Technical Electric tailgate opener.

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Technical Electric tailgate opener.

Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
95
Points
33
Location
Malaga mountains 860m ASL
The tailgate has decided not to close/lock more often than not just lately. It seems to be on the first latch (you can move the door a bit) but not securely closed. Luckily neither dust nor fumes get in and it does lock when central locking used.
There is no crap in the lock and the striker has not moved or loose.
I know the previous model suffered with electric trigger issues.
 
I have had this with our old Seat. I bought cheap parts from ebay. These ended up in the bin. I then bought a much more expensive part from a well known supplier and this too was crap. Finally I lashed out the full 179 for a proper part and all has been restored including the inside light and timed auto locking.

Inside the locks are tiny microswitches that signal lock latch open and lock latch closed also door lock activated to unlock and another for lock in the locking position. 10 wires in the loom on this car lock. Once a microswitch has started to fail, its finished. I did look to see if I could get the microswitches but they were not available.

I would strongly recommend i attempt to clean with WD40 and if this doesn't work get the proper lock from the manufacturer. Its not the cost of the lock but the number of times I did the job that makes me say this. Changing locks is fiddly, finger laceratingly awkward.
 
Thanks Panda Nut. It was my next procedure, to get the airline and blow the dust out of the mechanism (we live in a dusty environment) followed by some contact cleaner/WD40 (other flavours available). I am hesitant about the WD40 however because this will attract dust and make it stick to the mechanism more. Same applies to the door stays, they squeak but I am reluctant to lube them. All down to the dust.
 
Well that didn't go well. Didn't blow much dust out, then used the WD40.....the door now bounces open occasionally when attempting to close it, which it didn't before. I've adjusted the striker to close the door up some more. It'll do for now until I get a replacement. I see £170 ish is quoted for genuine item.
 
Here we are a year down the road and the replacement tail gate lock is playing up again.
I got into the old one (drilled out the 2 big rivets and prized the metalwork off.
All the moving parts were free, undamaged or unworn.
I swamped it with 3in1 oil and allowed it to drain. Put it back together with 2 bolts (requiring a drill out at 6.5mm).
Fitted it to the car but it just locks on the first catch. No further forward.

Looking at eBay the locks for Punto, 500 and strangely Opel Corsa all look the same inc. the 4 pin connector. I haven't compared part numbers.

Any ideas?
 
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