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I took the rear latch for upper tailgate off in order to install a ladder and the door closed and now can not get it open.
Optional Information: Year: 2008Make: LandRoverModel: LR3 Already Tried: screwdrivers can't even open lower tailgate
Hi Thanks for using JustAnswer.
I want to make sure I fully understand what has happened here. you said you removed the upper tailgate latch...are you referring to the latch mounted in the center of the lower half of the door. Or are you talking about the latch striker, its the steel part that is mounted on the upper half of the tailgate.
Also was this part off the vechicle when the door shut or had you reinstalled it and then the tailgate would not open after
Thanks
Dave
It's the latch used to open the upper door and it's on the left hand side of door-it was removed and then the top closed. Could not open it back up.
Oh I see you had the door handle section removed while doing the ladder installation correct? I am looking right now to see if I can find a picture...I just want to make sure we are talking about the same thing
It is the exterior handle for the upper tailgate that we removed.
Ok that makes more sense, thanks for clarfing it for me..
Ok so no door handle on the outside, I am not certain I can get years and models mixed up on occasion but is there a tail door relase button on your dash either above the radio unit or below near the a/c controls...I may be thinking of a range rover but thought I would throw that out just in case
I was wrong-it is a 2007 model. There is a master unlock switch which includes the tail gate but with the latch unit removed the electronic unlock doesn't work. Here is a link to a pdf document that has picture of rear latch handle.
http://www.landroverusa.com/assets/us/en/Owners/About/Your_LR3/07LR3_QuickStart.pdf
Ok I am guessing that you have tried to reconnect the electrical part of the door handle even with the door closed?
I can tell you how to get your taildoor open but it isnt easy and requires you to cut the tail gate latch cable from inside of the vechicle (we do that procedure when the latch failes mechanicly) and I want to try and cover all the other possibiltes before we go that far...I am sure you wont be to eager to do that to your new LR3 to boot.
I am going to spend some time looking at other possiblites also.
Just want to make sure we are on the same page as to what part was removed. Did you see the picture of the tailgate latch on the pdf document?
I did you have removed the outer door handle assembly. The latch is actually dead center of the tail door and mounted to the lower half of the tailgate...which you dont need to remove for the ladder instalation.
Cannot reconnect the electric part of door handle assembly. Also cannot release the latch in the center of the door that you are referring tol.
We have been able to release the tailgate which opens partially but latch holds the upper tailgate door to the lower tailgate door. we need a way to mechanically release that latch.
Yeah I fully understand what has happened, I am looking at the wiring diagrams as we speak to see if we can pop the taildoor some other way. With out going to the trouble of damaging your tail door lock assembly..
Just need a few minutes
Can you see the electrical connector to the door handle...have any access to it at all?
unfortunately no.
Ok we can do this without too much pain...
I am not sure how much access you have with the door shut but I want you to try this first, if we cant get to this connector then we can move to a different one.
Its hard for me to recall clearly since I dont have LR3 in front of me but inside at the rear door up on the headliner is there a plastic cover...should be about center of the vechicle.
We are looking for connector #c0117 here is a picture of it. If you can access this let me know and we can move to the next step if not no worries we will just have to move on to the next connector in the circuit. Also you will need a bit of wire for what we are going to do nothing special any old wire will work...speaker wire etc.
Yes, we Have access to that connector.
Excellent ok here is what we are going to do...i forgot one other item you need is a safty pin or needle or even a paper clip that you starighted. What you need to do is take your wire and wrap the bare end of it around your needle and insert it gently in to the connector. If you look close at the connector you will see a black wire with a gray strip what we need to do is insert your pin into the connector where this wire enters. then take the other end of the wire and touch it to any area of the car body that is not painted.
It should just take a quick touch of the wire to the bare metal and the tailgate will pop open.
Let me know how it goes or if any problems/concerns come up
Cheers
Experience: Land Rover Master Technican/ASE Master Technican. 12 years Land Rover Experience
My husband is trying your solution right now. Will get back with you to let you know if it works!
Did the email with all the thanks make it to you?
I increased the funds to $50 which is just a pittance compared to what the Land Rover dealer would have charged us.