THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: Boot lock stuck

Hi - I am unable to get into my boot, the central locking is working on all the doors except for the liftback. The key for the doors doesn't want to turn in the liftback lock, so I don't know if the lock is jammed or if there is another problem.

Has anyone got any ideas?!
Sad

thanks in advance.

dmb32c · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

Hi Ray, you may have tried this - use the key to turn the lock while operating the liftback handle outside. This only works when you turn the key one way, anti-clockwise I think. Cheers

Lehto · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

Sorry to tell you but you have to get into the boot and then try to push the locking mechanism to unlock mode. Its difficult as hell.

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

Chris P · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:29 am Post subject:

You are using the SECOND key? The door/ignition key is different to the glovebox/fuel/tailgate key!

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

eh?! What sort of English design trick is that! Confused

Actually I did try both keys just in case there was something weird like that going on...but yeah, no luck Crying or Very sad

ksclark3522 · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject:

mine is temperamental as well
try continually locking/unlocking the car, try the tailgate after each unlock. helps if you have somebody else there to try the tailgate. sometimes the lock/unlock technique can help to unstick the lock. assuming it is just sticky and not broken.

_________________
rover sd1 club member 4311
1984 3500 VANDEN PLAS
1984 2600SE WITH VITESSE BODY AND VANDEN PLAS INTERIOR
1998 820 STERLING

ramon alban · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

Out of left field, what can happen is that a piece if debris, a rag or something similar, has jammed in the latch mechanism and it may take a couple of colleagues lifting the tailgate with some determination whilst you operate the latch.
Ramon

Chris P · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject:

kiwi_sd1 wrote:

eh?! What sort of English design trick is that! Confused

Actually I did try both keys just in case there was something weird like that going on...but yeah, no luck Crying or Very sad

The idea with the separate key is that you can leave the car with a garage, boot secured.

Does the key which unlocks the fuel filler flap turn in the tailgate lock at all?
The tailgate lock turns both ways from the central position. Turn
anti-clockwise AND pull the tailgate release to open. If you turn clockwise,
the central locking is disengaged from the tailgate lock. This is worth
experimenting with as it can be confusing!

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject:

thanks for all the replies so far - nope, it doesn't matter which key I use in the lock, none of them will turn it. It had occured to me Ramon that something might have jammed as well....oh well, didn't stop me from enjoying an outing with a couple of my children this avo Very Happy

My son seems to think he will be allowed to use the Vitesse when he wants to take his girlfriend out....

chris_derby · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject:

Why not squirt some WD40 into the lock & see if that frees it off?

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Auto Vitesse, gonna be a beast!

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:51 am Post subject: still no joy

I've had another crack at this and still can't get anywhere. I spent some time in the boot and thought I'd remove the plastic trim to get at the mechanism but it looks like there's one screw that is on the top that I can't get a screw driver to - even my angle screw driver won't fit.

Has anyone got any hints on how to get at it from the inside?

While working on that I discovered the the hinges for the rear seat have been bent, and so now the rear seat doesn't want to lock properly when it's folded back up Sad

JayDeeVDP · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: tail lock jam

Similar to Ramon's experience, my tailgate seal which runs along the top of the headlight panel came adrift and became wedged in the locking mechanism, fouling it and causing the lock to jam...

_________________
Lifelong SD1 fan - 1983 Rover 3500 Vanden Plas

ramon alban · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: still no joy

kiwi_sd1 wrote:

While working on that I discovered the the hinges for the rear seat have been bent, and so now the rear seat doesn't want to lock properly when it's folded back up Sad

The reason the hinges are bent is folks lying across the folded down seat whilst trying to fix jammed boot locks, or similar heavy load on the folded seat back. I guess you already figured that out.

To fix, remove the hinges completely, put them in an engineering vice and whack the bent bits strategically with a big hammer until straight.

_________________
Ramon

ramon alban · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject: Re: still no joy

kiwi_sd1 wrote:

I've had another crack at this and still can't get anywhere. I spent some time in the boot and thought I'd remove the plastic trim to get at the mechanism but it looks like there's one screw that is on the top that I can't get a screw driver to - even my angle screw driver won't fit.

Has anyone got any hints on how to get at it from the inside?

Kiwi,

I'm fresh outa hints but have got some ideas using "Ramon's Theory of Everything" ***

I've eyballed the situation from inside my boot when the hatch is shut and based upon what is visible this is what I would do!

Carefully remove everything from the boot, parcel shelf, carpets, boards, back trim carpet, etc, etc. Its now empty with loads of room for a midget engineer to manouver!

Remove all visible screws retaining the Black Plastic trim panels around the aperture.

With the rear latch unlocked, have someone operate the latch from outside whilst gently using a crowbar --

-- between lock components to test if the lock will unjam. Increase the pressure as much as you dare.

If this fails, use the crowbar to break away the hidden screw holding down the nearside (L/H side) plastic trim.

If this fails, sacrifice the plastic trim, centre portion, and cut away the vertical component of that trim with an angle grinder, air-saw or cut-off tool. Then butcher the screw.

When the trim is off it will be possible to eyball all the bolts fixing the upper latch and the lower catch.

Undo them all. The looser it gets the more access to the fixings will occur.

If it works at least the damaged trim can be replaced from a scrap car, unless of course the prior owner had problems with his boot lock too. Evil or Very Mad

*** "Ramons Theory of Everything" states - "If in the first resort, all reasonable persuasion fails then replace the first resort with the last resort. Brutality!" ***

It definitely works for dogs and horses. My Dad-in-Law told me it always worked for his ignorant dairy herd and I've heard tell it can work for wives, so why not tailgates.

Good luck.

_________________
Ramon

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: Re: still no joy

ramon alban wrote:

kiwi_sd1 wrote:

While working on that I discovered the the hinges for the rear seat have been bent, and so now the rear seat doesn't want to lock properly when it's folded back up Sad

The reason the hinges are bent is folks lying across the folded down seat whilst trying to fix jammed boot locks, or similar heavy load on the folded seat back. I guess you already figured that out.

To fix, remove the hinges completely, put them in an engineering vice and whack the bent bits strategically with a big hammer until straight.

oops - guess I've been sprung Confused

Actually to be fair, I think they were already bent as there was a loud crack as we went to lay the seat back down. Hoping to pick up a second hand pair as one side has come apart.