Upper tailgate needs a good slam

During stardate 31 Oct 2005 04:06:55 -0800, "Pacman" uttered the imortal words:

I had this with Alfie. It's a bit of a bugger on a Rangie of your age as the issues which can cause this are many.

1. Spring within the lock it's self failed. You will be able to tell this by grabbing the lock and pulling it away from the car. If it raises around 1cm then the spring is stuffed. To be extra sure lock the lock and then shut the boot. If it's corroded away, when unlocked as you slam the lid it opens it's self at the same time due to the momentum of the tailgate.
2. Rust / Corrosion around the catches where they go through the tailgate. This causes the mechanisims to jam up into the open position. Cure, remove and clean-up if your lucky you can refit
3. Worn catches either end. Reveals it's self as one catch catching and the other doesn't. Though this could also be indicative of 2 above.
4. General corrosion in the tailgate frame allowing movement of the tailgate sufficent to allow the rods to move and open the latches in the moment when you least want them too.

Check your tailgate for corrosion. I just replaced my 1990 Rangie Tailgate before selling it with an Ally one. £299 but well worth it if your keeping it. Also factor in getting new catches as I'll bet they are corroded through on the section where there rods go through the tailgate. Most importantly. When you adjust the any alterations, first close try with the bottom tailgate down, especially if you have a dog guard /rear shelf fitted. It takes a while to get the rods adjusted right so that the tailgate will open again.. bummer if you have to climb in to pull the rods.

Once you think your sorted if you do fit a new tailgate beware the fitting of the rubber water seal on the lower edge as this usually requires reagustment all over again.

Have fun!

Lee D

-- "I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."

- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

In message , Lee_D writes

And the one thing Lee and most others fail to mention ... make sure the bottom tailgate is well seated first. If the catches have gone a bit sloppy you will be using the top tailgate to pull up the bottom as well, obviously making it harder to shut. It's well worth checking - just shut the bottom tailgate and give it a good push and pull and tweak the catches if necessary.

Sorry, forgot to mention that the tailgate was replaced by an LR dealer about 5 years ago...no sign of corrosion!

-- Thanks, Paul

No-one else seems to mention closing it by pressing it down at each end instead of using the handle till you diagnose & fix it with all the methods every else Lee D lists?

Regards

William MacLeod

Pacman uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Did they fit new catches??

like these..

or just fit the old ones on? If they fittef the old ones then they may be past their best.

Lee D

Are you closing the tail gate using the patented method of pushing down at both sides simultaneously rather than just pushing the handle down. That way engages both locks simultaneously rather than allowing the frame to flex as it does when you just hang on to the handle . Derek