Tailgate latch

[Paulh]

I have just been on a 5 week outback trip. Towards the end , the tailgate latch became difficult to open, to the point that I could'nt open it. Unable to gain access to the inside rear of the of the vehicle, due to draw system. In the end I smashed the plastic latch moulding off and using an ansle grinder cut a hole in it near the latch, 10 secs later , opened.
This was a new latch before I left, as the previous one was also playing up.
Is there a known solution to this issue, or are the pomms the only ones who cant design a latch that works when dust is around.
Oh! and I also now have a 5" crack in the radiator support panel.

[dmdigital]

Its quite common for the latch to clog with dust on outback roads. Normally a quick squirt with an air hose will clear it.

Also its not a problem exclusive to Land Rovers even the supposedly unstoppable Cruiser door will succumb to this, although usually their door handles just fall off.

[Andyb43]

Just drive with the windows up and the fan on to presureise the cab stops most of the dust even in a tub as leaky as a Land Rover.

[dmdigital]

Just drive with the windows up and the fan on to presureise the cab stops most of the dust even in a tub as leaky as a Land Rover.
We aren't discussing the dust on the inside here. This is the dust on the outside that clogs the rear latch.

[scarry]

I had heaps of trouble with the passengers door latch on the last dusty trip,the back door latch was hard to open,but didnt fail completely.If it did it would have been APITA as i have a cargo barrier.

Both problems seemed to rectify themselves once we got off the dirt roads.

Is there some type of dry lube that can be used?

In the D2 workshop manual there is some kind of lubricant with a LR part no.,but i dunno what it is?

[Andyb43]

We aren't discussing the dust on the inside here. This is the dust on the outside that clogs the rear latch.

DUGHHHHH where do you think the latch is fixed on the spare wheel!!!!

It is inside the door seal on the rear door and when you presurise the car it reduces the dust entering the car including the door seals.

Obviously you dont drive much in the dust with the windows up and fan on. Try it next time you might be surprised LOL.

Have a think next time you type LOL

[dmdigital]

Obviously I know nothing about driving on dirt tracks or where the tailgate latch is on a Discovery 2.

Shame that I owned a Disco 2 for 5 years and that I live at the end of 680km of dirt track. But obviously I know nothing about driving in outback conditions.

So please ignore my previous posts as just idle banter. I'll just crawl back under a rock and leave this to the experts.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/1389.jpg

[Andyb43]

Good on you mate.
Next time you go down your drive to the car wash try windows up and fan on you will be surprised LOL.

Ps looks like you need a car wash

Have a nice day LOL:D

[Paulh]

I generally drive with windows up and fan on, as otherwise car fills with dust. Left hand passenger door latch also played up, could only open from outside in the end. I think dust comes in from outside due to vacuum effect behind car and latch being external to door seal.
Is a bit hard to blow out with compressed air, as unable to access latch. Though on next trip could make it part of weekly maintenence. Not a very satisfactory answer, having to dismantle door trims and remove the latches.

[Narangga]

DUGHHHHH where do you think the latch is fixed on the spare wheel!!!!

It is inside the door seal on the rear door and when you presurise the car it reduces the dust entering the car including the door seals.

Obviously you dont drive much in the dust with the windows up and fan on. Try it next time you might be surprised LOL.

Have a think next time you type LOL

My D2 has the door latch mechanism on the 'outside' or behind/rearward of the door seal. Hence when I drive as you suggest (which I always do) there is still a buildup of dust on the latch and mechanism.

It is the first thing I clean at the end of a day's driving on the dirt so it doesn't seize up.

[Paulh]

thanks Stuu, Dale
How do you clean the latch, I have a new ARB compressor on board, do you remove the latch or blow it out insitu.
I plan more trips on outback roads in the future, if I cant resolve this issue I will probably sell the car as I dont wont to be caught in the middle of WA , not being able to access water and food etc.
regards paul

[Narangga]

I blow air in with the door closed. Water as well if it is available. Then open and wipe clean both the latch and the stiker. Make sure you then lubricate the latch on the door well.

Had similar problem with the 75 series Troopy years ago - especially the larger of the barn doors. The handle snaps in half very easily on them if the door is not well lubricated.

It just needs to become part of your regular prevenative maintenance. Hope that helps.

[scarry]

lubricate the latch on the door well.



It just needs to become part of your regular prevenative maintenance. Hope that helps.

Lubricate it with what?

As for having the windows up & fan on using outside air,makes a massive reduction of dust in the car,but the door locks still seem to play up:(

[Narangga]

Lubricate it with what?

I use lanolin which is good in the short term. A graphite based solution would work longer but I have not gone looking for one.


As for having the windows up & fan on using outside air,makes a massive reduction of dust in the car,but the door locks still seem to play up:(

Yep mine does too. That's because (as dm_td5 also pointed out) the latch is outside the seal and therefore the dust affects it even though the windows and fan solution keeps the inside of the car clean.

[Panya]

There's been lots of posts on this in the past. Consensus is graphite powder to lubricate the latch, not a spray as that will clog. I have started to use the graphite powder (sold in agri stores as a seed lubricant) and it eases up the lock nicely after a dusty drive...

[BMKal]

Obviously I know nothing about driving on dirt tracks or where the tailgate latch is on a Discovery 2.

Shame that I owned a Disco 2 for 5 years and that I live at the end of 680km of dirt track. But obviously I know nothing about driving in outback conditions.

So please ignore my previous posts as just idle banter. I'll just crawl back under a rock and leave this to the experts.



:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:

Must be that modern automated car wash place you've got out there Derek.

[grumpybastard]

Can anyone confirm if the dust enters the rear door through where the hinges are located?

It appears to me that they are completely open and you can stick your fingers in the gap?!?!

[midal]

Can anyone confirm if the dust enters the rear door through where the hinges are located?

It appears to me that they are completely open and you can stick your fingers in the gap?!?!

Grumpybastard

In the dark I aimed a Dolphin torch from inside the car at the hinge locations and shut the back door......no signs of any light showing through the internal rubber seal at all.
Repeated this at the latch site, no signs of light either.
Bear in mind the car was stationary and whilst moving on dirt roads there would probably be a bit of flex in the door fitting and the only seal is the internal one, nil on the door itself.
Another area to consider is the external latch under the plastic housing....I can't see any seals leading up into the hole the latch levers connect with the door latch levers inside the door itself and due to the station wagon design a lot of dust gets sucked onto the back of the car, hence under the housing and into the door where the latch mechanism is fitted.
All around the rear door the fitting to the adjoining frame panels is pretty poor, like it is generally with the entire car (my car anyway, particularly the rear passenger doors when closed...must have been a Friday vehicle).
It's such a common problem with dust intruding into the rear latch about the only consideration for people who suffer most with it is to stick masking tape all around the external door when travelling in really dusty areas to minimise the issue.
Discos, gotta love 'em hey.:D

Cheers
Mick

[grumpybastard]

A few pics to explain myself better... a picture tells a 100 words.....

This is where i am referring to, as you can see the hinges sit external to door rubber and the big gap around the hinge appears to go straight through into the inside of the door?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[midal]

Yep, gotcha....I can't imagine there would be any sealing inside the door around the hinges so that would be an entry point also. Between the door latch itself, the hinges, and the external latch housing, dust would have entry points in all of them.

Well, it's either masking tape all round the exterior of the door, or simply fill the gap and WELD the bugger up:twisted:

Cheers
Mick

[land864]

On our recent trip up the Oodnadatta Tk and the Centre I made a point of WD 40 in the rear door lock mechanism and catch every night.

We had a heap of dust and stack of mud due to rain betwen Oodnadatta and Marla ( 20mm rain overnight )

As others have pointed out WD 40 may not be the best long term option but as sson as it started feeling tight I lubed it up good with WD and had no troubles. I may clean him out now and use Graphite Powder.

Someone also told me to use Mr Sheen or another silicone based spray can cleaner in locks and mechanisms after graphite powder as this will carry the graphite right in and leave it when dried out.

Pete

[midal]

I use a spray called "3 in 1 professional"...it's a silicone spray that dries out without leaving a gluggy mess. Use it on all hinges, locks etc and in conjunction with a graphite puffer, no ill effects at all and no messy residue afterwards. Also use it for the ignition lock barrel.
Easy to come by, comes in a black and yellow spray pack and you can get it in any hardware store pretty cheap.
I have also used a Teflon spray for my firearms, particularly on the slides of pistols and it does a fantastic job, protects and lubricates but it's pretty expensive although you don't have to use it too liberally.
I've found that fixing the dust problem and getting it working again is no great problem, but it would be good to actually prevent it from occurring in the first place. Given the poor design of the back door area that looks pretty involved though and a definite trap for those are not aware of the issue, especially for those who find out for the first time on the Canning Stock Route and they have a cargo barrier in place!:mad:

Cheers
Mick

[Shonky]

Obviously I know nothing about driving on dirt tracks or where the tailgate latch is on a Discovery 2.

Shame that I owned a Disco 2 for 5 years and that I live at the end of 680km of dirt track. But obviously I know nothing about driving in outback conditions.

So please ignore my previous posts as just idle banter. I'll just crawl back under a rock and leave this to the experts.

:Rolling:

Everyone is an expert on teh intanetz!!!1!111 :lol2:

[feral]

A few pics to explain myself better... a picture tells a 100 words.....

This is where i am referring to, as you can see the hinges sit external to door rubber and the big gap around the hinge appears to go straight through into the inside of the door?

http://www.weaselsnout.net/web/pics.nsf/pictures/MARR-7XFFSL/$File/MARR-7XFFSL.jpg

http://www.weaselsnout.net/web/pics.nsf/pictures/MARR-7XFFSE/$File/MARR-7XFFSE.jpg


The seals are missing. :eek:

I'm very positive that my Discovery has a seal in place to enclose the tailgate area.


__________________

Lyndon.

Discovery Td5 with bits.

[grumpybastard]

The seals are missing. :eek:

I'm very positive that my Discovery has as seal in place to enclose the tailgate area.


__________________

Lyndon.

Discovery Td5 with bits.

Hmmm, that's interesting, i always thought it was a bit strange

Can this be confirmed?

[midal]

With the exception of the interior rubber seal fitted to the body frame, (door closes against it) there are no other seals in place on mine either....none around the hinges, none around the door itself, and no indication that any have ever been there.

Mine is a 2000 model, could they have been fitted on later models as a result of problems being subsequently being raised?

Cheers
Mick

[Narangga]

Mine are the same a GB's. Definitely no seals around where the hinges enter the door.

[grumpybastard]

So that makes 3x 2000 models without any seals, can anyone with a later model confirm if a seal was fitted later on?

[Cannon]

2003 no seals

[Franz]

2003 no seals
2004 - no seals.

[midal]

Well it appears that it is a design fault generally.

I might have a look around and see if I can get some sealing rubber to go right around the back door, not quite as thick as the inner seal though. There is room for it, a little tight behind the hinges and by the latch but it should work and that will prevent (or at least minimise) dust from getting into the area hopefully. That just leaves the entry point under the plastic housing where the external latch is. Really do need something around those hinge holes as well though.

Cheers
Mick

[grumpybastard]

Well it appears that it is a design fault generally.

I might have a look around and see if I can get some sealing rubber to go right around the back door, not quite as thick as the inner seal though. There is room for it, a little tight behind the hinges and by the latch but it should work and that will prevent (or at least minimise) dust from getting into the area hopefully. That just leaves the entry point under the plastic housing where the external latch is. Really do need something around those hinge holes as well though.

Cheers
Mick

I was thinking that a flat piece of rubber cut out around the hinge and glued to the flat part of the door might work ???

[midal]

Yes, that should take care of the hinge holes. I was also thinking about getting the type of stick on seal that you can pick up for domestic doors to seal off gaps in door frames....they come in either foam or rubber and are pretty thin so should not create any binding issues opening and closing the door. Pretty cheap so if that doesn't fit the bill it's no great expense lost anyway. That may ease the interior door latch dust accumulation a little.

Cheers
Mick

[nice1guv]

Well, this is the rear door of my D1! :p

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/1124.jpg

As you can see, there is a factory rubber seal around the hinge, on both the top and bottom one! :D

Sounds like they left this off the D2?

Also with the D1 (not sure of D2), you can pop the Land Rover badge off the tailgate handle and spray lube in there. :D

[midal]

Hmmmm....grrrr....mumble mumble.....LR must have run out of money when they reached the D2 :2up:back door:mad::toilet:


Cheers (NOT)
Mick

[scarry]

Hmmmm....grrrr....mumble mumble.....LR must have run out of money when they reached the D2 :2up:back door:mad::toilet:


Cheers (NOT)
Mick


Agreed,my brothers D1 has way better dust sealing than my D2:(

[Fluids]

2004 ... No seal.

But just like the D1 pic' above, it's should be easy to seal the hinge side.

Looking at the latch & latch side of the back door, there's space there to use some appropriately sized sealing rubber to put a seal around the latch striker area on the body so as to seal the latch on the door from dust ingress ... I think.

The handle on the back door appears to be more of a challenge ! Some sort of a cover, or pop-in plug type appliance maybe ?

Kev..

[Panya]

D1 seal part in microcat is MXC5288 if anyone interested to see if it fits the D2

[midal]

Thanks Panya, might try that. It's not a major problem and will be easy enough to rectify one way or another, just one of those minor annoyances.

Cheers
Mick

[scarry]

I have also noticed there are dust marks around the inside rear door handle,so recon you guys are correct.
Could just seal up around the hinges with sealent such as silicone,or cut a piece of rubber & stick it over the hole.
There is also a slot under the rear door that cant be sealed up.It may also be letting in a lot of dust.

[Narangga]

D1 seal part in microcat is MXC5288 if anyone interested to see if it fits the D2

Correct.

The invoice I received for the two I ordered are RO-MXC5288. The have a slit so the 'wrap' around the hinge. They are also backed with an adhesive so that they stick to the door. Will put them on tomorrow evening.

[Panya]

Buying mine today...:p:p

[Narangga]

Buying mine today...:p:p

In Nairobi?

[Panya]

Yup. Dealer pretty poor in having stuff in stock. Asked for front coils today. "Have right but not left hand side." So end up buying most parts from somewhere else - but they did have these seals probably old stock!