I have a 2016 that has a spray on bed liner. I need to access the inside of the tailgate to replace the wiring harness that runs through it, but the bed liner was sprayed over the screws/panel. Is there any other way to get in there without having to hack away at the liner? If I remove the tailgate from the truck, is there another way to access the inside maybe through the bottom?

 

I want to answer, but unfortunately I don't think you really want to hear it.

 

Super frustrating. I bought the car new and got the liner done through the dealership. Why would they spray over something that needs to be accessed? I just keep searching for an alternate access point because I refuse to believe they could be so careless and clueless!

 

Your dealer improperly (that is not the word I would usually use) installed your liner. My truck has a factory spray liner and the pan head Torx bolts are free of any lining. I've had the panel off a couple of times as I had to replaced the tailgate release actuator. There is no other way to get inside if you are trying to access the release mechanism.

If the dealer is not far away I'd be taking back to them and asking them to fix it on their time. and money.

 

So, it was done through the dealer, but they sent it to a 3rd party to get it done, and I don’t know who. I think I may have figured it out based on some research I’ve been doing, but I’m not 100% sure since there was no paperwork with my original documents. All I found was the brand of liner that was used, not who applied it. And unfortunately, the dealer closed about a year or two ago, so I have no recourse. That’s why I’m desperately searching for another access point, cause I really don’t want to ruin the liner or the tailgate. And even if I’m able to get the liner off in the area where I think the screws are, I don’t think I could get the liner out of the screw holes to be able to stick a bit in there. The whole thing is a mess.

 

I should also add that my tailgate has the built-in step, so I’m actually able to pop the step out and access the screws to pop the handle out, and that’s were the parts are for the camera, antenna, lock, and the little light. But the wiring harness that all those are connected to goes through the tailgate to under the truck, behind the bumper. I was hoping I could just pull the wiring harness out, and fish the new one in, but it’s not pulling out. I think it may be tied down with a zip tie or somehow held in place. And just an fyi, I also can’t pull the steps out of the tailgate, because the legs are screwed to the tailgate and also sprayed over.

 

Yep, spray liner here too and the bolts were not sprayed over. Whoever did the work was lazy as 52merc mentioned.