Discovery Series II 2004 Tailgate door not unlocking

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landmark II

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Hi, I have had the odd problems over the years with lock mechanisms needing replacing but never a problem before with my Tail door. Now it has decided that if I lock the doors with my key fob the only way I can open my tail door is to climb over the rear seats and pull on the release lever on the inside of the door. I can then close the door and reopen it externally. The real oddity is that if I have opened it and then shut it and then drive somewhere the car auto locks all the doors when I get up to speed driving and unlocks when I stop and turn the engine off I can then open the door from the outside but if I use the key fob to lock the doors I have to release it inside. Has anyone had this problem before as the Garage specialist I use tells me he has NEVER had this before in all his years of servicing Land Rovers. Can you help please.
 
Hi, I have had the odd problems over the years with lock mechanisms needing replacing but never a problem before with my Tail door. Now it has decided that if I lock the doors with my key fob the only way I can open my tail door is to climb over the rear seats and pull on the release lever on the inside of the door. I can then close the door and reopen it externally. The real oddity is that if I have opened it and then shut it and then drive somewhere the car auto locks all the doors when I get up to speed driving and unlocks when I stop and turn the engine off I can then open the door from the outside but if I use the key fob to lock the doors I have to release it inside. Has anyone had this problem before as the Garage specialist I use tells me he has NEVER had this before in all his years of servicing Land Rovers. Can you help please.
Are you sure it isn't just sticky?
You can take the "Land Rover" green oval off the handle then spray WD40 over the door opening and closing mechanism. So basically to the left as you are looking at it.
This is what you have to do if it won't open no matter what you do, inside or out.
Can't do any harm to try it.
 
Thank you for such a speedy response. Yes, the garage guy said it could be rust at the ends of the mechanism and explained the Green oval route (I at least learned about the green oval so far lol) but after flicking the handle and what felt like half a can of WD40 no go. I then went down to the garage guy who was a bit grumpy about having his cup of tea disturbed and asked him to tell what else I can do which is when he told he had never in all his years encountered this problem (may be the cup of tea blocked his thought process of course) but it's left me high and dry at the moment pulling a cord attached to the inside handle in order to open the door. Trouble is if I fully load the car the cord may not be operative depending on the load position when I stop.
 
Thank you for such a speedy response. Yes, the garage guy said it could be rust at the ends of the mechanism and explained the Green oval route (I at least learned about the green oval so far lol) but after flicking the handle and what felt like half a can of WD40 no go. I then went down to the garage guy who was a bit grumpy about having his cup of tea disturbed and asked him to tell what else I can do which is when he told he had never in all his years encountered this problem (may be the cup of tea blocked his thought process of course) but it's left me high and dry at the moment pulling a cord attached to the inside handle in order to open the door. Trouble is if I fully load the car the cord may not be operative depending on the load position when I stop.
Well your garage guy is a dick as I have a Disco 1 it happened on and a Disco 2 it happened on.
But TBH I couldn't open the door even from inside, as you can, so it may be something else. Probably electrical.
Once you get it opening keep on lubing it and making the action work.
I get the impression that the key fob is "double locking" the doors. (Whcih it should do)
Try instead locking it with the key, as if you were going to leave an animal inside. Then unlock with the fob and see if it is still stuck.
I take it that the "lock/unlock" button on the dash is no help?
It may simply be that the electronic door unlock mechanism in the tail gate has given up the ghost.
 
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I think that you are spot on that it's electrical. The inside Lock/unlock switch has no effect on the Tailgate door which I assume the car locking the doors when I drive off is the same circuit as that too has no effect on the door. I tried several times to lock with the key and then unlock with the fob but when I tried the outside handle it set off the alarm each time which too is odd as I thought the key locking the doors was supposed to not arm the alarm so I guess the electrics in the lock has short circuited something inside and yet it still locks on the fob and unlocks by the inside handle. Thinking about it I have to say I am happier for it to be this way round as at least I can leave the car. Unhappy that I cannot use the boot space properly. Also unhappy that there are so few decent Mechanics around who are interested in an old Disco so I am going to have to take my guy a cuppa and ask him nicely to sort it out. I doubt I have the skill set to take this on myself. Thank you for your trouble I'm very grateful. All the best
 
I think that you are spot on that it's electrical. The inside Lock/unlock switch has no effect on the Tailgate door which I assume the car locking the doors when I drive off is the same circuit as that too has no effect on the door. I tried several times to lock with the key and then unlock with the fob but when I tried the outside handle it set off the alarm each time which too is odd as I thought the key locking the doors was supposed to not arm the alarm so I guess the electrics in the lock has short circuited something inside and yet it still locks on the fob and unlocks by the inside handle. Thinking about it I have to say I am happier for it to be this way round as at least I can leave the car. Unhappy that I cannot use the boot space properly. Also unhappy that there are so few decent Mechanics around who are interested in an old Disco so I am going to have to take my guy a cuppa and ask him nicely to sort it out. I doubt I have the skill set to take this on myself. Thank you for your trouble I'm very grateful. All the best
No worries, if you unlock with the key the alarm should sound unless it has been disabled which is only possible with a good diagnostic.
It also sounds as if someone has already been playing with it as mine doesn't lock when I drive it off, again something that I think you normally need a diagnostic tool to set up.
Locking with the key simply disables the movement sensor within the passenger compartment, hence it is to be used when leaving animals inside.

There will be threads on here to assist you with taking the rear door card off and replacing the mechanism, but get a spare one first!
 
As aways now, expect questions on issues with the D1 & 2 have already been asked on LR forums

 
As aways now, expect questions on issues with the D1 & 2 have already been asked on LR forums

Good link mate!:)
 
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