LR3 Tailgate Will Not Open

[NICOLASNEZ]

My wife came home yesterday and informed me that our 05 LR3's upper tailgate will not open. I suspected a fuse but upon checking the manual, there is really no fuse for the tailgate. There is however a fuse for all the locks (door, tailgate, etc). Since there is no problem with all the front and rear door locks, then the problem with the tailgate must not be a fuse, right???? If not, what is it? Is there a motor or mechanism in the tailgate? The manual also suggest an emergency procedure to open the tailgate by pressing the master unlock and lock buttons on the dashboard for 3 seconds. However, that doesn't do anything which makes me think that there is something broken somewhere. What amount am I looking at if I take this to the dealer? I appreciate any information from the experts out there.

Sincerely,

Nestor Nicolas
San Pablo, CA
05 LR3 HSE
02 Discovery II

[Prodigy999]

If you press the switch on the upper tailgate you hear a solenoid correct? LR3s have an issue with the release latch cable end breaking off. So the solenoid activates but the latch doesn't open because it isn't attached to the solenoid. To get in is kind of a pita and I wouldn't reccomend it to anybody that doesn't know exactly what to do.

To get in involves removing the inner lower tailgate panel which means breaking the side panels off and destroying that panel basically. Once that is off, cut the foam pad out and you will see the cable. You will see the a rectangle shaped box where the cable comes out of and that is what you need to get into with a pair of needle nose pliers to yank the cable end. You will hear a pop and fresh air when the upper tailgate opens.

Again, not really reccomended to try yourself. Most LR dealers I image have dealt with this quite a bit. If you are in LA give me a hollar and I'll get it done for you without paying the big bucks...Just a few small ones.

[NICOLASNEZ]

Thanks for the reply and info. Too bad, I'm in the Bay Area. Oh, well....it looks like a job for the experienced do-it-yourselfers. That's not me so i will probably take it to my local LR dealership. I just hope they don't charge me an arm and a leg.

Originally Posted by Prodigy999

If you press the switch on the upper tailgate you hear a solenoid correct? LR3s have an issue with the release latch cable end breaking off. So the solenoid activates but the latch doesn't open because it isn't attached to the solenoid. To get in is kind of a pita and I wouldn't reccomend it to anybody that doesn't know exactly what to do.

To get in involves removing the inner lower tailgate panel which means breaking the side panels off and destroying that panel basically. Once that is off, cut the foam pad out and you will see the cable. You will see the a rectangle shaped box where the cable comes out of and that is what you need to get into with a pair of needle nose pliers to yank the cable end. You will hear a pop and fresh air when the upper tailgate opens.

Again, not really reccomended to try yourself. Most LR dealers I image have dealt with this quite a bit. If you are in LA give me a hollar and I'll get it done for you without paying the big bucks...Just a few small ones.

[sideview]

I tackled this last week with the help of these tips With some persistence I was able to pry the carpet panel out from under the trim piece without damage. You need small hands to get in to that cable. Once the latch is released the rest is easy.