Hi all, this is my first post so please be gentle
My dad has a 55 plate tdv6 sport hse, when he had it 14 months ago both tailgates wouldn't open. Neither from the buttons on the tailgates or by holding the buttons down on the dash. This was repaired under warranty, the problem was in the bcm and it was sent away for repair. all was good untill yesterday, when the lower tailgate failed to open on the button. We tried holding the buttons down on the dash and it opens every time. I have removed the push button on the lower tailgate and tried jumping the wires to see if it was the button at fault but still nothing. Where should i go from here, is it possible that the catch is faulty or am i looking at the bcm again?
Thanks for any help
Mark

Hi, We are all very civilised on this forum

The component that seems to be responsible for a lot of tailgate faults is the switch for the upper tailgate; that's the one with the soft rubber feel. Water tends to get in and either the bit that operates the switch seizes up or the microswitch that it pushes fails.

The whole switch assembly can be levered/pulled out without doing any other dismantling but it is easier and less chance of damage if you first remove the tailgate trim piece as shown in this video:

A new switch is about £17 or so I think but check with Duckworths.

If you are lucky the switch might just need cleaning up and then sealing to keep water out in future or if you are very clever it might be possible to find a new microswitch and fit it in.

Good luck I hope it is a simple fix. 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Hi and thanks for the response.
The top tailgate is working perfect, so could this still work but cause the lower one not to. There is no boot open message on the dash or horn sound when trying to lock the car.
I will take the switch out and check anyway.
Thanks again for your help and i will keep you posted.
Mark

Ah... Was thinking you had same problem as first time. I agree you wouldn't expect the switch to be faulty if it is opening the upper tailgate. Sounds like a wiring issue. Did you find this thread with the wiring diagram for the tailgate?
http://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic21670....gate+bobby
Maybe check for any chafed wiring where it passes from the body to the tailgate up by the spoiler? 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Great thanks for that, i will sit and go through the wiring diagram tonight, and see if i can get to my dads car tomorrow. I have already removed the lower trim panel and left it off just in case it fails altogether. I will let you know how i get on.
Mark

You might find this explanation of the codes used in the wiring diagrams helpful:

http://www.rrsport.co.uk/gallery/albums/us...0Sport.pdf 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Update on the tailgate lock / button not working. I had arranged to have another look on saturday and to check the wiring through the tailgate hinge. But on Friday afternoon as my dad pulled into the petrol station he said that there was a fast repeated clicking from the boot, and something flashed up on the dash, but it was that fast he only caught the word boot. After this the boot lock and button has worked flawlessly. I know there is a lroblem there and its likely to happen again, but as at the moment its working it makes it impossible to trace a fault. I have tried everything to make it breakdown again but it just doesnt want to break.
so for the time being its fixed.
Thanks for all your help, and i will use the diagrams in the future if it ever goes again but for now all is good
Thanks again
Mark

Just to close this thread now, i have traced the fault stopping the lower tailgate from opening.
As in my last response the tailgate started working and has been working flawlessly up untill friday, when it started playing up again. As last time the button for the lower tailgate wasnt working, but we could open it by pressing the 2 buttons on the dash. Top glass was working properly.
Or so we thought, i was about to order a new lower lock when i thought maybe the car thinks the top isnt shut properly. So after spraying some wd40 in the upper lock and opening and shutting the top glass a couple of times, the lower lock is working every time again now.
So there is a new upper lock on order, and its hopefully the last time i have to visit this problem.
Mark

Probably a silly question, the lock is on order but when i fit it do i have to sync it to the car, or is it plug and play.
Thanks in advance
Mark