Hi guys,

I have read through probably a dozen similar topics with mk2 Octavia tailgates not opening as they should (both hatch and estate) and can't find a problem quite the same as mine. My car is a 2006 hatch btw.

 

Sometimes the tailgate refuses to open when unlocked with the rest of the central locking, but will always open if it is popped with the tailgate unlock button.

 

At first I thought it could be the motor which pushes the latch to the side to unlock the locking mechanism, so I replaced this part with a new VAG one a couple of weeks ago. I thought this had fixed the problem, but as it was only ever an intermittent problem it was not possible to tell. Sure enough, a week or so later it's doing exactly the same thing. It does however make a "faster" whirring noise when it works so I guess the old motor might have been getting a little tired.

 

Sometimes I can unlock the central locking and press the rubber release button on the tailgate and it opens as it should. Other times I press the rubber button and nothing happens (no noise of the motor turning). If I unlock the tailgate using the button on the key fob it will always cause the motor to turn and pop the tailgate open, and then I can open it just fine. So I think that the (replaced) motor is just fine.

However, sometimes if I have tried to open the tailgate on the central locking and it has failed, causing me to resort to the boot release button, when closing the tailgate again it will pop open again (on the latch) on its own accord, either instantly or a few seconds later - often just as I am driving off! Annoying!

There is also a rattling noise in the tailgate, as if there is a piece of plastic or a screw rolling around inside the tailgate itself - a noise which never used to be there so it could be linked.

 

So does anyone have any ideas?

Is there a switch which the rubber button on the outside of the tailgate operates which might have come partly loose (hence the rattling noise of a screw) which is only making contact sometimes, perhaps explaining the boot opening again once I close it?

Also, what exactly does the rubber button on the outside do? If the car is unlocked with the central locking, this causes the motor to turn and release the tailgate completely. If however the tailgate is popped on the remote this rubber button only activates a latch - so does it do two separate things?

Does anyone know how easy it is to remove the tailgate trim - I have found this link http://skoda.workshop-manuals.com/octavia-mk2/index.php?id=589 which doesn't look too hard but plastic clips are never that easy - has anyone ever been sucessful at this themselves - I do have a trim removal tool and assorted plastic kitchen spatulas etc.!

The rubber bit is part of the switch and is all one unit. Sounds like the switch inside is knacked. Not 100 % how to change this.