D4 - Lower tailgate - sticky button

[mfpoli]

Hi All,

The square button which opens the lower tailgate of my D4 is a little sticky and now takes two presses to open the tailgate rather than one. If I am lucky, sometimes I can open with one press.

Any thoughts for a simple solution? I fear its a dodgy actuator or similar.

Many thanks
Mario

[LRD414]

Does the actuator sound sick? Does it improve if car is still running (higher voltage). If not actuator related, mine got dusty and came good with a spray of lubricant.

Scott

[mfpoli]

Does the actuator sound sick? Does it improve if car is still running (higher voltage). If not actuator related, mine got dusty and came good with a spray of lubricant.

Scott

Thanks Scott. Sick? Maybe lazy is a better description. When pressed the first time, it makes a half attempt to engage. Better luck on the second press. Interesting point re voltage. I will check on this, including applying some lubricant

Kind regards
Mario

[sctsprin]

Mine did that for a month before failing, and I had to pull it all apart from inside the car, not fun

[AndrewM]

Mine did that for a month before failing, and I had to pull it all apart from inside the car, not fun

Ditto on my D3 several years ago. Reattached the cable to the actuator and installed an emergency rip cord.

[LRD414]

Ditto on my D3 several years ago. Reattached the cable to the actuator and installed an emergency rip cord.

To the upper or lower tailgate? Usually the upper tailgate actuator, located in the lower tailgate, fails. But it's the lower tailgate actuator that's controlled by the square button that the OP has issues with.

I haven't heard of cable breakages for the lower but the actuator could be on the way out.

Scott

[SBD4]

Hi All,

The square button which opens the lower tailgate of my D4 is a little sticky and now takes two presses to open the tailgate rather than one. If I am lucky, sometimes I can open with one press.

Any thoughts for a simple solution? I fear its a dodgy actuator or similar.

Many thanks
Mario
Mario, you've got warranty, use it. Don't stuff around with it otherwise you might be blamed for it not working meaning you pay for it.

[Bytemrk]

:thumbsup: What he said :D

[LandyAndy]

What they said:):):):):)
Andrew

[AndrewM]

To the upper or lower tailgate? Usually the upper tailgate actuator, located in the lower tailgate, fails. But it's the lower tailgate actuator that's controlled by the square button that the OP has issues with.

I haven't heard of cable breakages for the lower but the actuator could be on the way out.

Scott

Ha - you,re right Scott. :o It was the upper tailgate actuator in the lower tail gate that I fixed and installed the emergency release.

[mfpoli]

Sean - re warranty, definitely not shy to use it. Just thought there was a quick, simple solution to resolve the issue as well as avoid two trips to the dealer (1st for diagnosis, 2nd for the repair). But agree, I have no appetite pulling stuff apart and getting blamed for causing the problem in the first place (especially when its during the warranty period).

Scott - FYI, no difference re car on/off.

Kind regards
Mario

[kapelaw]

Moisture getting into the D4 tailgate latch is causing my 'same problem'.
After a rough gibb river kimberleys trip then whenever the tailgate area gets a rain soaking then the latch goes haywire until it dries out.
Any ideas and thanks scott/Andrew for starting this.
Peter
ps if I knew how I could remove the squeezie latch button insert and look...

[LRD414]

if I knew how I could remove the squeezie latch button insert and look...
The upper black trim is easy to get off ....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/04/62.jpg
This will partially expose the tailgate switch.

Further disassembly may help to work out what's happening. There's a pdf guide at this thread:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/101292-manual-tailgate-release-d3-6.html
But note that it's related to accessing the upper tailgate latch so not directly related to your issue.

Scott

[Vasculardoc]

There is a LR3/4 TSB for this problem, it seems like its common - unless of course you live in Darwin where i do and had this problem - after 3 hours of trying to get into the top part of the tailgate from the inside the LR service techs gave up and hit the internet ! Idiots. I had told them what the problem was, and told them the part numbers to order and that the lower door hatch needed to be taken apart from the inside to get at the actuator - almost did their job for them and they still got it wrong ! I'd say go to a good large volume LR agent and get them to fix it before it breaks in the middle of nowhere and your beer fridge is stuck in the back and you can't get at it because of the cargo barrier, the dog, and the fact that you can only get at the latch from inside the boot - just saying ;-)

[kapelaw]

Thanks vasculardoc, can you clarify that they/I need to repair or is it replace the actuator mechanism in the lower half that unlatches/releases the upper half?
Not the squeezie thingy (rev. camera area) mechanism in the upper 1/2 which I saw on a Russian site for $24.
Or is it install an emergency release cable. Or both.
I'm actually born-n-bred from there, we were living in the peewee camp mess house out at east point till I was 2/3 then moved to nightcliff, I believe the tin shack/house is one of the oldest houses up there, don't get back often! hope to take the family up there in the next couple of years.

[l00kin4]

Thanks vasculardoc, can you clarify that they/I need to repair or is it replace the actuator mechanism in the lower half that unlatches/releases the upper half?
Not the squeezie thingy (rev. camera area) mechanism in the upper 1/2 which I saw on a Russian site for $24.
Or is it install an emergency release cable. Or both.


Just a note that may be of interest. When I retrofitted my reversing camera and replaced the "squeezie thing" (this loom also includes wiring for the reversing camera and number plate light) the part number was updated to LR071911 (replacing LR015458) and the reason listed was some issues with moisture getting into the switch / corroding wires... I have a vague recollection that this applied only for certain models though. (up to MY14 maybe) I'll try to find the bulletin. Edit - found it - attached below.

David

[LRD414]

..... can you clarify that they/I need to repair or is it replace the actuator mechanism in the lower half that unlatches/releases the upper half?
Not the squeezie thingy (rev. camera area) mechanism in the upper 1/2 which I saw on a Russian site for $24.
Or is it install an emergency release cable. Or both.....
Well that depends on what symptoms you have ....

You initially mentioned "same problem" as Mario (the OP).
His issue is with the lower tailgate actuator that is driven by the square button in the lower tailgate.
Meaning the lower tailgate doesn't always open first go.

Alternatively, the upper liftgate actuator "lives" in the lower tailgate and is driven by the handle button in the upper liftgate.
When the actuator or its cable fails you need to access the lower tailgate to replace/repair.
Upper liftgate not opening is the most common problem and the one for which an emergency release cable can be beneficial.

<This thread> (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/101292-manual-tailgate-release-d3-6.html) has good details for the upper liftgate actuator issue.
I'm not aware of a thread/details for the lower tailgate actuator but access to it would be similar to that described in the linked thread because they both "live" in the lower tailgate.

Cheers,
Scott

[Vasculardoc]

Thanks vasculardoc, can you clarify that they/I need to repair or is it replace the actuator mechanism in the lower half that unlatches/releases the upper half?
Not the squeezie thingy (rev. camera area) mechanism in the upper 1/2 which I saw on a Russian site for $24.

Or is it install an emergency release cable. Or both.
I'm actually born-n-bred from there, we were living in the peewee camp mess house out at east point till I was 2/3 then moved to nightcliff, I believe the tin shack/house is one of the oldest houses up there, don't get back often! hope to take the family up there in the next couple of years.

It is the actuator in the lower tailgate. The squeezy button is just a button that makes a solenoid work and pull the cable, the cable comes loose from or breaks the actuator in the lower tail gate.


This is a good explanatory video....

How To Access Lower Tailgate Actuator Cable On LR3 (http://www.roverparts.com/resources/videos/accessing-lower-tailgate-actuator-cable-lr3/)

and this is the LR TSB.....

http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/13978/Liftgate%20Latch%20Diagnostics.pdf

Kudos to Disco3 and Roverparts for good explanatory pages :-)

[LuckyLes]

Hi All,
Where is the best place to buy a new actuator for the upper tailgate. Mine has started playing up. I rigged up a temporary manual unlock cable today, but would like to fix it properly.
thanks
LuckyLes