Could anyone with knowledge help me out here. I'm EXTREAMLY new to this, literally just a baby mentally when it comes to vehicles. I've tried to teach myself by browsing the internet, but I couldn't come to a solution. My tailgate wont latch shut. I have a Doge Dakota 1997, and when the bed is down I see two little levers on either side near the latch, I can push it up, (Or down I don't remember.) and the latch also pushes it up when I move it. So when the bed is down, I can push the latch up and it will move the levers to a locked position, then pulling on the handle unlocks it. But when I close the bed, the latches don't get pushed back enough to engage the lock. I've tried slamming it and nothing happens. Please, can someone just give me advice on what to do, I don't want to drive with the bed just open. I know literally nothing about this and I'm getting really upset ):

 

You need to adjust the position of the latch striker pins. This gentleman describes how to change them, but as you can see, once he loosens it, it moves around. You need to loosen yours and move them in a position where the latches will strike and lock onto them. It takes a bit of trial and error till you find the right position.

 

But what bolt do I need to buy to replace it? I don't think he said it in the video. Cant it loosen and move when there is only one hole to screw it into? I don't think I understand, I loosened it but I just had to tighten the bolt again and it was back in the original position.

 

You don't replace them. You loosen them and move them slightly to a position that seems to work, tighten and test closing the tailgate. Repeat till it locks.

 

You are adjusting the two large bolts in the side of the tailgate, at the top, inside where the tailgate closes. They are the ones just over the cable straps that hold the tailgate up. For a reference point, use a sharpie to draw a circle around the bolt before moving it, and you can see how much you're moving it, and ensure that you are not moving the bolt up or down while moving it to the back. When the striker is loose, you should be able to move it around, about half an inch or so. When you tighten it in its new position, you have to hold it in its new position. You will want to loosen it just enough that you can move the bolts, then move them towards the back of the truck. We're talking a very little bit at a time here, like 1/16 of an inch or so. Move only one until it latches when it closes, then adjust the other one to match.

 

push those levers forward when the gate is down and the tailgate will close. The problem is the latch assembly, its not letting the levers spring back.