rear tailgate motor clicking

[pitzey]

Hi ,

My 944 rear tailgate motor does not realise the tailgate when the switch is pressed, although the motor is engaging when the switch is pressed down . Any ideas would be appreciated

regards Paul

 

[robwright]

Either the bowden cables to the locks are badly adjusted, broken or disconnected, the locks are not releasing or the gas strut is tired. The tailgate is so heavy you need a tip top gas strut to push it up.

 

[zcacogp]

Is it that the tailgate is released but fails to raise on the supports? You can test this by pulling the tailgate up while the motor is running.

If this IS the case (which is very common as the cars get older) then some new gas struts will solve your problem.

Alternatively, it may be that the mechanism really isn't releasing. The solution is to get inside the car and pull the cables to force the catches to open, then dismantle everything, clean it, lubricate it and put it back together. Then adjust it so it does release properly. The catches on the car can be dismantled by drilling the rivets out and all the 20-year-old crudded-up grease cleaned out. Doing this, along with a good clean of the mushrooms on the tailgate, should restore it to perfect working order.


Oli.

 

[Monkeythree]

Yup. A performance of the 944 shuffle is needed to clamber into the back and peel back the carpet from the poppers then have an accomplice operate the boot release switch while you watch to see If the knee bone is still connected to the thigh bone.

On mine it was the little white plastic linkage block which had popped off and vanished. They are a matter of pence from OPC so don't be tempted by the hilariously overpriced ones on ebay.

 

[pitzey]

cheers guys will check it out over the weekend

 

[bmnelsc]

My '91 does this occasionally when the tailgate hasn't been opened for a while - its just the seal sticking to the paint. A tug while operating the lock frees it up and then its good until the next time the hatch hasn't been opened for a few months.

 

[Andy 944]

Yup - Think we have ALL been there, good clean and lube should get you sorted, just make sure adjusted and seals correctly, I had a bit of trial and error as I had exhaust fumes being sucked in when window and/or sun roof was open

 

[ivortheengine]

will new struts be powerful enough to raise the hatch on its own,or does it need lifted manually?

 

[PSH]

will new struts be powerful enough to raise the hatch on its own,or does it need lifted manually?

new struts should be able to lift the hatch on their own..both my hatch and bonnet lift themselves once released...the hatch can be tricky if one catch catches....the bonnet shoots up as soon as it's released from the latch....much to the surprise of the MOT inspector a few weeks ago....

Pete

 

[robwright]

As long as the struts you use are good it will have no problem lifting the tailgate. If anything you will have difficulty closing it. As also said sometimes the seal can stick to the tailgate after periods of not being used. A little shove will get things moving though.

 

[pitzey]

I have noticed when i open the tailgate it sometimes does not close properly , one latch will take the other does not .

 

[PSH]

I have noticed when i open the tailgate it sometimes does not close properly , one latch will take the other does not .

You can usually fix this by adjusting the pins, try shortening the pin on the side that it's catching. Only do this in small steps, though, you don't want it too tight or this can lead to not being able to open the hatch. Be careful whilst adjusting the pins, try spraying some penetrating oil on the threads first, the nuts will probably be fine but it's the pin thread into the hatch that can seize so be careful.

Pete

 

[pitzey]

Great i will try