'84 K20 Suburban Tailgate

[terrencebane]

How can the tailgate be opened (or can it) without battery power to drop the window? Is there a way to do this?

 

[nvrenuf]

I'd imagine Sub's are like Blazers which have an access panel on the inside of the tgate. Once you get inside the tgate you can fix the window issue or unscrew the window drive cable from the motor (looks like a short speedo cable) and use a drill to spin it to lower the window.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

I'd imagine Sub's are like Blazers which have an access panel on the inside of the tgate. Once you get inside the tgate you can fix the window issue or unscrew the window drive cable from the motor (looks like a short speedo cable) and use a drill to spin it to lower the window.

Yes, there's an access panel on the inside of the tailgate. If your Burb has the plastic trim on it, that is on top of the access panel. The power window has a pin switch on it, to keep the window from working when the gate is open, but this can be bypassed by pushing the switch pin in. The regulator and motor are most of the weight of these gates; they're surprisingly light without the internal parts.
Dad and I rebuilt a couple of these on the truck, years ago. Back then I think you could still source the parts through Chevrolet, but now you may have to go aftermarket. I had one of these gates that I got rid of a couple years ago; my last square body Burb was barn doors so I had no use for it.
I think the service procedures are in the shop manuals....

 

[bucket]

There's no drive cable on a Suburban.

Is there no battery power because there is an issue, or simply no battery installed in the rig?

 

[Cyrillious]

Best to remove the electric motor and maneuver the glass down into the tailgate to trip the lock mechanism to open the tailgate. It's different and more complicated than the Blazer/Jimmy unfortunately