Thanks for that dogsbody will give it a go

dogsbody said:

Start with the button itself. There should be a rubber flange to stop water getting in. They perish but are available on fleabay for a couple of quid. Then the interior spring. I couldn't find the spring alone, only the entire button assembly. I replaced mine with a custom built item. It was a bit of old wire coat hanger. Then I packed it all with grease. I think I meant it as a temporary measure - two or three years ago!

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I made a new spring from piano wire bought from a model shop

Well today checked the tailgate took the button to bits all seemed very good, checked all connections and fittings cleaned and oiled and put all back together.
Took of drivers door panel looks as though it's never been touched, had bit of a fiddle checked what connections i could see put all back together took for reasonable drive and !!!!!!!!!!!! all seeemed ok no ghost locking or unlocking time will tell but i do feel a bit confident that maybe somehow could have sorted it. fingers crossed. so thanks for the info and sugestions given.