Tailgate button

mornin' all

coming home yesterday the tailgate lock started cycling all by itself & unlocked the tailgate whilst I was driving.

I took it to bits and the spring has disintegrated into about 8 parts.

I've checked the usual suspects and a new one is about £50.00, even direct from LR - I've fitted a 2nd hand one this morning but it's probably not going to be too long before this one starts to go as well.

Rather than pay for a whole new unit - does anyone know anywhere I can get just the spring, everything else on it is fine - LR don't sell it seperately.

I would suggest hunting down a decent hardware shop - the ones with things in little trays and boxes, the owner in a brown coat and a roll-up ciggy, dog laying on the floor behind the counter and a smell of solvents and musk in the air - you know a PROPER hardware shop....it is amazing what they have hidden in trays and boxes if your willing to wade through them...!!

cheers saint, we have one of those in the next village so will give it a go. Also, I noticed that Datatek had the same problem in 2011 (thank you search function) and he got round it by making one of of modellers piano wire so I've bought some of that as well and will be having a go - not sure wnat to form it round tho'

certainly don't want the tailgate coming open again when i'm driving!!!

Hawaii said:

cheers saint, we have one of those in the next village so will give it a go. Also, I noticed that Datatek had the same problem in 2011 (thank you search function) and he got round it by making one of of modellers piano wire so I've bought some of that as well and will be having a go - not sure wnat to form it round tho'

certainly don't want the tailgate coming open again when i'm driving!!!

Click to expand...

Whatever you use as a mandrel will have to be smaller than the finished spring to allow for spring back.

I made a new spring from some fence wire around a screw driwer, filled up with grease when fitted, works perfect, galvanised and cost a penny or so

Druim said:

I made a new spring from some fence wire around a screw driwer, filled up with grease when fitted, works perfect, galvanised and cost a penny or so

Click to expand...

I think piano wire, although not galvanised is a little superior for spring production than fence wire.

wammers said:

I think piano wire, although not galvanised is a little superior for spring production than fence wire.

Click to expand...

Well if it stops working one day i will just change it with one of the other ones made at the same time, no pianos near me but a roll of fence wire in stock

right, got it sorted.

had a go with the moddellers wire and found teh best thing to wrap it round was a 1/2" socket extension. Not wrapped too tight and bit about 5 coils, thinking i could cut off what I didn't need.

After a bit of adjustment - result. I've not only repaired my original one (now back on the car) but have also replaced the one in the second hand one I fitted yesterday - to be fair the spring wasn't broken in that one but it looked well scabby.

total cost £1.89 for the wire & 8 miles round trip in lpg

happy boy again but how silly is it that LR don't sell the spring seperately especially as the rest of the unit is really good quality and unkikely ever to fail

Hawaii said:

right, got it sorted.

had a go with the moddellers wire and found teh best thing to wrap it round was a 1/2" socket extension. Not wrapped too tight and bit about 5 coils, thinking i could cut off what I didn't need.

After a bit of adjustment - result. I've not only repaired my original one (now back on the car) but have also replaced the one in the second hand one I fitted yesterday - to be fair the spring wasn't broken in that one but it looked well scabby.

total cost £1.89 for the wire & 8 miles round trip in lpg

happy boy again but how silly is it that LR don't sell the spring seperately especially as the rest of the unit is really good quality and unkikely ever to fail

Click to expand...

The quality is crap, the button is not well waterproofed and the spring, as you found, rusts. The contact assembly may be good but the overall quality is typical LR