'02 2500HD tail gate won't open

[DmaxMaverick]

How you close the tailgate has no effect on the retainers. All they do is retain a rod in a hole, while a piece of it acts as a bushing for the rod. I think their failure is probably related more to the climate and time than anything. I've replaced my a dozen times (it seems, and many others), but the temperature extremes it sees here can be teens to 115F, season to season, always parked outdoors. A more moderate climate friendly with that type of plastic may see them last longer, and indoor parking would certainly help. When I have removed them, they are very brittle, but the replacements are quite flexible. Perhaps it's a poor choice of plastic, or just the nature of them with my parking conditions. The way you are closing the tailgate was beneficial for older styles of latch (bolt/striker, like in your home), but it won't matter with your 2002. It has latches like the cabin doors, so holding the handle may actually add wear to the latch scissor mechanism and the retainers from additional use, and does nothing to ease wear, where they fail. You also run the risk of the tailgate closing, but not actually latching, creating a possibility of it falling open while driving. But, at the rate your rate of use, it probably won't make a difference. Mine sees a lot of use, almost daily, and it closes just as tight as it did 20 years ago.

[gbeaird]

How you close the tailgate has no effect on the retainers. All they do is retain a rod in a hole, while a piece of it acts as a bushing for the rod. I think their failure is probably related more to the climate and time than anything. I've replaced my a dozen times (it seems, and many others), but the temperature extremes it sees here can be teens to 115F, season to season, always parked outdoors. A more moderate climate friendly with that type of plastic may see them last longer, and indoor parking would certainly help. When I have removed them, they are very brittle, but the replacements are quite flexible. Perhaps it's a poor choice of plastic, or just the nature of them with my parking conditions. The way you are closing the tailgate was beneficial for older styles of latch (bolt/striker, like in your home), but it won't matter with your 2002. It has latches like the cabin doors, so holding the handle may actually add wear to the latch scissor mechanism and the retainers from additional use, and does nothing to ease wear, where they fail. You also run the risk of the tailgate closing, but not actually latching, creating a possibility of it falling open while driving. But, at the rate your rate of use, it probably won't make a difference. Mine sees a lot of use, almost daily, and it closes just as tight as it did 20 years ago.

Yeah, rate of use probably does have a say in this thing. I try to be easy on the parts. I’ll adjust things so they take just a gentle push to close. Things DO last longer that way, as has been proven by several of our other vehicles in our collection.

HELP! Parts have been ordered, and I’ve re-epoxied the bottom tabs to the bezel. Hopefully, they hold, but a replacement bezel is inbound, in case they don’t. Note that there was no double-sided foam tape in the OEM install. There are two pieces of foam padding on either side of the handle opening on the OEM part, but it is not double-sided.

I’ll post more info and details on the replacements when they get done.