Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 589
Frigging Tailgate!!
So I offered to help my mate out who needed a fridge freezer as his broke. (Necessary journey)
I went to pick it up on my way to work to keep journeys to a minimum etc etc.
I'd spent the morning washing, vac'ing and cleaning the motor, along with an oil and filter change.
The tailgate was working fine when I removed my dog boxes (yes you've probably guessed it ), but when I pull onto the driveway of the property I'm collecting the fridge freezer from it doesn't want to know! Frigging motors know when to pack up don't they.
Fortunately an integrated fridge freezer will just fit through the rear doors of a disco 4 and with some shuffling and lying down of the front seats, it'll fit fine. Getting it out was much the same.
Anyway, having spent my break reading post on tailgate woes, I have a couple of questions...
Is there an internal button push method for the D4? Like the lock/unlock button push on the D3?
Is the carpeted panel removal just for the lower tailgate or does that apply for the glass upper tailgate?
Under the rear near side of the vehicle there's a big wiring connector. What's that for and how do I stop it getting wet? Surely water in there will cause issues? Just wondering if me jet washing has got that wet and that affected the wiring to the boot latch?
Thanks in advance for any help given.
28th Apr 2020 7:05 am
Oswiperus D3 Decade
Member Since: 02 Apr 2010
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Posts: 1600
Can you hear the actuator operating when you press the handle or silence?
Have you tried the Tailgate release on the fob?
The actuator for the top tailgate release lives in the lower tailgate so yes it's the carpet part needs removing to replace if it turns out to be the actuator.
If your talking about the two big plugs on the chassis behind the N/S rear wheel, I've never heard of tailgate problems caused by these plugs, mainly Can bus and handbrake problems I think.Stu
2016 D4 Landmark current
2022 Defender D300 SE Gone
D4 2014 XS Commercial - Gone
D4 2016 hse lux montalcino red - Gone
D3 2005 se java black - current
D3 2005 base manual - gone
D2 1999 TD5 E white - current
28th Apr 2020 10:35 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14417
D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
28th Apr 2020 1:55 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14138
As a side note with motors giving up, last year my rear door motor decided to give up whilst having its MOT and consequently failed
so quick change of actuator and back to MOT station , quick inspection of door and passed
Hope u get it all sorted out
28th Apr 2020 2:33 pm
jamez79
Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 589
Hi,
I can hear the actuator when I press the fob and the handle. I just don't get the 'pop' from the boot opening and when I press either and pull the door it stays shut.
To top it off, I then couldn't lock the car as it kept beeping to say the tailgate was open.
Got home this morning after a night shift and fortunately it locked. Still can't open the boot though.
I'm guessing something's sheared off somewhere.
When I fitted the reversing camera, there was a bit of corrosion around the screws that hold the housing for the camera and door handle on, so maybe water has got in and over time broken the mechanism.
Anyone able to list part numbers and pictures so I can order the right bits once I've got it off?
Or point me to a place I can find them?
Cheers all.
28th Apr 2020 3:08 pm
jamez79
Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 589
Moo wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_PX1cVuaVA
28th Apr 2020 3:09 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14138
jamez79 wrote:
Hi,
I can hear the actuator when I press the fob and the handle. I just don't get the 'pop' from the boot opening and when I press either and pull the door it stays shut.
To top it off, I then couldn't lock the car as it kept beeping to say the tailgate was open.
Got home this morning after a night shift and fortunately it locked. Still can't open the boot though.
I'm guessing something's sheared off somewhere.
When I fitted the reversing camera, there was a bit of corrosion around the screws that hold the housing for the camera and door handle on, so maybe water has got in and over time broken the mechanism.
Anyone able to list part numbers and pictures so I can order the right bits once I've got it off?
Or point me to a place I can find them?
Cheers all.
Hi
Hope this may help u
Also have u tried pressing both the lock and unlock buttons together at the same time whilst someone tries to open the tailgate
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14138
28th Apr 2020 4:18 pm
jamez79
Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 589
Thanks for the links.
I opened the tailgate today following the guide. Easy enough to do.
The cable and L shaped end piece are in tact. Pressing the boot release on the fob showed the actuator moving a tiny amount but not enough to move the cable, so I'm guessing the actuator itself is broken.
I'll order a replacement this evening. Is it worth changing that L shaped bit too to prevent failure later on? I'm going to fit an internal release so I don't have to fiddle about again if it fails.
Thanks again for the help folks.
29th Apr 2020 4:28 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14138
Glad it helped
Must admit it certainly wouldn’t hurt thatS for sure considering the hassle u would have to go through if it locked shut
Hope it’s all an easy fix mate
29th Apr 2020 7:41 pm
jamez79
Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 589
It all came apart easier than expected. I found the easiest place to pop the carpet out was where the plastic trim slopes down on that iconic boot shape. hardest part was popping the actuator wire out of the housing so I could pull the cable and open the tailgate.
It's all stirped down ready to be replaced and I've managed to shut the tailgate and lock the car. I just have to lean in and pull the cable to open the boot for now.
Question is.... Genuine or Aftermarket part? Saving of £15 plus vat. I'm normally a genuine parts kinda guy, but feel slightly robbed by a £60 door actuator.
29th Apr 2020 8:29 pm
philm
Member Since: 02 Oct 2016
Location: Manchester
Posts: 732
Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 589
Amazing how essentially the same part, albeit a slightly modified end, can be so much cheaper.
All fitted yesterday and I've added a length of paracord as an emergency release, tucked up out of the way but easier to get to than popping off the boot carpet. Especially if I have the dog crates in there!
Next step, the oil drain mod.
Cheers
6th May 2020 7:15 am
James028
Member Since: 16 Mar 2020
Location: Borders
Posts: 86
I’ve just got my first disco (2010 d4) home and think I have the same issue. I did notice corrosion on the 2 wires where the upper tailgate hinges to the body. Can anyone tell me if these are involved in the opening mechanism or are they just the heated screen? Thanks in advance.
1st Jun 2020 7:27 pm
jamez79
Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 589
Hi,
I'm not certain, but I think the wires for controlling the tailgate actuators are both in the lower tailgate. I think the wires you can see from the roof to the upper tailgate are for the reversing camera, brake light, number plate lights, window wash etc.
I'm sure someone will be along soon to confirm.
If yours is a 2010, you may have the emergency boot release by pressing the lock and unlock buttons on the dash at the same time.
Anyway, welcome to Disco ownership.
The general theme is any issues are usually "It's a common problem", but the good thinkg is there's a wealth of knowledge on here and nothing beats a disco. 8)
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), but when I pull onto the driveway of the property I'm collecting the fridge freezer from it doesn't want to know! Frigging motors know when to pack up don't they.
