Tail gate key for 2006 - won't lock :( - fixed now

Hello Tundrites - Was going to get a bed cover and have just learned that my ignition key does not lock the tailgate. I can turn it left, but nothing locks. I just got this truck. Do you think I have a bad lock or (assuming its OEM) am I missing the key for it? If I am, what do you think is the most cost effective solution towards obtaining it?

Here is a photo of my tailgate:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hfpdxy3bv7TCPJXs7

 

My 2005 had the same handle, the same key fit; ignition, doors, glove box, and tailgate.



May not be cost effective, but installing a Pop & Lock would eliminate the need for a tailgate key, unless the battery died..
Double check my info before ordering one..

https://vehiclesecurityinnovators.com/product/1999-2006-toyota-tundra/

$118 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tundra - Fits 1999 to 2006 Toyota Tundra (PL8500)

https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Lock-PL8500-Tailgate-Toyota/dp/B0016WIWRE

$100 might be cheaper than a locksmith...

 

And same color! Knowing that - all is well. I removed the plate and lubricated it. It turns clockwise and locks now.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QFLcQiAD454y2s1d9

Thanks very much. 1 key it is.

 

Glad you got it working.....
I miss my 2005 sometimes...

 

Gen 1s are kind of unassuming but kind of classy if they're in good shape and with some proper TLC . The follow up gens get more and more instantly awesome. I guess that's the pattern of most designs. Did you trade in your 2005? How was it doing?

 

@bmf4069

 

I had my 2005 for over 10 Years about 125000 Miles..
I loved that truck.
Only problem I ever had was the air/smog pump went out at 95K miles.
Had an extend 75K mile/7 year extended warranty and never had to use it.

I'd still be driving it if NTB hadn't screwed up my front end.
It is a long story, but a wheel and tire change led to this...

 

Whoa!

 

Any lessons you care to pass along? Are you saying NTB as in National Tire and Battery?

 

OK, y'all asked for it.

Yes NTB, used them for years with no issue, but the last time was unacceptable.

I'll try to make it short, but it its a LONG story;
I always hated the stock wheels on the 2005.



When I paid it off I bought Toyota stock wheels that I liked on Craigslist.
I've seen these wheels on Tundras and Sequoias.




Bought the wheels, they needed tires, took them to NTB for new tires.
Dropped them off, they said comeback in a few hours.
Came back a few hours later, still wasn't done.

They finally got the new tires on the new (to me) wheels, put them on the truck.
They couldn't get the TPMS going in the old wheels, they said the sensors where too old.
Pulled the wheels, broke the seal, took the sensors out of original wheels (that were just as old), put the in new (to me) wheels.
Broke one of the sensors, replaced it with a new one.
They couldn't get the new sensor to register, which means they didn't know what the fu(k they were doing with the first set of sensors.
6 hours later, after getting someone from another store, got it registered.

A couple days later, I was driving home from work at 70MPH and the front end started violently shaking.
Pulled over and found the lug nuts loose on the front left wheel, well actually loose on both front wheels.
In the process of vibrating, one of the studs broke off the front hub.



As I retightened the nuts, on the shoulder of the highway at night in the rain, I noticed they would only turn 2 full turns before they got tight.
Why the NTB tech didn't notice it (they put them on and pulled them off twice) I don't know.

Come to find out, even though both wheels were stock Toyota wheels, my old ones used acorn nuts, these needed flat washer nuts.
So they put the acorn style nuts on the flat washer wheels and that is why it would only turn 2 turns.
Any idiot that sells and mounts tires for a living should have noticed that.
When you put on a lug nut and it gets tight at only 2 full turns, there is a problem.

They offered to fix it broken stud, got me a rental car.
They said they would replace the studs on all wheels.
But they ruined that front left hub (with the broken stud) replacing the studs, bored out the hole and told me there wasn't a big enough stud to go in it.
Said they would replace the hub.

They ruined the spindle removing the hub, they forgot to remove a c-clamp when they pressed the hub out.
Said they would replace the spindle.

Over a week later, I got the truck back.

About a month later, driving about 45 MPH, what you see in the pics happened.
They forgot to put the cotter pin in the nut that holds the spindle to the lower control arm.
So that nut vibrated loose and came off, when I hit the right bump, the spindle lifted out of the LCA and folded over breaking off at the upper ball joint.

You can clearly see the LCA that the spindle came out of.








I had the wrecker haul it to my Toyota dealer.
They sent it to their body shop offsite.

Toyota gave me a loaner, a 2014 Tundra, they knew what they were doing..
I drove it for a week and really liked it.

Wife had a bad feeling about keeping the wrecked 2005, even if it was fixed.
My insurance wouldn't pay for a new wheel or the minimal body damage since the truck was so old.
I also wasn't going to drive a vehicle everyday that would piss me off every time I drove it.

I traded the 2005 in while it was still in the body shop.
It was December of 2014 and Toyota was doing all kinds of incentives, rebates, and of course 0% financing (just like my 2005) to get rid of 2014s.
So I feel they gave me a good deal on it.
The finance guy say I wouldn't even need GAP insurance so he didn't offer it.

State Farm initially paid the claim to fix my 2005 in the body shop.
But after several phone calls, emails, and pics from me, they sued NTB and got their money back.
I probably could have sued them, but I just wanted to be done with it.
So that is is the long story LONG.

I would have kept that 2005 at least another 5 years or more.
But no regrets, the 2014 was paid for in 54 months instead of 60 adding a little to each payment.

I love my 2014, hope for keep it until 2030..
It's Discount Tires for tires now........

 

You win the horror Tundra Service Story of the Year with that. You can't make that stuff up - no one would believe it! You could have been seriously hurt... My brother was just talking to me about this - about how hard it can be to trust that mechanics and techs are really being careful with your vehicle.... So once you have someone you trust - invaluable.