S203: Tailgate won't open!!

[gIzzE]

Last night I closed the tailgate on the car and 5 minutes later when I went to let the dog out it simply wouldn't open.

I have checked all the fuses and they are fine.

I can put the key in and turn it and then the handle will open the car.

So I am guessing it is the boot look itself, or the central locking part of it?

Does anyone know of anything that goes on these.

I did have a problem with the rear washed the other day, so thinking that maybe the leak in that section has probably fried the electronic locking mech, but just thought I would ask before stripping it down and finding a new part.
I guess I would like to here "the contacts on these need cleaning up, takes 10 minutes and costs nothing."

 

[gIzzE]

Quick answers please as the dog has now been in there for 14 hours, it is -3ºc outside and looking at his sad little face through the window really is spoiling our Christmas Bucks Fizz with smoked salmon and caviar.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

No idea on how to fix it but can't you go for a spin round the block before you ave too much fizz, as the residual heat will keep him going until th 27th when the dealer re-opens?

A start-stop-start cycle might reset something too.

 

[gIzzE]

Haha.


I have turned the car on and off, driven a few miles as well.
Definitely an issue with the rear not unlocking along with the rest of the central locking.

I won't take it to the dealer, probably charge me half what the car is worth to sort it.

I will take the trim off tomorrow and see if I can see anything obvious.

I'm surprised there is no way to pop the boot from inside the car to be honest.

 

[Dieselman]

Is there no lock and release latch on the tailgate itself.

 

[nigel cross]

Confused:- is this an estate with a tailgate or a car with a boot?
If it has a boot why is the dog in it, and if its an estate why cant you get the dog out?

 

[Dieselman]

Confused:- is this an estate with a tailgate or a car with a boot?
If it has a boot why is the dog on it, and if its an estate why cant you get the dog out?

Dogs don't go in the boot?

 

[gIzzE]

Is there no lock and release latch on the tailgate itself.

On the outside there is a keyhole and once the key is inserted the handle does work, but not via the central locking, either by remote key fob or but the button on the dash.

 

[gIzzE]

Confused:- is this an estate with a tailgate or a car with a boot?
If it has a boot why is the dog in it, and if its an estate why cant you get the dog out?

It is an estate, and has a 'taligate' which gives you access to the boot.

Are you saying I should be calling it a 'load area' as it is an estate??

 

[Dieselman]

On the outside there is a keyhole and once the key is inserted the handle does work, but not via the central locking, either by remote key fob or but the button on the dash.

You can set the lock in different positions, one of which is "key only" unlocking.

 

[gIzzE]

I don't have a problem with unlocking with the key, apart from the fact it is very annoying, it is the lack of it working through the remote that is an issue.

 

[Dieselman]

I know that. The lock has three positions, Locked, Remote, Unlocked.

 

[gIzzE]

Ah, thanks, being a bit thick tonight, far to much vino today.

I will double check the positions, however, i hadn't touched the key, so doubt very much it is just in the wrong position, unfortunately.

 

[Dieselman]

In that case it is likely to be either a broken wire in the hinge area or the electric servo has gone u/s.

 

[219]

From my few days of ownership , and having read some way through the owners manual , I can tell you there is an emergency release inside the tailgate - accessed by removing the small plastic cover in the centre of the rear trim .

 

[Dieselman]

I bet that's only on US versions. They are obsessed about being bundled into the boot by gangsters.

 

[gIzzE]

From my few days of ownership , and having read some way through the owners manual , I can tell you there is an emergency release inside the tailgate - accessed by removing the small plastic cover in the centre of the rear trim .

That's what I would have expected, but nothing there.

 

[nigel cross]

Have you tried wd 40 in the key hole?

 

[gIzzE]

I am going to strip it down this morning and have a look.

Not sure WD40 is a great idea in a lock, surely after a while it will gunk right up?

I can't actually here the central locking working in the tailgate listening again, so guess I need to get a pic of what this looks like and try and find one for a sensible price.

 

[nigel cross]

No WD 40 will get all the crap out, just make sure you lubricate it with real oil afterwards or it will dry up without it