I have noticed something on my new Yeti that (I don't think) wasn't a feature of the old one.

The tailgate is much more difficult to close, requiring a really solid push rather than the old one which just required it to drop. I was going to adjust the catch, however for some reason, while the tailgate was closed, I pressed and held the unlock button on the remote and it seems not only to unlock the tailgate, but also to release the catch - it would be very useful if I had an armful of shopping, but it doesn't fully release the catch.

My question is what really ought to happen here? Should the tailgate completely release, or is it OK as it is? (in which case I wont even try to adjust the catch!)

Wait until next month at the Wolds meet and you can compare a range of them!

My Yeti tailgate seems a little harder to close than the one on the Octavia I had before, which could just be dropped. This needs a final push to make sure it engages properly.

Some are like that.

We have two that were collected on the same day (1st March 2012) and my wife's shuts easily and mine needs a good slam to catch properly.

Always been like that.

By comparison the other three Yeti in the family have various amounts of slam power needed too.

I believe it's the adjustment of the catch/tailgate when they were made, meaning the door needs to close that bit more.

Which with the sealing of the vehicle makes it more difficult due to air pressure in the vehicle.

In regards to the button, all of them release onto the catch. Which I personally don't see the point of.

Mine is a 2010 and has always needed a push to close - it will almost close just by letting the lid down under it's own weight so to speak but not quite.

It's always easier if a door is open.

In some ways I'm happy with this as I know when it is closed, I've had other cars that closed easier but would often show up on the dash as a 'tailgate' open light.

Both my Yetis have needed a good "wang" shut with the rubber door pull.

I'd certainly pay to be able to wave my foot under the rear bumper,like the option on the new Kuga.

I have noticed something on my new Yeti that (I don't think) wasn't a feature of the old one.

The tailgate is much more difficult to close, requiring a really solid push rather than the old one which just required it to drop. I was going to adjust the catch, however for some reason, while the tailgate was closed, I pressed and held the unlock button on the remote and it seems not only to unlock the tailgate, but also to release the catch - it would be very useful if I had an armful of shopping, but it doesn't fully release the catch.

My question is what really ought to happen here? Should the tailgate completely release, or is it OK as it is? (in which case I wont even try to adjust the catch!)

Yes mines the same, really have to slam it and even then it bounces back up. If is was not there before something must have changed. Agree we will have to compare with the earlier models to confirm any changes

2010 model just needed firm but gentle closing

2013 " needs a firm slam, have even set off then realised on maxi dot that hatch was still open

2010 model just needed firm but gentle closing

2013 " needs a firm slam, have even set off then realised on maxi dot that hatch was still open

And if it's not tight shut rear wash/wipe doesn't work.

It's not really a problem. The seals need to "bed in" and conform to their natural state when the door is closed.

Robot assembled doors can't take into account "bendy stuff" like rubber seals, so a mild adjustment is all that is needed. The rear doors will never self open as it looks like the gas struts go nearly over centre in the closed position.

Anyway, just another thing to go wrong further down the line

Mine misbehaved when new, and I had to crawl into the rear and poke a paperclip down the release hole in the rear door panel

As to the opening but still catching: this is a VCDS setting by the way. There are two settings. This one which still keeps the catch (and is utterly pointless in my book) and the normal way an Audi is set up to unlock and not keep it on catch meaning you can grab any part of the hatch to open it.

Note to self: must remember to change this next time I near someone with a VCDS machine.

2010 model just needed firm but gentle closing

2013 " needs a firm slam, have even set off then realised on maxi dot that hatch was still open

My 2010 model would shut fine if the hatch was dropped from about 10cm........ until I had to have the latch replaced due to a faulty boot light switch, and now it still latches ok but needs a slightly higher drop. I assume it is just a matter of adjustment of the latch or striker plate.

My 2010 model would shut fine if the hatch was dropped from about 10cm........ until I had to have the latch replaced due to a faulty boot light switch, and now it still latches ok but needs a slightly higher drop. I assume it is just a matter of adjustment of the latch or striker plate.

What you describe is the same as my 2010 version. I was going to adjust the striker plate, but it's the "hold the remote centre button" for a few seconds that's puzzling me - I can't find anything about it in the manual (not that I'm much of a manual reader anyway), so I'm not quite sure what to expect.

I could always throw it back to the dealer and see what they say.

My boot door took a firm slam to shut. When I asked the service tech about it, he opened the side door, then released the boot door, whereupon it shut with no slam whatsoever, so it was the air-tightness of the car rather than any adjustment.

My boot door took a firm slam to shut. When I asked the service tech about it, he opened the side door, then released the boot door, whereupon it shut with no slam whatsoever, so it was the air-tightness of the car rather than any adjustment.

Tried this myself out of interest and you are right the tailgate closed much easier, there is obviously a better seal than you think. I wonder if this is a further upgrade/improvement on the newer models.As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, the later models are also quieter on the road and seem to have more sound proofing under the floor area. It's a shame you can never get comments from Skoda about what the exact changes are on a year to year basis

On a Freelander I once had, the rear door window would open slightly when closing and then shut itself. This worked in the same way... to release air pressure. When I get out of the Yeti and remember I will be opening the boot, I lower the drivers window a tad and then when locking the car hold the key down a bit longer to close the window. Works like above.

Not quite, freedie. On the Freelander 1 the window dropped slightly so that it cleared the "drip strip" that covered the top of the rear door window.

The pre-production FL's didn't have this and had a major problem with rain leaking in and wind noise over the top of the window, as the glass flexed away from the sealing strip as it wasn't framed. To cure it they fitted a plastic moulding across the top of body above the window, which held the window against the sealing strip. This then stopped the door opening so they had to make the window drop slightly.

Quite right. Remember that now; but it did help with the air pressure too...

Both my previous and current yetis need a good shove to close the tailgate.

bit of a pain really, I think its because the taligate is so vertical it can't close under its own weight.

On a slightly different note to the OP, does anyone know the overall distance (total clearance) from floor to the top when the Yeti tailgate is fully open?

I have a car-port at home and am wondering if I'll still be able to open the boot fully when inside the car-port or if it will hit the roof; don't want to damage it.

Skoda highly unlikely to publish model year improvement such as 'more sound insulation' / 'improved door sealing' as would be an admittance of a possible problem in the first place and annoy existing owners.

What is annoying to me is they don't take on board minor issues like the poor boot light which could be fixed for pence. Many suggestions for improvement on here, few of which seen the light of day.

On a slightly different note to the OP, does anyone know the overall distance (total clearance) from floor to the top when the Yeti tailgate is fully open?

I have a car-port at home and am wondering if I'll still be able to open the boot fully when inside the car-port or if it will hit the roof; don't want to damage it.

I have the Greenline and it's 203cm or 6ft 8"

I have the Greenline and it's 203cm or 6ft 8"

Many thanks Ian, it's the Greenline I'm getting also, that'll easily fit with the boot fully opened then

Edited 29 March, 201313 yr by wilkenstein

My boot door took a firm slam to shut. When I asked the service tech about it, he opened the side door, then released the boot door, whereupon it shut with no slam whatsoever, so it was the air-tightness of the car rather than any adjustment.

You're right! Having some spare time on my hands today, I tried the tailgate with doors open, with windows open and with everything else closed and I can confirm than, even if the windows are open just a crack, the tailgate will close under it's own weight, close everything and it needs a good thump!

Also, the "hold down middle button" feature seems to release the first catch on the tailgate, requiring minimal effort to open it.

Now, if the Yeti is that airtight, how would it fare as a submarine? Anyone tried?

What you describe is the same as my 2010 version. I was going to adjust the striker plate, but it's the "hold the remote centre button" for a few seconds that's puzzling me - I can't find anything about it in the manual (not that I'm much of a manual reader anyway), so I'm not quite sure what to expect.

I could always throw it back to the dealer and see what they say.

Bear in mind that VAG use the same basic electronics for various vehicles in their range, just modifying parts of the program to accommodate specific models. On a car with a normal boot, pressing & holding the boot release button may allow the boot to raise automatically. Since this cannot happen on the Yeti because the gas struts have no effect until the tailgate is partially raised, I suspect that they've just not bothered to alter that part of the unlocking program from the "base" set up as 99.9% of owners will never realise that pressing & holding the button produces an action that isn't actually any use anyway!

I must admit I was very sceptical about the air pressure theory, but having tried leaving a door or window open when shutting the tailgate over the last week it has proved to me without doubt that this is the cause of the non closing problem.

The tailgate closed every time with no undue force needed!

Apologies for being a doubting Thomas.