So this really old lady rear ended me in a burger joint drive though today while I was on lunch from work. Just gonna get money from her insurance and buy a new tailgate. BUT my gate it dented in a way the rear window doesn't roll all the way down, sooooo I can't lower the gate to remove it. How do I lower the gate without taking the window all the way down???? Someone help please!

 

Not sure of the windw taper, I assume it doesn't let you move the gate unless it's all the way down, if not just lower it enough to clear the upper retaining lip and drop the gate.

You can pull the interior cover and knock the dent out maybe from inside?

 

That's what I'm gonna try after the guy comes and estimates the damage. Hope that works. I don't know of you have a 1/2nd gen but if the windows not all the way down the lock won't even release and allow you to pull the handle.

 

You can manually actuate/move the mechanisim from inside. If the window has to come all the way down to come out of the guide-rails/weather-stripping on the sides, they might need to add glass to the damage estimate. With "busted glass clean out" time too..

Here is a pic from another thread, the long vertical bar needs to rotate counter clock wise. If that areas too damaged you'll have to pull the cables with pliers/visegrips.

 

Yeah, do that ^^. You might have to move the locking mechanism out of the way manually but that will get it open.

Once you've got the gate open you can move the window back up by just giving the window motor straight 12V (from a battery, jumper cables, or battery charger). That'll give you more access to pop out the dent. Just be realllllll careful with the window extended when the tailgate is open. It'll snap right off.

 

If all else fails break out the grinder and some cutting wheels and go to town on the tailgate till the window will come down your replacing it anyway

 

Or just use a spare battery, get some spare wires or clip leads and put them right on the motor harness inside the tailgate. Problem solved.

 

Do what CO 94 PU suggested. That rear carpet panels pulls off really easy, and then carefully remove the plastic sheet. You'll have access to the locking mech. Also, if you'd rather, at that point, you could try to push the dented tailgate out with a pipe or something so that your window could possibly roll down.