Rear Screen Opening

[Big Al]

Hi, Happy New Year to all. Anyone come across this one: The opening rear screen on my tailgate pops open every time I unlock the car (C5 2.2HDi estate 2003), or when I open the driver's door after being in the car for a while. The opening button has died which I understand is a common problem and one I could live with, but having to close the screen every time I get in or out of the car is getting a bit tedious! A linked problem is that the rear wiper/washer has died. I'm assuming the two are connected since both problems started at the same time.

[fatgut]

Hi, Happy New Year to all. Anyone come across this one: The opening rear screen on my tailgate pops open every time I unlock the car (C5 2.2HDi estate 2003), or when I open the driver's door after being in the car for a while. The opening button has died which I understand is a common problem and one I could live with, but having to close the screen every time I get in or out of the car is getting a bit tedious! A linked problem is that the rear wiper/washer has died. I'm assuming the two are connected since both problems started at the same time.

Happy New Year to you to and sorry to hear of trouble with tailgate. I have 'previous' with the bunch of small wires enclosed within that black rubber boot that goes from body to tailgate, and it's easy to check for a broken wire in there, mine was broken clean thru, very obvious. However there are much more learned sages who offer nuggets of wisdom on this site, so I'd hold back until one of them advises!

[Randombloke]

Here is the information:

 

Estate - Glass Part Of Tailgate Opens At Random, Intermittent fault - always a pain

[fatgut]

Here is the information:

 

Estate - Glass Part Of Tailgate Opens At Random, Intermittent fault - always a pain

Told you someone would know! Word of warning about costs though. I am part way thru following Randomblokes handy tip on switch replacement, and it's been pricey so far. The switch on ours failed (would not work on open circuit with tester), so bought new one, and it was over £25 from dealer (did work on open circuit when pressed). Then,as had not bought the proper puller tool to get the wiper arm off, and had destroyed the plastic leaving the knurled integral nut part (like randombloke) had to hacksaw that off and buy a new arm. As needed new rubber anyway got the whole thing, and that too was I think about £25. Then put it all together to find have got presumably the wiring fault problem too, as switch still not working. Not had time to get out there with voltmeter again,and also feel like I am suffering from 'C5 fault- fatigue' at present. Maybe someone with more logic than me could explain why we have not had the self opening window problem (? yet!!), is it because there presumably isn't any power to the switch. I think I vaguely remember finding this at the start of the fault finding process, but that was about October!

[Guest MJE]

Hi, Happy New Year to all. Anyone come across this one: The opening rear screen on my tailgate pops open every time I unlock the car (C5 2.2HDi estate 2003), or when I open the driver's door after being in the car for a while. The opening button has died which I understand is a common problem and one I could live with, but having to close the screen every time I get in or out of the car is getting a bit tedious! A linked problem is that the rear wiper/washer has died. I'm assuming the two are connected since both problems started at the same time.

 

 

My friend reg has the same problem with his rear screen opening when he unlocks the car, also his rear wash wipe dont work any more, we are going to try a bsi reset, he has other electrical irritants as well. will let you know how we get on later..... ;) :(

 

2002 2.2 estate

[myglaren]

My friend reg has the same problem with his rear screen opening when he unlocks the car, also his rear wash wipe dont work any more, we are going to try a bsi reset, he has other electrical irritants as well. will let you know how we get on later..... ;) :(

 

2002 2.2 estate

 

Most likely severed wires between the tailgate and body.

[Big Al]

Most likely severed wires between the tailgate and body.

Many thanks to all who have taken the time to reply. Next step is to start looking for broken wires.. by the sounds of it. Will report back on progress.

[coastline taxis]

best cure for this is as follows

 

1 close the rear screen

2 remove the tailgate inner panel

2 Disconnect the 2 wires off the microswitch

4 replace the inner panel and just open the whole tailgate if you need to put anything in the back of the car as the system of opening the whole tailgate has worked well for years

[Randombloke]

best cure for this is as follows

 

1 close the rear screen

2 remove the tailgate inner panel

2 Disconnect the 2 wires off the microswitch

 

I was able to get the wires off the microswitch by removing the plastic cover on the inside of the rear screen then disconnecting them - there is a connector there. No need to remove the tailgate inner panel.

 

4 replace the inner panel and just open the whole tailgate if you need to put anything in the back of the car as the system of opening the whole tailgate has worked well for years

 

This does not work if the boot is already full to the level of the sliding cover. With harnesses and stuff in the boot, the rear screen opening is invaluable, so I can put a small item in the boot without everything sliding out.

[coastline taxis]

just throw it over the back seat man ha ha

[Big Al]

best cure for this is as follows

 

1 close the rear screen

2 remove the tailgate inner panel

2 Disconnect the 2 wires off the microswitch

4 replace the inner panel and just open the whole tailgate if you need to put anything in the back of the car as the system of opening the whole tailgate has worked well for years

 

Yep I would have done just that except I have the (presumably) linked problem of no rear wiper which is irritating. Due to inclement weather I have so far only got as far as checking for broken wires between car body and tailgate. These were all fine so the next step is to strip down the tailgate I guess. Am waiting for some decent weather and a day with few other commitments - hard to find at the moment.

 

I also appear to have all the signs of a blocked DPF although it was changed only 40k ago. Have been in limp home mode a few times recently after endless 'unblock diesel filter' messages, so the rear glass/wiper thing will have to take a back seat for a while.

[kaostheory]

I have the complete opposite and my rear window wont open!!

 

And my back wiper/washer works but my front washers dont all i get is bubbles from the front ones...

[paul.h]

all i get is bubbles from the front ones...

 

A few things to consider:

Are the front washer jets blocked ? - use a pin in the jets.

Is the washer motor working ?

Is the washer motor inlet blocked ?

Has the washer pipe to the jets split ?

[old'uns]

I have the complete opposite and my rear window wont open!!

 

And my back wiper/washer works but my front washers dont all i get is bubbles from the front ones...

 

me too, screen doesn't bother me any more.

seem to recall the diaphragm on washer motor was split which gave the same symptoms?

[kaostheory]

me too, screen doesn't bother me any more.

seem to recall the diaphragm on washer motor was split which gave the same symptoms?

 

Where is the washer motor located?

 

I wish this weather would hurry up and get a bit drier. Ive got loads of things i want to do on the cars!!!

[old'uns]

washer motor is buried low down behind d/s headlamp i think? access from underneath ?

from memory diaphragm was £14 ish?

[kaostheory]

Thankyou very much will take a look when it dries up a little outside :unsure:

[Big Al]

Where is the washer motor located?

 

I wish this weather would hurry up and get a bit drier. Ive got loads of things i want to do on the cars!!!

I got this one fixed. It was the microswitch unit in the glass that needed replacing. Changed that and everything works fine again. Apparently the wiper packed up as well because it thought the glass was open and therefore was automatically disabled for safety reassons. Thanks to all who replied. I also got my DPF replaced and fixed the linkage to the swirl chamber valve (which caused poor mpg and early failure of the DPF). Well worth doing. By the way the new diaphragm assembly, which you need to buy since the linkage cannot be bought separately, was a very reasonable £20, not £100 as suggested by someone here. Car runs a whole lot better and mpg is as good as I've ever had. Am on for close to 700m from the current tankful.