The leaver on the tail gate lock is jamed in the pressed position which means I cannot open the tail gate without getting inside the boot to move the leavers.
Can anyone tell me how to get to this leaver to free it.
Many
Thanks
Glen

I had this problem a few weeks ago on my Weekend. You can try operating the central locking a few times using the button on the driver's door, that can release it sometimes. If that does not work you will have to climb inside, pull off the trim and operate the lock manually. Once you have got it open you have to strip it all down and free it up. As an engineer I do not understand why the lever jams, the lever and the housing are plastic and it pivots on a metal pin, I would expect it to get floppy with use as the plastic wears on the metal pin rather than for it to sieze up
The new part from Fiat is £97 plus vat at the moment so some time spent fixing it is worthwhile. I drilled out the plastic on the inside of the panel to expose the end of the pivot pin then pushed the pin out. I then enlarged the holes for the pin slightly and refitted it all. Taking it all apart is quite easy, just dont remove the small circlip you can see when you look up inside the handle. It holds the actual lock mechanism together. Good luck

i have just read with interest the reply re rear tailgate lock on a marea weekender .mine is floppy so i may asume the spring has gone .yet for the life of me cant find a way to take the thing out i removed the rear inside cover to expose the workings ,&found 2 nuts holding the outside plastic nr window trim on yet after removing these this outside trim did not move,i ask is there another hidden nut somewhere ?i can only find those 2 also 2 alan bolts on the lower part on outside .i donot want to force it as the prices for these parts are expensive can anyone help me please thanks

I cannot remember how many bolts hold the trim on but I think at least four, including the two you access from the outside. You have to take out the number plate lamps remove the rear wiper, the lock mechanism and the central locking solenoid if I remember correctly once you have done that just remove the screws and bolts you see and the trim comes off. As I said previously just do not remove the little circlip which you can see above the lever itself on the outside of the tailgate. When you have the trim off you will see how the lever is held and can hopefully work out what you need to do to resolve your problem. Good luck

:idea:This appears to be a common problem. The spring on the handle is either too weak or it breaks. 2 solutions, replace the handle mechanism, about £80 from Fiat, this is a temporary solution as the spring will break again. Or if you prefer a permanent solution costing only a few pence, remove the handle, drill one or 2 holes in it so you can fit a hook or a loop of wire or cable tie so you can pull the handle down when it jams. Simple to fit should take 30 to 40 minutes.
The handle usually only jams when you try and open the tail gate when it is locked so after you pull down the handle you may have to use the central locking or key in the boot lock to put the tail gate lock to the unlock position then the boot will open normally.
I have had a look at several weekends, nearly all have had this mod done.
Steve
P.S. even simpler solution, stick a hook or similar to the handle so you can pull it down. that will be very quick to fit and it the glue is strong enough, a perfect solution.

hey thanks guys for the advce its much needed

I was tackling my stuck boot this afternoon and it seems the two bolts holding on the number plate lights trim have corroded so badly I can't budge them! Is it possible to get the boot open without removing these two bolts?

You can operate the lock by hand if you climb into the back and remove the interior tailgate trim. From memory I think there are only one or two screws (in the hand holds I think) the rest of it is held by pop off body clips. Give the bolts a shot of releasing fluid and leave them for a day or so and they may very well come undone. Once you take off the black external trim it is worth sorting the handle properly. Maybe it is just me being a perfectionist but screwing or sticking hooks on the handle sounds really bodgy to me.

using hooks may seem bodgy, but in the end, when you get fed up of the handle sticking, youl'll change your mind. mine has been fine now for over 2 years with my bit of mecano

glenmar13 said:

The leaver on the tail gate lock is jamed in the pressed position which means I cannot open the tail gate without getting inside the boot to move the leavers.
Can anyone tell me how to get to this leaver to free it.
Many
Thanks
Glen

Click to expand...

Sometimes the rubber, that covers the handle, perishes and you can put a key between the rubber and the handle, then pull the handle down.

Also, a good dousing of silicone spray can sometimes be effective, but this is a constant problem with the w/e.

I have gone as far as removing the plastic handle and use the metal pushrod behind it to open my boot. Its been like it for three years or so and never gives me any problems now..

Can these locks and catches be bought new from anywhere been searching the internet but no luck so far .:bang:

mine has rusted inside - so is awkward.

seen a few in breakers on ebay.., I'm sure you'll see some on ebay .eu but wont necessarily be cheap.., get No's from ePER


what's the issue..??

Tailgate won't latch shut , its been bodged before with springs added ( its a laugh ) but both catches are bent and the locks aren't clamping either .
Thats why i need new ones .
Only bought the car 2 weeks ago its booked in for MOT on Tuesday morning also .

good luck with the test..,

(sounds like you want a donor tailgate / car..)

mines a scabby 2001 JTD.. but allegedly only 100K miles.., runs well enough and returns 50 mpg on a run..,
Charlie

Well it failed the MOT
but only for insecure tailgate , handbrake not working and 2 broken exhaust rubbers so not too bad .
Fixed the tailgate lock by removing a bit of rubber out of the catch :slayer: and just waiting for the local auto parts store to get me some brake shoes as the old ones are shot so all good for a retest next week