Rear Lift gate, glass won't open

[Splorg]

So the rear liftgate and the rear glass on my 2001 GMC Yukon SLT will not open. I've managed to get my fingers into the trim and pop the glass open from inside but can't find the release for the gate. the gate handle feels like nothing is attached at the outside and the glass button doesn't push in. Tried the key, no joy.

I'd kinda like to use this. Anyone have this issue? If so what kind of torture is it to do this yourself or should I just take the ol girl to a competent mechanic?

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[915_Tahoe]

is the handle flopping around or is there still tension when the handle retracts back

 

[Doubeleive]

you will need to remove the rear hatch cover panel and take a look inside, sometimes the mechanism just comes loose inside, sometimes a plastic part will break, sometimes there jammed. only way to determine what is the case is to take a look inside behind the panel, the pull handle will need to come off to get the panel off not sure what else it has been a while, just have patience and use a panel tool if you get to aggressive with it the clips can break

 

[Splorg]

is the handle flopping around or is there still tension when the handle retracts back

No tension. It feels completely disconnected. No resistance.

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[Splorg]

you will need to remove the rear hatch cover panel and take a look inside, sometimes the mechanism just comes loose inside, sometimes a plastic part will break, sometimes there jammed. only way to determine what is the case is to take a look inside behind the panel, the pull handle will need to come off to get the panel off not sure what else it has been a while, just have patience and use a panel tool if you get to aggressive with it the clips can break

Is it possible to remove the trim pieces from inside the vehicle, since I can't get the gate open? I'm sure that will make it much less convenient [emoji6] but I can't see enough to know if I'm wasting my time and it won't come off anyway

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[Doubeleive]

Is it possible to remove the trim pieces from inside the vehicle, since I can't get the gate open? I'm sure that will make it much less convenient [emoji6] but I can't see enough to know if I'm wasting my time and it won't come off anyway

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you may be able to pull the panel back enough to release the mechanism with a long screwdriver and a flashlight so you can see down inside.
here is a youtube video for how you could do it with a 06 but I don't think the 01 is a 2 piece panel

 

[Splorg]

you may be able to pull the panel back enough to release the mechanism with a long screwdriver and a flashlight so you can see down inside.
here is a youtube video for how you could do it with a 06 but I don't think the 01 is a 2 piece panel

As a matter of fact, mine is, and I used this video earlier to pop the rear glass to clean it. I'll crawl in there and take a crack at removing the panel in the morning and let you know how it goes. Thanks for your help!

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[Splorg]

Didn't get back to Aretha until today.

Gate and glass both open now - total cost: 15 minutes of disassembly and reassembly and about nickels worth of penetrating oil to free up the mechanism and another nickels worth of lithium grease to keep it that way.

Looks like the return spring on the handle and the cable that pulls the reel mechanism are separate - the cable was bound up. Slides like buttah now. Looks to me like it was just some corrosion on the exposed cable, but I'll likely replace all the puller cables just in case when I get the time.

Every repair should be so d**n easy.

Thanks for the help guys!

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[89Suburban]

Good job everyone!!