P38A Thanks for the help so far. Tailgate fixed.

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Scotiawhiskers

Well-Known Member
Posts
842
Location
Manchester
After 3 weeks (only really 2 sessions of tinkering though), thanks to the help on here with existing threads, questions asked and general chat, especially around getting RAVE to work under W10, we now have much improvement.
Yesterday saw the eventual extraction (with only slight damage to the hinge cover / bridge bit) of the lower tailgate cover. Then manual jiggling opened both upper and lower tailgates.
Switch rebuild gave reliable response from the actuator. Quite a bit of corrosion, cleaned up and now sealed against water.
Lock section extracted, cleaned up, regreased and replaced in location.
Side catches removed, completely disassembled, cleaned of 25 years of crud and dry grease, lubricated and reassembled, look and work like new.

Tips learned - operating rods to side latches need to be inserted correctly before full assembly, so that they are engaged on and will pull the locking / ratchet type mechanism and allow the main catch to turn.
Then make sure the ratchet is pulled and resting on the side of the main catch with that half way between lock and open.
Cover section, with spring inserted, slips almost all the way into place, a thin screwdriver or similar inserted through the lock travel opening will allow you to nudge the spring pin round and into engagement on the catch. Push home fully and tighten the small screw.
Tighten the 2 mounting Torx bolts so the catch is secure on the tailgate and job done.

If we had to do it again, with what we know now, would probably take about 20-30 minutes per latch maximum, instead of about an hour on the first one and 30 minutes on the second.

Next stop - either the ABS lamp (probable power hydraulics issue?) or the suspension checks before replacing the compressor.
 
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