Freelander 1 Can I remove the tailgate trim with door closed? Handle Replacement.

Hey folks,

Literally the day after having the clutch replaced my tailgate wont open!

Long story short going to try and fix a new handle. However the tailgate wont open at all. Is it possible to remove the trim and get the handle off/on with the door closed?

Cheers for all advice.

Joe

Even if you can manually open it from inside of the tailgate, youll still have to get the window to drop. Unless you have done already?

If not, try holding the unlock button on the fob, or disconnect and reconnect the battery and window should fall.

If it doesnt fall, might be a problem with the window rather than the catch.

freebiker said:

Even if you can manually open it from inside of the tailgate, youll still have to get the window to drop. Unless you have done already?

If not, try holding the unlock button on the fob, or disconnect and reconnect the battery and window should fall.

If it doesnt fall, might be a problem with the window rather than the catch.

Click to expand...

The window opens and shuts fine using the inside switch. Just need to find out if I can get the tailgate panel of on the inside with the door not open or how to manually open the door! Key wont do it.

When you press the handle to open the back door, that contacts a switch which sends a message to the car's CCU, it operates lowers the rear window then energises the door latch to release it.

As the window drops on the button (which also goes through the CCU), there's nothing wrong with the window wiring/mechanism. So the problem is probably the micro switch in the handle - or possibly the loom from the switch where the door pivots?

I don't think the trim is easy to remove without damage with the door shut.

I also presume you can't get to the switch without removing the trim (maybe someone else might know other wise).

Your best bet may be to look in Rave and jump the pin to the CCU that is the feed from the rear door opening switch. This would open the door so you can then remove the trim to fix the problem.

the back door will not open with the key it is only meant to operate the window opening and closing

As others have said its likely to be either the switch or the loom in the door/pillar.

If it's the switch, you can get to the loom quite easily, by taking off the two screws for the numberplate light, and sliding the module out (by the looks). Then it should reveal a connector that goes to the switch's local loom.

I've taken a picture of a new handle I'm about to fit to mine, (as its suffering from the usual corrosion problems, and a new handle when Rimmers were doing their 17% off weekend was about the same cost as the secondhand ones were going for on eBay, (and I get a nice new rubber seal )) Anyway, I've drawn an arrow where the loom from the vehicle connects to the door handle . Remove the cable and you should be able to short the two pins together to do the job of the switch. You'll have to look up what pins to short on RAVE. Hope this helps. Jim

Just went out and looked at mine. I believe armed with a long reach Philips screwdriver (or one with a flexible end), a picture of where the screws are and a sense of humour, the panel could be removed from inside. The tail door seals against metal, and the panel is inboard of the side trims so should pull free once the screws are removed.

there are four screws at the bottom the top is held in place by the curve on it and down the sides are clips you may be able to pull the top over and get at the handle that way