2001 Liftgate Handle Latch broken

[mcmatt]

I just fixed this. While it is fresh on my mind I thought I would help you get past the head scratching points. If yours breaks while the gate is shut, it is hard to get open. Here are some easier steps.

1. lower the window
2. take a large flat blade screwdriver and place it into a vertical trim piece.
3. Hit the butt of the screwdriver with your other hand to pop these off.
4. Lift/pry up on the big plastic panel piece with your hands to get the lip over the glass, then just push toward the inside of the car and it will come off.
5. Raise the window. Now get inside the car.
6. Take the screws out of the large black metal panel using a 10mm socket or nut driver.
7. Reach behind the window regulator (tight squeeze) with your palm toward the outside of the car.
8. There is a lever to push down. The lever is on the passenger side of the interior lock mechanism. Make sure you have unlocked the locks.
9. When you have raised the liftgate, lower the window half way.
10. The oval plastic piece in the liftgate has to come out. It is attached with clips and two nuts that hold the handle to the door.
11. Remove the 4 nuts to the window regulator and lift it out of its holes. Push it forward to gain access to the two nuts on the inside of the handle.
12. Remove the 10mm nuts on the handle and remove the license plate.
13. It is safest to remove the clips by squeezing them with pliers from the inside and pushing them out. Otherwise there is too much prying.
14. There is one wire harness to remove and you should be able to take off the plastic trim piece. There is also a plastic cover over the lock mechanism that just snaps off.
15. Replace the handle / latch with a new one. If the end of the cable is messed up, you should replace that cable as well.
16. On the bottom of the liftgate remove the black plastic around the lock mechanism and spray it with WD40 or white lithium grease spray.
17. Reverse steps and you should have a new handle. Hope I didn't leave much out

[Sanchez]

You the MAN!!
I am going to save these instructions just in case.
Mine has not broken... but just to be safe.
Because I know I will be on here searching for fix
Thanks!!!

[sodamark]

These are great instructions to have. Thanks for posting them. I just replaced the handle on our '01 two nights ago. The only step I did different is

11. Remove the 4 nuts to the window regulator and lift it out of its holes. Push it forward to gain access to the two nuts on the inside of the handle.

Instead, I just removed the three rubber grommets or plugs that are in the upper portion of the door and the top two actually allow you access to the two 10mm nuts holding the handle, and plastic panel in place.

[JD and Beastlet]

One other step for 05s...

3-1/2: Remove the small cover and unbolt the pull-down strap.

[bjones99]

Thanks for the instructions. These were a HUGE help to getting this part replaced. I did find that I could work a piece of metal into the hole where the broken part had gone, I could release the latch and open the gate. The piece I used was actually the handle from a backyard fire pit. Just a straight piece about the size of a medium screwdriver which bent at 90 degrees and extended about 1-1.5". I straightened the piece a few (maybe 15) degrees. It's also easier if the glass is up (gives you more room to maneuver inside the door.) Insert the piece into the hole pointing toward the passenger side, extend up a few inches past the opening, turn the tool so it is straight up and the bent end so it's pointing toward the front of the vehicle and pull down. It may take a few trys, but this allowed me to open the gate for a few days until I could get to the dealer for the new $97 gate latch and make the repair. Thanks again for the instructions.