tailgate cables on late model Pickups

[keeney]

I bet that the most experienced, senior, has-designed-cars-for-thirty-years engineers are probably not designing any of these systems on cars:

1. The windshield wipers.

2. The tailgate straps.

3. The spare tire carrier/storage/jack.

Every design on these parts of the vehicle I ever see looks like some junior engineer's senior project. It kind of works, but it just seems like it could have been so much better with a little experience.

For example, the spare tire on my Dodge Dakota is lowered by a cable from a winch under the bed. The hole to access the winch is partially blocked by the license plate. Maybe MN license plates are bigger than standard? I don't know, but when I did need the spare tire once, I had the choice of unscrew the license plate, or bend the corner out of the way. Now my license plate is all bent up looking in one corner.

- Rick

 

[JimR]

Ford cables have been breaking for years and I have yet to see a recall on them. I remember helping a buddy load cases of ammo into his Ford F350 one day. That was till the tailgate cable on one side broke in half. **** near lost 4 cases of ammo on the ground. Then he said that he had already replaced them twice in the last few years. Go figure, Now they want to pick on GM. Ignorance is bliss in this country these days. You don't need to fix it if it aint broke yet. You can tell the cables are stiffening up even inside the plastic when they start to corrode. That is the first and only warning sign. Next step is to break when the gate gets loaded. Oiling them up will prolong their life by many years.

 

[DavidJ]

There is now a recall on these cables.

Here's the verbage on NHSTA's website.

Make : CHEVROLET Model : SILVERADO Year : 2003
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V129000 Recall Date : MAR 17, 2004
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 3662211
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.
Consequence:
ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Notes:
GM RECALL NO. 04007. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236)