3rd brake light/bedliner issue

[Caveman]

So I finally got around to checking to see if the high mount brake light on my 2020 works. It doesn't. Jiggling the cables near the bottom of the tailgate did nothing, so I ordered a replacement LED strip from Mopar after watching some videos on the install. Looked easy enough, but I just took a close look at my bedliner (came with the truck that I bought used). The access panel and all 8 Torx bolts are sealed under bedliner. I'm attaching a photo. One option is to dig out the Torx heads with a pick and then cut around the access panel with a utility knife. Is there another way to access the light strip and change it out without removing the access panel? Not only does that promise to be labor intensive, I doubt the results will be ideal, aesthetically. I suppose the other option is just to leave well enough alone, but I like the idea of having a working 3rd brake light, and I've already bought the part!

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[Volt0]

Wow; they didn’t do you any favors. It does look like there’s a washer of sorts, that might help you out for the cuts. If I were you, if planning to proceed, I would buy a new set of bolts to go back in. With new bolts in hand, you might be able to remove the old ones with an extractor set.

my liner was installed after market, by a 3rd party of the dealers’ choice. I snapped a photo of my bed before the sent it off, knowing it would be the last time that I saw it. There’s been a few times that I’ve wondered if any threaded bolt holes ( near the cab ) were messed up from the process.

 

[Caveman]

That's a good suggestion about just replacing the Torx bolts, thanks! Not having to deal with preserving the original bolt heads is one less thing to worry about!

 

[Hootbro]

Man that is nasty. Like said, they did you no favors. You are gonna have to cut the panel seam out also.

 

[Gvsukids]

Looked easy enough, but I just took a close look at my bedliner (came with the truck that I bought used).

Doesn't look like the factory bed liner. On mine, with the factory liner, I can remove the bolts.

 

[Caveman]

Yeah, I doubt seriously it is the factory bedliner. It is not listed on the window sticker. I'm the second owner of the truck, so either the dealer or the first owner probably had it sprayed in.

 

[Wmkresse]

Yea that’s not the factory liner. The issue you’re going to have here is cutting around the panel to access it as well as the bolts. I did it on mine when it went out and there wasn’t any other obvious way to change it out. You have to go through that panel

 

[Scoob]

Possibly save yourself some work and check that you are getting voltage or signal at the closest plug before the tailgate. Just in case it's a wire, plug or fuse issue. Just a thought

 

[Caveman]

Thanks, good suggestion! I just have to figure out how to activate the brake pedal while I'm back fiddling with the multimeter. A piece of concrete block works on my YJ, but I think I'll have to get more creative when it comes to the Gladiator...

 

[Gatorized]

Thanks, good suggestion! I just have to figure out how to activate the brake pedal while I'm back fiddling with the multimeter. A piece of concrete block works on my YJ, but I think I'll have to get more creative when it comes to the Gladiator...

Would a jumper in the trailer connector from the 12v to the tail lights do it without blowing fuses?

 

[Caveman]

That's really clever! I wonder if anyone has tried this...

 

[Mr._Bill]

Thanks, good suggestion! I just have to figure out how to activate the brake pedal while I'm back fiddling with the multimeter. A piece of concrete block works on my YJ, but I think I'll have to get more creative when it comes to the Gladiator...

Two plastic ammo boxes from Harbor Freight. I wedge them in to hold the brake pedal down.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Had mine sprayed in by Line-X when we bought the truck - they removed those panels and sprayed them separately. They also covered all the various bolt holes to preserve their usefullness.

 

[D_JT]

Did you get the bed liner installed? If so, I would go back to them and make them fix it. I used to work at bed liner shop (Line-X). That low quality of work is unacceptable. You will need new hardware as well due to the liner filling in the bit opening, which they should provide you.

 

[Caveman]

No, unfortunately, the liner was installed sometime prior to my purchasing the truck used some 3 years ago. I did go ahead and order new hardware. Those bolts are spendy!

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