Thread: Freelander 1 tailgate won't open

Hmmm... Bit of a 'catch' 22 going on there.

FWIW - The latch is actually controlled via ECU. The switch in the handle tells the ECU that you want to open the door, it'll drop the rear window and then release the latch.

You're going to have to try & find a way to mimmic this.

There is a self-test diags mode which will activate this but you're going to have to have everything connected up for it to work, though there is no harm in trying. I can't remember the sequence off-hand but I'll do a quick search and see if I can find it...

M

Here you go...

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php?p=532384

M

I have had this happen when the tailgate window motor stops working.

Try disconnecting the battery, wait a 5 minutes and reconnect. This will cause the ECU to lose it memory of where the tail gate window is and in normal operation the window will lower. But if the window motor is u/s the window will remain up but the ecu will think its down and will allow you open the door.

Usually you can remove the cover off the window motor and blow out the carbon and they will work again.

Thanks lads. The window has been removed. I did this to access the solenoid in the first place. When I connect the new switch and operate it, I can hear and see the window mechanism do it's thing (drop a cm etc) but the solenoid doesn't operate. Camel_Landy is right, it's a perfect Catch 22, I have to replace the solenoid but can't access it because the door is closed and the screws for the solenoid are inside the door wall. When I finally open it (and I will!) I'll edumacate ya'all. Cheers.

The latest... I was able to open the door by removing all electrical plugs from the rear latch mechanism and sticking two wires connected to 12VDC up the socket for the release solenoid. She opened a treat. Now to replace all the broken bits and cross my fingers the sequence works. Cheers

Good luck...

M

Okay, I got it all back together but now the lock locking computer and immobilizer system is all a mess. Eg: the rear door doesn't open but the window lowers to allow opening clearance, the main doors do not lock and unlock with the FOB, the car will not start after being shutdown unless you operate the unlock button on the FOB, and so on and on... My questions are: do I need to reprogram the ECU for the doors/immobilizer and if so, is there a published method? Thanks in advance. Cheers.

AFAIK, the only re-programming needed is for new FOBs... Which it doesn't need as it recognises the FOB.

It could be something as simple as the system getting its knickers in a twist. As a first port of call, just try disconnecting & re-connecting the battery. Then, if that doesn't work, use the self-test I mentioned before to make sure the ECU can talk to everything (the 2x things in mind are the dropping of the rear window & releasing the latch on the rear door).

HTH

M