I have a 1997 Ford Ranger. I can not lower the Tail Gate

pull the backing off the tail gate and you cant miss it not hard to replace

There should be a long rod behind the seat that fits into a slot just above the rear bumper and below the tail gate. This will then turn the little winch that lowers the spare.

lower tail gate then remove tailgate access cover either handle broken or look inside tail gate for latch rods that the handle moves latch rod either damaged or look for loose or missing latch rods nuts.

bolts holing the tail light in are in the tail gate frame there should be 2 of them

OPEN THE TAIL GATE ON TH INSIDE OF THE TAIL GATE SOME TIME THEY PUT A LITTLE STICKER WITH THE NUMEROS.

Open tail gate. Use the access square inside - pull cable to open tail gate. Remove interier panel - 2 bolts plus 2 screws (2 bolts on handle and 1 screw each side), pull remainder out of guide clips. Now have full access to locking mechanism. Identified a retaining spring had come loose sending guides to shift left (exterior point of view). Place hand in tail gate and move guides over and put spring in place to retain. verify it works and put back together. Handle is the trickiest part as the bolts have to go through the interior panel and afix to the metal tail gate.

There should be an access panel on the bed side of the tail gate. If you have a liner installed on the tail gate you will need to remove it to gain access to the panel. Panel is probably held on with torx screws but you may get lucky and have regular bolts. just remove panel and the lock rods are held to the handle with little clips, just pop them off and remove the nuts that hold the handle assembly onto the tailgate, install is just the revers order.

You must remove the handle from the gate, this is done by removing the plastic tail-gate guard. On in side of gate are some torx screws , remove screws and gate guard will come off. Then there are some more torx screws to remove steel acess pannel, the tail-gate handel will be held in place by 2 10 mm nuts . After removal of nuts the handle will come out, inspect handle for brakeage or rust. replace if nessesary.

There are 4 screws to hold the rear lamp on. Two are in the lens at the side...the other two are seen when you lower the tail gate.
Hope this helps.

I also have this problem and don't know what to do.
Marge58