Tailgate not locking

21 limited, have never had this until recently. Tailgate is not locking with remote or manual push of lock button in the vehicle. Remote start will not work…
Suggestions??

 

Are you getting power to the actuator? If so the actuator is dead.

 

See, that’s why I love this forum. I’m not a car guy, can build you a house out of grass and nails. I’m guessing stand next to the tailgate, activate the lock and listen for movement?

 

Check all of your fuses. Was this remote start aftermarket?

 

No sir. Everything factory.

 

You can use a test light or meter to check the plug at tailgate for voltage when you press unlock. It should get voltage momentarily when the unlock button is pressed twice. Do you need wire diagrams?

 

If you open up the panel on the tailgate

you'll see or something similar:

Put a multi-meter on the leads and hit the button. If you don't see a voltage spike you'll have to trace the wires back through the tailgate, under the bed, into the cab.
Depends on the make of the kit depends on where they are spliced in the passenger/driver side. Retest the wires up front.
If you are getting a spike up front then the wires are disconnected, corroded, or cut between the bed and the cab. If you aren't getting power check your fuse, I think these splice into the locks.

 

@Bentarm13 You'll have to ID which kit you have, if it was dealer installed it is most likely they used the Toyota kit. The instructions from the kit will tell you where to test up front, I'm sure someone posted them on these forums. I think the Toyota kit uses a connector to tap power. Should only be two wires coming out of the connector.

 

Thank you all for the replies. I am slightly confused, the truck didn’t come from the factory with the

$10 auto-lock 5pcs 12V waterproof push-button on-off switch, carbhub 12V waterproof push-button on-off switch with 4" leads for motorcycle/auto car

auto-lock tailgate? I don’t remember seeing it as a dealer add on.

 

The tailgate lock is an option which is dealer installed to my knowledge. My truck didn't have one when I bought it.

It really doesn't matter if it is factory or dealer installed, it will be the same kit if it is the Toyota kit. When you open up the tailgate post a pic of the actuator to help ID the kit if you are having issues troubleshooting.

Related, have you done any tailgate mods like add a tailgate storage?

 

I believe my tailgate lock was a port installed option along with the bedliner.

 

I have done no mods but the tailgate was replaced 3 years ago right after I bought it from a d*^m rear end collision.

 

Being the tailgate remote lock is an added-on feature, I doubt you'd find a wiring diagram for it.
It taps into the OEM lock-unlock door circuit.
Unless you count the installation instructions...

Accessory Installation Instrucution Template - 2004 (sparkstoyota.com)

 

That would be a good place to look.

 

You are both right and somewhat wrong, there is still an oem diagram for the door lock circuit and the tailgate is just another door. So it still might be helpful to have oem diagram.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/ultimate-tundra-wiring-diagrams-collection.81448/

 

Well then by all means post them.
I took your asking if they needed a wiring diagram for the tail gate lock, there isn't one..
So yes I'm wrong, not the first time.
The OEM doesn't tell you where to tap into that circuit, the instructions I provided do.
Checking THOSE connections would be a priority..

If his door locks work, there isn't much the OEM wiring diagram is going to help..

 

Has the tailgate lock worked at all since the tailgate replacement? Makes me wonder if there's no actuator in the replacement tailgate.

 

The wiring for the tailgate lock would be separate from the camera wiring.
There is a tailgate wiring connector there close to the tailgate, make sure that the connection is clean and solid.

 

Doesn't sound like he had a tailgate lock put in? Needs to install one.

I installed one in my truck, not to bad.

 

For those wondering, the actuator and lock worked on the tailgate 3 days ago. I’m going to take the cover off and check for power to the actuator. If I have power, it’s the actuator gone bad. If not, I have bigger problems. I would assume the fuse that controls the tailgate lock is the same for the door lock? Mind you, I have assumed before in 53 years of life and it has not gone well!!

 

The main reason for me asking is some mods block the path of the actuator so you would lose the function of locking, unlocking or both.

Even if you can't find a wiring diagram the circuit is very simple and easy to trace wires back to the kick panel in the cab. It really can only be a few things: actuator, wiring, splice into the kick panel, or a fuse. I think we can eliminate the fuse if all your doors unlock with the fob/door switch.

I think the easiest path to victory is to open the tailgate access panel and put a meter to your actuator. If there is no power at the actuator when toggling the lock/unlock, I would check the passenger kick panel (or possible the driver's side) as a test point, isolate the door lock wires. If you get power there, then it is your wires running back or the splice into the kick panel.

Happy to see the outpouring of help you are receiving. I'm back off to $#!+ posting.

 

Yes, the tailgate lock wiring shouldn't have it's own fuse.
Even if it did, it would be an inline fuse close to where it connects the OEM wiring in the kick panel.
The instructions I posted for OEM were on the passenger side and it used a bypass plug-and-play harness.

Your unit may have either the bypass wiring harness, or it may have wires tapped into OEM wiring with wire taps.

This is the OEM with the bypass harness instructions
Accessory Installation Instrucution Template - 2004 (sparkstoyota.com)





My lock is old-school Pop and Lock so I had to tap into the OEM wiring with wiretaps.
This is the Pop and Lock instructions that use the taps.

PL8547HD_Toyota-Tundra.pdf (vehiclesecurityinnovators.com)



@2mchfun posted the link to the wiring diagrams, but if you need me to post them here, just ask..

 

So it this on a 2004?

 

Nah 2021 limited

 

Tundras come into ports?

 

Yep. That's what they call them. Train ride from Texas to an unloading facility with a "Port" nearby. Some mods and options are added there and them shipped via semi to a dealer near you. Mine went to the Lordstown OH port.

 

As @Retired...finally mentioned, it's more a place than a physical 'port'..

All my worthless TSS crap is a Gulf States 'port' added package..
Everything has been replaced except for the 20" wheels...

 

Good read. My tailgate doesn't unlock sometimes via the fob and I have to use the pysical key. Other times it works with the unlock button.

I've got a good starting point after reading through this. Thanks

 

Thanks for the Info guys. I had a Prius come into a port from Japan. So I was confused with the built in Texas going to a port.