Tacoma Power Tailgate Issue

I'm having trouble with my 2004 Toyota Tacoma with a gasoline engine. It's got almost 200,000 km on it. Lately, I've been getting an error related to the tailgate. The power tailgate isn't opening all the way; it gives up halfway. I've checked for obstructions, but no luck. I suspect a faulty sensor, maybe a bad signal from the sensor wiring or the electrical sensor itself. Has anyone else experienced something like this with their Tacoma? Any ideas where to start looking?

4 comment(s)

Whoa, sounds familiar! I had a similar headache with my Tacoma – felt like I was fighting a gremlin. The way you describe it, with the half-open tailgate, sounds exactly like what happened with mine. Did you check the plug connection to the tailgate motor? That was my issue. Think of it like a loose wire on a lamp; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Interesting! That's helpful to know. Where exactly is the plug connection located? Is it easy to get to, or am I going to be contorting myself to reach it? And was it visibly damaged, or did you just try re-seating it?

Yeah, it was a bit of a pain to get to, from what I remember. I think it's behind the tailgate trim panel, you'll probably have to pry it off. Honestly, after fiddling with it for an hour I took it to my workshop because it was too frustrating. If you feel unsure or don't have the right tools, maybe save yourself the hassle and do the same. Cost me 95€, and they sorted it out in no time.

Thanks a lot for the advice! Knowing that the plug connection is a likely culprit is a huge help. I will check the sensor wiring, and if I can't figure it out I'll probably just take it to the shop. Good to know it shouldn't be too expensive to fix.

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