Tailgate won't unlock using remote

Hey all! New to the community and came across this issue yesterday. Has anyone else had problems with their tailgate lock?

 

It’s not wired to the remote. Unless you’ve added a aftermarket part.

 

This

 

So on my 2018 I’ve noticed with cold weather my tailgate won’t unlock with the clicker... I hear it moving but it’s like it’s jammed. And I’m not talking negative temps I am in Dallas

 

Do you have an aftermarket pop and lock installed? Either way, I’d take the back of the tailgate off and inspect the locking mechanism.

 

I should have mentioned that this was working in the past and unsure of what has changed. I can hear the tailgate trying to unlock, but, unfortunately I've had to use the key to open it.

 

Factory no aftermarket

 

I didn’t know Toyota offered this. I have an 18 Platinum and had to add myself.

 

My friend and I both have ‘18 SR5 with factory remote lock/unlock tailgate. Hell his even came with bed lights

 

I don’t want to speak out of turn, but I’m pretty sure you have a dealer installed Pop-Lock.
I am currently looking in the this.

 

You’re correct, dealership add-on. Won’t stop them from claiming “factory”.

 

Toyota does not make one. They are typically installed at port as part of a package. Regardless, Toyota or aftermarket, they are all the same thing. Just an actuator moving up and down to lock and unlock. If your tailgate unlocks Via the key then the locking mechanism is working fine and it’s likely the actuator that broke. Pretty common unfortunately.

 

So the next question is what did this option cost you?

 

Hopefully it’s just the set screen that came lose but more often than not, the actuator arm breaks. So it will make the sound but the arm doesn’t move up/down as it should.

 

At least the hard part of wiring the pop-n-lock is done, replace for $90 and consider yourself lucky you didn’t spend an hour under your truck fishing wire like the rest of us...

 

If it came from the dealer, go back.

 

Not sure what it cost I didn’t even know it came with it. Mine is weird though only time it acts up is cold temps like 20’s and 30’s

 

In Texas the distributer is Gulf States Toyota. They offer a locking tailgate, bedlights etc. that are "Distributer Installed" items. You can configure them right on the Toyota.com website.

 

Did not know that, interesting!

 

But it’s still not made by Toyota... just rebranded aftermarket parts.

 

The power tail gate lock is a Toyota accessory, but not as cheap ($289) as adding a Pop N' Lock.

 

This is the part you'll need most likely. $17 from Amazon. Should take you 15 minutes to fix and be a direct replacement. 30 minutes if you've never even seen a screw driver. I know the Pop-A-Lock version is about $90 (and even has Toyota part number 00016-34092 at some places for $150+), but this is THE actuator that is used. I've got a South East TSS 2019 and am adding two more of these actuators to my tailgate so that it will open on the third press of the key fob's unlock. There are 8 T-27 (or T-30) screws on the access panel on your tailgate, two or three sheet metal screws on the actuator.

$19 Directed Electronics Install Essentials 524N High Power Door Lock Motor

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009SWLE6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's a link to the Toyota instructions for the OP's 2017 Tundra: http://toyotaparts.sparkstoyota.com/install/00016-34092inst-2017Tundra.pdf

Link to Spark's Part that has links to instructions for other years: https://www.sparksparts.com/accessories-and-aftermarket-parts-tailgate-power-lock-00016-34092

 

I have an aftermarket pop and lock installed. Mine worked great initially but then slowly stopped locking the gate every time. I took everything back apart. The actuator is only mounted by one screw if I’m recalling correctly. There is a locating tab that rests against The handle assembly. If you have the locating tab all the way against the handle assembly it tends to throw the linkage just out of reach of completely locking the gate.

What you need to look for is that the actuator is straight up and down not kicked either direction. I remedied this with some aluminum dryer duct tape LOL. I wrapped it around the locating tab to shim it in the perfect position. No amount of lube or anything worked until I figured this out.

Just take off the access panel on the inside of the tailgate. You’ll see the actuator and how it all works. Hit your remote and watch the actuator do it’s thing. Now index it slightly and see if it works better.

 

Cannot seem to get mine to unlock. Came with the truck purchased used. It tries but just doesn’t have the force to unlock it. Locks fine though.

 

Mine never works always have to use key

 

I'd just replace the actuator with a new one from Amazon. In the picture at the Amazon link, the little brass-colored piece of metal is a bendable/ adjustable mount that will allow you to adjust the angle of the push/ pull motion of the actuator to the tailgate locking mechanism. I've installed this particular actuator on two Tundras for the tailgate lock (my current Tundra came with the Pop-n-Lock dealer installed) but if I recall correctly, I mounted it horizontally, but I could have the lock and the automatic tailgate opener installs backward in my head though. I know i remember having to adjust the angle between the actuator and the lock mechanism though. See step 12 in the first post in this thread regarding the adjustments- https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-pop-and-lock-for-a-fraction-of-the-cost.28693/


The actuator is $12 at Amazon-

$19 Directed Electronics Install Essentials 524N High Power Door Lock Motor

https://www.amazon.com/Install-Esse...5&sr=1-1-70f7c15d-07d8-466a-b325-4be35d7258cc

 

reviving this thread. pop and lock 4 years old,motor too weak to lock or unlock .cleaned ,lubed,tried all kinds of adjustments and still no worky. kept getting worse over time. first issues appeared a few weeks after install. disappointed in the quality of this product.
do not buy from them,buy the oem toyota instead.