Hi All,

I looked at a 2003 Fabia estate 1.2 the other day with a view to buying it for my partner. It was a nice tidy car but I was surprised to find that it doesn't have a handle on the back by which to open the tailgate - the tailgate can apparently only be opened by a lever next to the driver's seat. The salesman (this was at a Skoda main dealer) said that it was supplied without the handle.

Is this a common thing? Can a proper external handle be retro-fitted? If so, how much would it cost?

I'm wondering if the car does in fact have a normal handle, but that it has jammed. It has a recessed blank metal section in between the two rear number plate lights, but it felt completely solid when trying to press it to open the tailgate - no movement at all.

Thanks for any advice,

Cheers,

Chris.

The tail gate can be opened from from the outside by the push leaver where the number plate is. between the number plate lights It's actually electrically operated. Your dealer is talking Cr@p mmmmmmm.......Unless it's been altered, We have a 53 plate 1.2 estate................ It may be jammed as it may never have been used, try a bit harder............

I know on my old Fabia hatch the boot could only be opened from a lever inside (next to and identical to the fuel cap, great idea) It was the most frustrating thing in the world, thank jebus for RCL!!

Just to add............the car has to be unlocked for the outside push handle to work.................If still no joy try the fuse.

The tail gate can be opened from from the outside by the push leaver where the number plate is. between the number plate lights It's actually electrically operated. Your dealer is talking Cr@p mmmmmmm.......Unless it's been altered, We have a 53 plate 1.2 estate................ It may be jammed as it may never have been used, try a bit harder............

Thanks for the info... not sure about it being electrically operated, though. This was a base model, no remote central locking (not sure if it had key-operated central locking or not - would any models have CL but not RCL?) and the lever by the driver's seat felt very much as if it was a simple cable affair.

I couldn't see anywhere where you could use a key to open the tailgate either... it's not one of those where you have to swivel the Skoda badge out of the way first, is it? I think some VWs have that...

Thanks for the info... not sure about it being electrically operated, though. This was a base model, no remote central locking (not sure if it had key-operated central locking or not - would any models have CL but not RCL?) and the lever by the driver's seat felt very much as if it was a simple cable affair.

I couldn't see anywhere where you could use a key to open the tailgate either... it's not one of those where you have to swivel the Skoda badge out of the way first, is it? I think some VWs have that...

There is no key hole. Unlock the doors and the tailgate should open using the black outside handle ( between the number plate lights ). Pretty much sure they are worked by an electrical switch as opposed to a mechanical one. If the cable by the seat failed you would need another method of entry ie:- the outside handle other wise you could never get into the boot.........If it looks like the picture it's an eletric switch.........

Edited 1 October, 200817 yr by ag.morley

I think that on Classic models without RCL, the boot can only be opened using the lever by the drivers seat. I may be wrong though.

The tailgate is opened by a small micro switch between the two registration plate lamps. It only requires the slightest touch and the boot will pop open. Alternatively you can pull the handle by the drivers seat or with an Elegance you can open the boot with the remote key fob! The dealer is talking ****!

The tailgate is opened by a small micro switch between the two registration plate lamps. It only requires the slightest touch and the boot will pop open. Alternatively you can pull the handle by the drivers seat or with an Elegance you can open the boot with the remote key fob! The dealer is talking ****!

WRONG im afraid as thats only with central locking

I think that on Classic models without RCL, the boot can only be opened using the lever by the drivers seat. I may be wrong though.

CORRECT, you win a tufty badge

the base classic's without CL dont have a level at all, and are instead opened by the lever in the car. ive just sold a 52 plate with the same system.

THE DEALERS NOT TALKING CARP!!!

If the cable by the seat failed you would need another method of entry ie:- the outside handle other wise you could never get into the boot.........If it looks like the picture it's an eletric switch.........

so how would you get into a electric one if the electronic lock failed?

theres a small catch you can push on most electronic locks in case of failure. its normally released from inside the car and is a pain to get to (for obivous reasons!) and normally only needs a thin screw driver to operate. so this mechanical system would more than likely have the same fail safe

so how would you get into a electric one if the electronic lock failed?

theres a small catch you can push on most electronic locks in case of failure. its normally released from inside the car and is a pain to get to (for obivous reasons!) and normally only needs a thin screw driver to operate. so this mechanical system would more than likely have the same fail safe

That's was what I was really meaning................

The cable pull by the seat seems to have disappeared on later estates with central locking too.

If you cant operate the lock the catch can be accessed internally, usually a small orange lever.

My Felicia has an interior handle and and outside button to open the tailgate.

My sisters Micra also has the fuel cap opener on it. Push for fuel, pull for tailgate.

I'd have thought they'd have kept the tailgate manual release for all Fabias.

First post - be gentle!

Just to muddy the waters further, the earliest Fabias had manual C/L rather than remote C/L. I had a 51 plate Fabia Comfort with the Muppy MPI engine (slow and thirsty, avoid!) and a colleague at the same time had a W plate identical car, except hers had manual C/L and mine had remote C/L. I didn't spot the boot catch either - you literally touch the underneath of the black plastic strip and the boot unlatches. My girlfriend noticed it first (as always...)

I have a 51 plate as well with no switch or handle to open it from the outside. It can only be opened by pulling the lever inside the car, which feels like a cable operated mechanism.

Does anyone know how to convert the lock this on this car to add a lever / press switch to the boot lid above the number plate to open the boot from the outside? This would really make things easier for me.

My 2001 Combi has the interior lever but you dont have to use it. The boot unlocks with the central locking system. I just have to press the little black patch above the plate and open. :slant: