Pickup tailgate latch lubrication
 

My 2010 Silverado has winter corrosion in the tailgate latch and I'm trying to figure out how to get some oil or WD 40 in there to get the thing lubricated. I've tried shooting stuff in from all available angles and nothing gets to the problem area. It seems the release in the center of the tailgate is the culprit and there is no way I can see to get lub directly into the problem areas. Any recommendations from the brain trust.

The salt of upstate NY does a job on these things. The dealer would want two hours labor to fix, I'm guessing and I'm not about to pay that.

Motorcycle chain lube?

I had a similar problem a decade or so ago with the '88 Chev 1/2 ton.
First: forget WD40, it is not a lube, it is a water displacement fluid.
If things have seized, you need to approach this in two stages.
First, something to break the rust bonds. Try Liquid Wrench or a similar product. If you can, add an extention tube to get the fluid where needed. Once things are freed up, use a surface protectant/lubricant.
However, if things are truely seized, you might be better off just taking the latch mechanism out of the gate and overhauling it.

Best
Les

Unbolt the access panel on the bed side of the tailgate. You will then have access to the whole mechanism...

On my Ford F250 the panel was held on with 8 small torx machine screws.

You will also probably need to " work " it back and forth after you hose it down to help work it free. Lubricate it frequently after you get it working nice again . May take a few tries. Once I have it free, I like to douse it down with spray can white lithium grease. Seems to help ward off water intrusion a little better.
I go through this ritual every spring

Unfortunately, GM doesn't put an access panel :mad: on the back of the tailgate so I will have to remove the plastic fascia around the handle and get access that way. Going to wait until Monday in case I break anything. Shot a bunch of oil up into it to see if it loosens things up. May have to get a new latch and install that. Tired of slamming the tailgate to have it fall down when I hit the first bump.

Thanks for the recommendations, at least it got me working on it.

When you remove the outer plastic trim ring you need to remove the bolt on the inside of the tailgate that is right behind the trim ring first. If the gate is up it will be the bottom bolt. You can look on youtube for more info.

Dave