Tailgate lock now driving me crazy! Anyone help? Brian??

[Nick45]

After much faffing about with the CL relay/ A Pillar wiring/ solenoid I've finally got my the lock mechanism to relinquish it's vice like grip on my Touring tailgate. The locked catch suddenly sprung open and released the D ring that I'd unbolted from the tailgate.
Joy quickly turned to frustration though - the lock catch is now in the "open" position and although I can move it into the locked position with my finger it just springs back to the open position and the tailgate won't now click shut.
Have I managed to bust the lock or is this indicative of a dodgy tailgate solenoid? The relay and the A pillar wiring don't look to be the problem to me.
I'm really feeling my way along here and could use the wise words of those who've been there/ done it.
Much appreciated - Nick

[Nick45]

No takers - fair enough, s'not exactly exciting is it?! I'll get a solenoid from the breakers and give that a go. Anyone know if all the boot lock solenoids are the same whether it's Touring/ Saloon/ Coupe?
Cheers, Nick

[Brianmoooore]

Hang about, I've just spent the entire afternoon untill now trying to sell a half price '01 320D to an idiot who can't recognize a bargain when they see one, and changing a power rack in a 6 pot E30.
Obvious thing to do I would have thought is to disconnect the link between the solenoid and the latch, and see if the latch works then.
From the OP, I wouldn't have thought that this was a lock solenoid problem.All the lock solenoid does is swivel the little piece that releases the catch out of the way, so that the pushnbutton misses it.

[Martinaston]

Sounds to me like you need a can of WD40.

[Nick45]

Brian - grateful again for the advice & I wasn't trying to rush you!(Martin, the whole car now stinks of WD40 mate - I always go for the easy option first ). What's throwing me is the fact that the boot used to open with the CL, then suddenly decided to stay locked and now, after I manually manipulated it (!!) is open but won't lock. The relay seems fine and is doing the business for all the other locks & the APillar wiring is bone dry.
The other fly in the ointment is that I don't have the master key only the 2 secondaries, so the fact that I can't get the key that I Have got to turn in the lock might be a natural response for that key. Grrr. Anyway the upshot is that the tailgate is flapping about in the breeze and I'm showing my arse to the world.
Do you reckon I should order a master key from t'Stealers?

[Brianmoooore]

Secondary key doesn't work the boot on saloons, so probably doesn't work the tailgate on tourings. Think it would be a good idea to get a master.
Disconnect the link between the solenoid and the lock, and remove the solenoid with the wiring still connected and see if the solenoid works properly.
Don't forget there are adjustment slots for the solenoid.

[Martinaston]

Erm... you are aware the rear lock can be set so as not to work with the central locking by turning the key the extra 90 degrees ?

Don't mean to sound patronising but if you only have the valet key and the lock was set there to start with there may be nothing wrong with it.

[Brianmoooore]

Erm... you are aware the rear lock can be set so as not to work with the central locking by turning the key the extra 90 degrees ?

Don't mean to sound patronising but if you only have the valet key and the lock was set there to start with there may be nothing wrong with it.

If the key was set there, then he would never have been able to open the hatch, either with the C/L or with the key.
The lock and catch mechaniism are very simple devices when you get them out and examine them. Not a lot to go wrong really.

[Nick45]

Brian - cheers mate. I'll dop as you suggest.

Martin - not patronsising at all. I thought that was a really helpful and well written contribution.