford Ranger 3.0 4x4 SC
Touch Screen, Alpine Amp, 12" Type R
BFG AT on DC-1s, 5% tint, black and green interior
V8 one day, niteshaded tails

the striker plates (square things) are adjustable. I have been in the habit of closing mine gently then giving a good shove till they click, clicks are distinctive n loud , you know when it latches

__________________
MY BUILD THREAD
1999 MAZDA 2500SE, 2.5L 4-clanger, 5 speed, Green n slow. Rangers as daily drivers since 1988.
ASE Certified Mechanic, Builder of Show Destroying Protouring and Classic cars..

heres one for ya mine wont open. i pull the handle and nothin happends

__________________
2007 F150 FX4
5.4 trition
train horns
fabtech bumper with 3 kc

1995 ext. cab ranger
4x4 automatic
4in pipe bumber in rear
cop push bumper on the front
roll bars
30x9.50r15 wild country a/ts

prolly the little yellow clips came off or broke that are on the linkage

__________________
Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
VIDEO OHC Install

how do u fix it??

__________________
2007 F150 FX4
5.4 trition
train horns
fabtech bumper with 3 kc

1995 ext. cab ranger
4x4 automatic
4in pipe bumber in rear
cop push bumper on the front
roll bars
30x9.50r15 wild country a/ts

you'll have to stick a flat tip in there to unlatch the dogs to get the tailgate down, might need a friend to help, then just take off the inside panel, you will see it, its simple and self explanitory.

__________________
Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
VIDEO OHC Install

ill try out tommarrow if i got trouble iam sure yall will know about it lol. iam not very mechanic skilled lol.

__________________
2007 F150 FX4
5.4 trition
train horns
fabtech bumper with 3 kc

1995 ext. cab ranger
4x4 automatic
4in pipe bumber in rear
cop push bumper on the front
roll bars
30x9.50r15 wild country a/ts

Thanks for the ideas...unfortunately after adjusting the strikers it still won't latch. It feels like it's hitting something but i can't find anywhere where it's rubbing. What should I do?

I'd rather not take it to the dealer, because they're a ways away and would probably charge an arm and a leg...

Any ideas?

__________________
1999 2wd Mazda B2500 SE ext cab 5spd (only 46,000 miles)
Carbon Fiber dash
Leer Shell Cap with Yakima Racks
30x9.50 BF Goodrich AT KO on 15x7 ProComp Series 52 Gloss Black wheels

i just readjusted my latches a couple months ago cause it was hard to open and close,then i oiled it like my dad did with motor oil,castrol syn,since its like fine machine oil,just pour a couple cap fulls down the latch's n holes where it can run down while tailgate is stood up sideways.now she opens like a good old ford.you could check that inside plate but only if you think something is bent or broken,if it is a good set of heavy line plier's will fix bent stuff.I always thought grease is to stiff for tailgates,unless on hinges,but our little rangers got plastice turn cog hinges,even motor oil mixed with a lttle singer sowing machine oil wld do it.

__________________
1987 black custom xlt,ext. cab 4x4,military-surplus 2.9L, stock 3"lifted;5 speed auto trans w/ manual 4x4,borg-Warner-turbo transfer case,grinds out progressive aluminum mags w/goodyear wranglers; keyed entry alarm,duel 280w interface deckw/usb n bluetooth,jvc6x8s rear,jvc4"160wfront,crome bed side rails,tuff liner bed liner also blacked out headlights,limo black window tint. called the BULLSNAKE cuz its the best small-n-toughest 4x4 ford built!!

1. open tail gate
2. remove cover bolts from back of tailgate
3. apply dry lube every where there is metal to plastic friction in the bolts on either side
4. disregard my messy desk
DSCN0069[1].jpg

Zukiscoot, this thread is 8 months old. I think the OP fixed it by now.

__________________
2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 (sold)
2006 F150 Lariat 4x4 (sold)
2007 Explorer XLT (Destroyed by Deer on highway)
2014 Explorer XLT (inherited from parents)

Mine was doing this then i just sprayed WD-40 on it and now it closes with ease.

__________________
GOLDIE
1999 2.5L XLT
Herculiner | Kobalt tool box | K&N Filter | 6k HID's | 31's BFG | Eagle Alloy 186s | 102'' Whip | Cobra 19 DX IV | Fabtech 3.5 Spindles | Pro Comp AAL kit | 15% Tint | Mustang Dome

maybe maybe not i just felt a certain sence of satisfaction that the next time i google "ford ranger tailgate wont latch"ill will get an answer that pertains to the question
i was amazed at how much time i spent on this and how simple the solution was