Broken back door latch

I can't open my back door! The button will press in but nothing happens. I've had the door card off and had a look. I can make it work manually from there. What's a working system supposed to look like? Is there supposed to be a gap between the barrel and the plastic mech?

My old MPV used to do that, I found that if I pressed the button over and over really fast it would eventually work.

So the answer is, if you fiddle with your backdoor button for long enough it will eventually open.

I never got round to fixing my rear button, but i'm sure a bit of lubrication might make things work better.

I don't think there's supposed to be much of a gap, if any. It's worth checking that the bolts hoding the latch on the tailgate aren't loose (or, as in my case, the metal has split near the latch) as the rod has to then move further to operate the latch.

A bit of lube might help things (as in so so many situations).

Ok, have lubed and fiddled but no joy

This is what it looks like Anything obvious? I did try the catch again and noticed there did seem to be more play in it. I can't see how it attaches so not sure if it's just a case of tightening some nuts.

The catch is held to the bottom of the tailgate with 2 bolts. The button (in your pic) is held on with a slide clip. Looks normal to me.

If you active that little white internal lever bit and it doesn't work then it must be the mechanism that grabs the bit on the floor - eg the bit in the bottom of the door.

You can test it on most cars by instead of closing the boot lid down, push a screwdriver shaft into its jaws. Then you can press the open button bits and thus watch the mechanism work or not as the case may be and try to solve the issue.

Fiddled with the white plastic bit and, yes, that makes it work ok. It won't work using the button on the outside which is pretty unfortunate. That's made me wonder if the distance between the barrel and the plastic is wrong, and if it is how do I fix it. Too tired to deal with it tonight. I'll have another fiddle tomorrow.

Maybe you could stick something on the end of the plastic bit with some decent glue?

Or even just wrap loads of insulation tape round it to make it "bigger"

But if there is some sort of metal linkage between the plastic bit and the mechanism, maybe straightening out a bend, or increasing a bend might take up the "distance"

EvaInNorfolk wrote:I can't open my back door! I can make it work manually ?

EvaInNorfolk wrote:Ok, have lubed and fiddled but no joy

This is what it looks like tightening some nuts.

EvaInNorfolk wrote:Fiddled with the bit and, yes, that makes it work . Too tired to deal with it tonight. I'll have another fiddle tomorrow.

I'm trying soooooo hard not to......

There should be 2 bolts either side of the catch? If it's loose the button wont have enough leverage to open it.

I applaud your restraint.

Good night.

It lives! My back door is fixed. Thanks for the help. I think it was the lubrication that made the difference. (Logi, don't even THINK about it )

MUST.......... RESIST..........RESIST........RESIST........




Amazing, I didnt mention owt about lube and breaking yer back door in.......