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Dakota tailgate Not Closing #577273 01/09/10 11:42 AM 01/09/10 11:42 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 607 NY old340dog OP mopar
old340dog OP mopar Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 607 NY	Does anyone have a problem with there dodge Dakota tail gate not closing? I have a 2004 and when I shut the the tailgate it does not want to close and stay latched. Flops open when I hit a bump. My sons (2001) dakota had same problem when he had his. There is a tab on right outtside of tail gate the you have to push down to get the latch to stay closed. This must be a problem on others as well. Was wondering if others have had the same problem and what they did to fix it. old340dog

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: old340dog] #577274 01/09/10 12:03 PM 01/09/10 12:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,834 A collage of whims topside Too Many Posts
topside Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,834 A collage of whims	Sounds like the strikers (located on the inner bed sides) may need some adjusting. You can adjust them about 1/4" concentrically.

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: old340dog] #577275 01/09/10 12:08 PM 01/09/10 12:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 68 Detroit, MI R RawnDart member
RawnDart member R Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 68 Detroit, MI	Quote: Does anyone have a problem with there dodge Dakota tail gate not closing? I have a 2004 and when I shut the the tailgate it does not want to close and stay latched. Flops open when I hit a bump. My sons (2001) dakota had same problem when he had his. There is a tab on right outtside of tail gate the you have to push down to get the latch to stay closed. This must be a problem on others as well. Was wondering if others have had the same problem and what they did to fix it. I had that problem for a while on my '97. I adjusted the strikers a little bit, and it got better. It got fixed for good when the truck got rear-ended, and the tailgate had to be replaced.

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: old340dog] #577276 01/09/10 12:16 PM 01/09/10 12:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa B buildanother I Live Here
buildanother I Live Here B Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa	Lube the little tabs at the latches. I've had to do that once in 4 years. Drop the gate and you'll see the little square thingamajigs in there at each latch, that move when you operate handle. Work at it, spray it, it should straighten right out.

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: buildanother] #577277 01/09/10 12:26 PM 01/09/10 12:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 327 wisconsin M mod381 enthusiast
mod381 enthusiast M Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 327 wisconsin	The tailgate handle you pull to open it is probably rusted and sticking causing the latches not to close. Remove the handle and check the pivot,it is shaped like a X inside of tailgate.

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: mod381] #577278 01/09/10 12:44 PM 01/09/10 12:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	Spray some PB blaster into the latches and work the handle. Lubrication does wonders.

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: MoparforLife] #577279 01/09/10 02:26 PM 01/09/10 02:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 607 NY old340dog OP mopar
old340dog OP mopar Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 607 NY	I've lubed the pivits point several times helps for a while, but haven't adjusted the strikers.Was wondering if there is a way to get latch assembly out for a good cleaning or lubing without a major overhaul? old340dog

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: mod381] #577280 01/09/10 03:31 PM 01/09/10 03:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 5,476 3 340dart4spd Parts Problem
340dart4spd Parts Problem 3 Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 5,476	Quote: The tailgate handle you pull to open it is probably rusted and sticking causing the latches not to close. Remove the handle and check the pivot,it is shaped like a X inside of tailgate. Sam deal on mine..ended up taking latch handle out and soaking it for a few days..

Re: Dakota tailgate Not Closing [Re: old340dog] #577281 01/28/14 12:24 AM 01/28/14 12:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 1 ny 1 1960dodge member
1960dodge member 1 Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 1 ny	did you ever get your 2004 dakota tailgate to work right?.....mine has the same problems and there is NO access panel...help!

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