| Author | Message | ||
     Willard Lee (Wlee69) Member Username: Wlee69 Post Number: 58 Registered: 05-2002 |
I was helping a buddy of mine move today and we were opening and shutting the tailgate door numerous times. Upon the last time shutting the door, I went to re-open it and the lever you push stayed in the open position - it didn't retract back. So I went inside the car and tried to open it from the door lever in the inside of the car - that one pulled open easy, but it didn't feel like it was doing anything - and it wouldn't open the door. When I got home, I took off the back panel to take a peek, and the levers are all connected to the hinge/lever that looks like it should open the gate, but of course it still doesn't! Even if I try and use my hand on it.... So I have a couple questions - first off, it the big plastic thing mounted in the inside of the tailgate (by the part that opens/shuts the door) just the actuator to control the power locks? or is the opening of the tailgate controlled by it also (or is the opening of the tailgate purely mechanical). My other question is what else should I try to get the freakin door open!!! Or am I destine to take a trip to the dealer this week! (that would suck!) Thanks in advance, Will | ||
| Mike Goodell (Mikegoodell) Member Username: Mikegoodell Post Number: 42 Registered: 11-2002 |
My 96 Disco did this the other day, try locking and unlocking the doors, That cured mine, the lock actuator didn't release the lock far enough. Another thing to check is to pop off the land rover oval outside the rear door latch and make sure that the handle is returning to it's normal position. You can push the handle back if it's not already there and oil up the pivots and linkage. I also had to do that this last winter, it was all gunged up with winter salt and dust. Mike G. 96 Disco SD | ||
| Willard Lee (Wlee69) Member Username: Wlee69 Post Number: 59 Registered: 05-2002 |
Mike - I tried that a bunch of times already - when I had the tailgate trim off, I locked and unlocked it many times.... Thanks. Will | ||
| Carter Simcoe (Carter) Senior Member Username: Carter Post Number: 534 Registered: 04-2002 |
pop the green 'land rover' oval off the back handle and spay a bunch of wd40 in there | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 639 Registered: 03-2002 |
Take the left taillight out, get a hard rubber mallet and pop the location next to the latch a few times. It should pop right out. Then lube it up with PB Blaster or some such and you'll have no worries. | ||
| Willard Lee (Wlee69) Member Username: Wlee69 Post Number: 60 Registered: 05-2002 |
I tried both Carter's and Michael's suggestions and neither of them got the door open. The latch on the back handle doesn't seem to be stuck or anything - you can pull it and it releases just fine. I also took the left taillight out and tried what Michael suggested....on my DII, there are two layers of metal between the inside of the taillight and where the door latches on...I did bang it a couple times but it didn't do anything.... Anything else I can try? Thanks, Will | ||
| Carter Simcoe (Carter) Senior Member Username: Carter Post Number: 535 Registered: 04-2002 |
try pulling the handle and kicking from the inside, sometimes stuff just gets caught up. I had to do this on one of my rear doors once, seems like someone else around here had the same solution work once as well. | ||
| Willard Lee (Wlee69) Member Username: Wlee69 Post Number: 61 Registered: 05-2002 |
Carter - Just went out and tried kicking from the inside...no luck..... | ||
| Frank Rafka (Mongosd2) Member Username: Mongosd2 Post Number: 49 Registered: 02-2003 |
Mine does that all the time, try getting a screwdriver or a key behind the handle. gently pry the handle back to it original position. hit the lock a couple of the times and the handle should work. take the cover off the backdoor and use some type of lube on the handle...does this make sense? Frank | ||
| Carter Simcoe (Carter) Senior Member Username: Carter Post Number: 536 Registered: 04-2002 |
Go back to what Michael was saying about the lock. Maybe it isn't unlocking all the way, first try sticking the key in and turning it while you try and open it and then get in the back panel and mess with all the adjustments on the locking mechanism. Man, I am the king of having my doors not open for various reasons. But if this doesn't work then I am fresh out of ideas  | ||
| Willard Lee (Wlee69) Member Username: Wlee69 Post Number: 62 Registered: 05-2002 |
I opened up the rear to check out the locking mechanism - and there are two levers, one that is attached to the inside and outside handles, and the other is the lever for locking. The lever for locking looks like it moves fine as I lock and unlock the door. The other lever, that attaches to the outside and inside latches to open to door doesn't seem like it works right....I push it down, bypassing either of the latches, and the lever doesn't seem to do anything.... I guess its off to the dealer and I'll let you guys know what they find out!! Thanks for all your help! Will | ||
| Carter Simcoe (Carter) Senior Member Username: Carter Post Number: 537 Registered: 04-2002 |
check your mail before you go | ||
| Willard Lee (Wlee69) Member Username: Wlee69 Post Number: 63 Registered: 05-2002 |
I had no luck over the weekend trying to diagnose the problem, so I was ready to call the dealer this morning. As I got out of my car at work, I tried it one more time just to make sure before I made the call....and it opened!!! I must have gone over enough bumps or something and it something must have released....so tonite when I got home, I sprayed lube stuff on both the latch and the tailgate stuff.... Now at least if it happens again, I can chaulk it up to being a LandRover and just wait till it releases.... Thanks again for everyone who replied! Will | ||
| Daniel McElroy (Danielm60660) New Member Username: Danielm60660 Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2003 |
Just be sure to lube the heck out of it now that you got it opened or you'll be dealing with this again. |
