Hi everyone. Just picked up an 89 Sidekick JX last night. Got a pretty good deal on it, it has a burnt exhaust valve so I'm getting some head work done but other than that it seems pretty solid.
But - I went to open the tailgate and the latch was rusted and very weak, ended up breaking it off
Took off the interior panel and I can see and reach both the levers for lock/unlock as well as open/release, but no matter what I do, I can't get the latch to release. It doesn't feel like it's bound up or rusted and it doesn't take much force to move either lever, but when I pull down on the release lever it just doesn't allow the door to open.
Any ideas? Have been reading about these vehicles all last night and for a few hours today. I don't have great access from inside, but if I can save this hatch and not have to cut into it from the outside I would prefer that
Found
this thread, if the door is rusted to the body then I just need to hold the release and go at it with a crow bar, or what?
89 tailgate stuck
Linear Mode
