Tailgate won't open

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Andy Warren

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Full Member
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Location
Hertfordshire
Evening all, (presuming you read this tonight) my FL1 tailgate window decided to exploded whilst parked on my drive. I now can't get the tailgate door open, although the regulator goes down when you use the tailgate handle there's no clicking from the microswitch to release the door catch, if I use the window switch inside the car it (the regulator) goes down a bit with every press until it hits the broken glass still in the bottom of the tailgate & back up to the top in the same way.
I've had no problems with the tailgate opening prior to this & I know the regulator is fine as I replaced it a year ago, although the way the replacement, primeline, clamped the glass was not as good as the genuine one, (so I replaced the broken cable on the original & intended to refit it but never got round to it doh). The microswitch I'm sure hasn't gone tits up just because the glass shattered.
Has anyone got any suggestions on how I can get the tailgate open? So I can remove the door card to replace the window (along with the original regulator) please ? Many thanks.
 
Probably the only way is to pry up and inwards the top of the door card. This would give you access to the solenoid which justs needs pulled up or down (sorry I forget which) and the door will pop open.
I did this with a boot door that had no door card fitted but sorry not sure how easy it will be with one.
Hopefully someone else will have more experience of it.
 
Thanks for that Alibro, I had a look between the inner & outer window seals when I got home from work this morning & although you can see the lock assembly I couldn't see enough to release the door. I tried the tailgate again but the regulator would still only move a few inches with each squeeze until it reached near the bottom of it's travel where it was stopped going any further by the broken glass in the bottom so I broke the big bits of glass up & for the first time in over three years used the key in the tailgate lock, I turned it clockwise, held it there & the regulator moved to the top of it's travel in one go, it then beeped so I tried the tailgate release & hey presto it opened. I had a quick look on the bay of fleas & found JJ Autos in Warwickshire had a window in stock, did a four hour round trip to collect it, (nobody seems to want to post these things) cleaned it up & will fit it tomorrow along with the original regulator, weather permitting !
Again many thanks.
 
Thanks for that Alibro, I had a look between the inner & outer window seals when I got home from work this morning & although you can see the lock assembly I couldn't see enough to release the door. I tried the tailgate again but the regulator would still only move a few inches with each squeeze until it reached near the bottom of it's travel where it was stopped going any further by the broken glass in the bottom so I broke the big bits of glass up & for the first time in over three years used the key in the tailgate lock, I turned it clockwise, held it there & the regulator moved to the top of it's travel in one go, it then beeped so I tried the tailgate release & hey presto it opened. I had a quick look on the bay of fleas & found JJ Autos in Warwickshire had a window in stock, did a four hour round trip to collect it, (nobody seems to want to post these things) cleaned it up & will fit it tomorrow along with the original regulator, weather permitting !
Again many thanks.
Brilliant! Well done getting it open.
 
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