I thought I should post this because the solution was so simple---to those in the know!

I managed to get my tailgate stuck by running a fairly thick extension cord from the battery to a house circuit outlet and slamming the tailgate down on it. I wanted to plug in a battery tender to keep the battery itself happy.

So when I went to open the tailgate it refused and I started searching sites to find a way to get it open again.

To cut to the chase I took the car with this extension cord wrapped around the roof rack to my local mechanic. I had asked him to change the oil filter, etc. He took one look at the tailgate when I directed his attention to it and he pressed in on it near where the cord emerged and asked me to open the latch. And presto, it opened!

He explained that the extension cord had increased the pressure between the latching mechanism and its 'boss', the u shaped connector that is mounted to the bottom frame of the car. The latch mechanism on the tailgate connects to the boss, basically wrapping around it. I had inadvertently made the connection too tight with my extension cord.

But I think this technique could be applied first to all situations where the tailgate jams. Push in on the outside of the tailgate near where the latch mechanism greets the boss and pull open the latch [very near the exterior bottom of the tailgate]. You might be lucky and save yourself some grief trying to get at the latch mechanism from the inside.

My latch is not perfect either I should add. Sometimes I have to push it in then up when I go to open it.

A tip of the hat to my very capable mechanic.

The same technique can work on hood releases, and even doors on occasion.

I will keep that in mind. The way he went right to the source of the problem, found it, and corrected it, was what I admired. I just don't have those mechanic's genes.