Hi Guys

Over the last week the hatch door on our base model 2004 Fabia 1.4 Comfort has started to stick rather more often than not. In other words, it wont open! I've had a search on this forum and it doesnt appear to be a widespread problem - nor can I find any obvious answers.

My model is such that there is no manual release lever (at least that I am aware of) so I am a bit 'stuck', 'scuse the pun. All other doors open fine on activation of the central looking and it doesnt appear to be anything electrical. I know it has been cold of late, but certainly in London it hasnt been that cold.

Any advice offered would be much appreciated,

Do you have keyfob remote lock, unlock? Try unlocking all doors and feeling above the number plate for a rubber strip. If your car has it, there is a micro switch in there that will unlock the tailgate.

Once open, give the tailgate seal a dusting of talcum powder, it may simply be sticking to the rubber. After that, it might be the release solenoid.

Do you have keyfob remote lock, unlock? Try unlocking all doors and feeling above the number plate for a rubber strip. If your car has it, there is a micro switch in there that will unlock the tailgate.

Once open, give the tailgate seal a dusting of talcum powder, it may simply be sticking to the rubber. After that, it might be the release solenoid.

Thanks for your response. Happy new year to you! Yes the microswitch is what I use to open the hatch after unlocking the car by key fob. If I can get the hatch to open again, I will try some talcum powder, although it does appear to be closed solid.

Is the solenoid basically a 'garage job'? Possibly a drop of oil/WD40 on the latch mechanism.

Many thanks again

had the same problem with mine, it was a dodgy microswitch. also try using some silicon spray on the seal rather than talcum powder

You can open it manually, by crawling into the boot, removing the plastc cover on the cross member around where it latches to the body and flicking the orange lever. I've seen some where the wires have come away from the microswitch.

You can open it manually, by crawling into the boot, removing the plastc cover on the cross member around where it latches to the body and flicking the orange lever. I've seen some where the wires have come away from the microswitch.

Ok thanks all

Will get the microswitch checked out and will report back. Thanks for the tip on opening it from the inside. A useful interim measure in the absence of anything else!