Freelander 1: interior lights flicker whilst driving. Rear door issue.

Hello all.

The internal.lights came in whilst I was driving. Now they are on most of the time I'm driving a flicker a fair bit too. I have traced the issue down to the rear door (back door, tailgate). If I slam it shut the lights go out.... until I hit a bump in the road when they come back on again. I've checked the rear door. It's doing all it should do, nothing is loose, the window goes up and the handle and mechanism seems pretty solid (handle springs back nicely indicating the springs are likely to be OK).

My guess is that there is some sort of electrical micro switch that is only just making contact and when I hit a bump it loses contact.

Any idea what I can do? I'm slightly worried I need to change the handle mechanism (£26), an easy enough job but I'd prefer to be able to adjust the micro switch if that possible.

Thanks for any help.

There have been a few threads of late regarding the rear door opening solenoid / latch.

IIRC the door open sensor is in there.

You could check by downloading the Rave Workshop Manual...


It will have a description of how this operates, but it also has circuit diagrams. There will be a connector number for the door open sensor and there are pictures of all the connectors so that you can identify where it is.

Thanks. Have tried to locate threads but drawn a blank. I'm not able to download the manual either as I'm on the road now and in the very north of Scotland with only a mobile phone for internet access. On the upside I've fiddle around with the door and sprayed silicon grease into the door latch mechanism which has alleviated the problem a bit. Will continue to search for those threads.

Late edit: Ahah!

Update:
I am back from touring the UK and about to address the rear door issues. It's got worse since I last posted though

Originally the internal lights stayed on whilst driving. Eventually I realised I could get them to go off by driving with the windows open or by slamming the rear tailgate door (which kept them turned off for a while while before they started flickering and then stayed on). I suspected the an issue with the tailgate lock microswitch so was hoping I would be able to adjust it (or failing that buy a new one... £50... gulp).

Recently, in addition, the back window has stopped working. It's just fully closed all the time. I have to sort of feed it into the top bit as I close the back tailgate door. The manual door lock does nothing, nither does holdiong fown the key fob lock button or the window open/close switch between the front seats, however the window motor does whirr when I hold the down button.

I'm going to go through the Rave manual and take apart the back tailgate door. Has anyone any pointers for me to make diagnosis simpler?

BTW. I've tried resetting the back window according to instructions on this forum (disconnect battery, multiple key fob presses etc) but nothing happens. It's the 5 door Freelander 1, 2006.

Thanks for any help.

The manual lock is only to raise the window. Hold the unlock button on fob to lower.
Reset window by going all the way up with the door closed, but as you have to feed it into position it sounds like it's out of alignment. Remove door card and the fixings allow it to be angled in or out. The fixings are threaded both sides.

Thanks. I realise I made a mistake in my last post so I've rectified it and added more info. Now have tailgate door card off and plastic sheet removed. Have been reading Rave manual. All is clear as mud.

If you can check the wiring diagram there should be a cable to tell the controller the door is closed, I'd check that gives the correct signal first. I would look at that before the window as the window relies on being able to detect if the door is open or not.