A little while ago I was opening the tailgate on my 1992 Ranger and the handle popped, it felt like something broke. Now the handle is just loose. When I looked inside I noticed there was a metal call shaped rod that is dangling around behind the plastic handle, it looks like it should connect to the handle or something but I can't figure out how to fix it. Here are some pictures of it. Does anyone know how to fix this? It seems like a very simple, basic fixed but I have no idea what to do. Thanks:

Broken tsilgate handle. Notice that metal L-shaped rod. It came loose from something.



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I had the same thing happen to me. I bought a replacement from Amazon for about $10. Install took about 15 minutes. The handle just broke, It's plastic so eventually it will fail.

 

There should be like 8-10 screws on the backside of the tailgate holding a cover plate. Remove the cover plate and youll be able to manually pull the rods to actuate the latching mechanism and get the tailgate open. The rods are held to the tailgate handle by plastic clips. Those clips break and render the handle useless. This is what the clips in my 02 look like



You can problably find them online cheaper but autozone oreillys or whatever autoparts store you have problably has them. You may want to look if your plastic clip is of the same design but i found mine in autozone from one of the Dorman Help! products. Mine cost $5 and had about 3 or 4 different clip designs in the package.

 

​​​Thank you both for the responses. The back of my tailgate has all those bolts in it, Im going to unscrew them all and see what I can figure out. All I know is that L-shaped metal rod is flimsy and loose, rattling around... It appears to have been originally connected to the plastic handle itself but broke off somehow. I really hope it just needs one of those little plastic pieces.

 

These handles wear out and break. Especially with sun baking and if you have something wedged onto the tailgate and try to open with the plastic handle. Something has to give and it is the two legs from the handle that break. Easy to replace. You can go the expensive route and pick one at your nearest Fords Parts and Service Department. The cheaper route, in $$ and quality, is on Amazon. Lots of available choices on Amazon.

Good luck.

b

 

Okay I searched all over my tailgate and I do not see how I can remove the back panel. It's a giant solid piece of metal. Unscrewing all these bolts won't do anything. How am I supposed to get underneath all this? How do I get inside this tailgate to replace these plastic pieces? The newer Rangers are easy to do as the inside of the tailgate actually pops off as a giant rectangular metal sheet. This older 1992 Ranger doesn't have that. It looks like the entire tailgate is one giant piece of metal. Would it be better if I just went to a scrap yard and bought a whole new tailgate?

As you can see, there's no way I can pop off something and get inside the tailgate.



Also, can someone tell me how I can temporarily open my tailgate? One side works but the other side does it so it remain stuck that way. I feel like I need to pull that L-shaped Rod or something, I don't know how to open my tailgate right now. Thanks

 

The camera you are using is not giving you a very good picture, but it looks like these connectors are allen style bolts with a star style head. I would take the two bolts off from the depression that you show in the photograph and that should allow you to remove the mechanism to replace the handle portion that is broken. Thanks for providing the year of your Ranger too.

Yes, pull the small rod horizontally. That is the mechanism that is holding the latch that opens your tailgate. ALL TRUCKs operate their tailgate this way and many doors do too. Push in the tailgate (towards the cab from the outside) to help take pressure off of the latch too.

No, you don't need to replace the tailgate, unless you want to.

It took me less than 10 seconds to find the replacement you need for your truck on Amazon. As you can see, from the picture you need to remove 3 of the bolts to get the handle mechanism lose and remove it and then reinstall. Use the link below.


Good luck.

b

 

 

As the OP commented in previous thread, his tailgate is not this type of Ranger Tailgate and he has supplied pictures (previously) as an example. But good information for others with this issue.

b

 

Right, my tailgate does not do what the newer Rangers' tailgates in that video do. There's no long rectangular peace that I can take off the tailgate like that, the entire tailgate is just all one giant piece of metal.

I just unscrewed the two star-shaped screws connected to the handle like someone suggested to try to pull the handle out and I think the other bar came disconnected now, I think I made it even worse. I don't know what I did, I didn't want to fool with it anymore so I just let it alone and put the screws back. I don't know what I'm doing with this and I desperately need to get my tailgate handle fixed, can someone please show me what to do with this????

 

yup, just picked up a sweet 89 Ranger with no rust on er. Went to open the tailgate - and it won't.
I have been scouring the net for days and everyone keeps telling me to "remove the access panel"
..... yup, the one it does not have , because it's a 89.
I am now resigned to it never opening again. If I need one that opens, I'll havta take my 98 XLT
good luck my friend