Discovery 1 - Rear Tailgate Lock

[SteveGoodz]

Hi there folks, haven't been here much of late but looking to put that right again. To start you off here's a little problem I'm having ...

Got a bit of a problem with the tailgate door on my Discovery (1997 vintage) in that the lock won't unlock on the fob. I can unlock it with the key okay though :-)

I've got the trim and all off at the moment for access to the mechanism but can't see what's wrong. The actuator lifts up when I hit the unlock button but as it relaxes again (as I understand it should) the lock mechanism falls back into the locked position.

I had a similar problem with the drivers door lock on a different Discovery some years ago and that was cured by adjusting the length of a stainless steel rod. I was kinda hoping this would be something similar but I don't see any adjustment on any of the linkages ... am I missing something?

Also, the actuator (AMR3382) is feckin' expensive (£75 from Rimmer Bros). Does my memory serve me correctly in thinking that someone like Maplins did an identical unit for a lot less - or have I completely lost the plot? I'm not (yet) convinced that the actuator is faulty but it'd be nice to know just in case :-)

Any assistance would be appreciated :-)

[beast5680]

I had a similar problem on one of mine replacing the door lock actuator solved it, http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=12304&doy=29m5 the maplins one is almost a direct replacement i think you have to slightly mod the mounting but nothing complicated if i recall

[AndyMacG]

Ive got the maplins actuators on 2 of  my door as it was a damn sight more cheaper than getting a new pair, the holes lined up ok I had to change the wiring connectors  and it worked,

[SteveGoodz]

I had a similar problem on one of mine replacing the door lock actuator solved it, http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=12304&doy=29m5 the maplins one is almost a direct replacement i think you have to slightly mod the mounting but nothing complicated if i recall

AH! That's the badger. Many thanks for the link :-)

[iann41]

It may be the little door spring that has broken.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Landrover-Discovery-Door-Lock-Repair-Spring-Tailgate_W0QQitemZ200281805471QQihZ010QQcategoryZ31348QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

i got mine from here and also got the instructions on how to fit. only took an hour from start to finish but now i need the door skin tabs as these have all broken.

[craig_midz]

when my tailgate was doin exactley the same as yours wouldnt unlock off fob but i couldnt unlock with key as key didnt work :( i just changed the lock mechanism as i changed central lockin motor an it did exactley the same since i changed the door mech it has worked fine an i only paided 7-50 off ebag for door mech

[SteveGoodz]

It may be the little door spring that has broken.

Cheers for that thought. Where is the spring located? I'm looking at the exploded view of the mechanism from the parts manual and can't see any springs ... obviously missing something  :?

Think I'll buy the springs as a first attempt ... then an actuator ... then a complete mechanism ... then the door will be worth more than the Disco  :clap: :dance:

[iann41]

take the door mechanism off the tailgate and look in the centre. there are two round springs. the smallest is the one that usually breaks. about the size of a 5p piece. Ian

[SteveGoodz]

take the door mechanism off the tailgate and look in the centre. there are two round springs. the smallest is the one that usually breaks. about the size of a 5p piece. Ian

Ian, many thanks for your assistance. The springs arrived yesterday so I've spent the last couple of hours replacing the broken one - yep! it was indeed broken. What a right royal pain in the proverbials that job is! Getting one of the retaining clips for the connecting rods back on was a PITA and no mistake.

Still, the job's done now and the door locks and unlocks like a good'un :-)

On to the next job :-(