benemja Posted January 6, 2006 Posted January 6, 2006 Has anyone else had a problem with the boot suddenly flying open without warning. A couple of nights ago, after appx 7 miles of errands during which time the car was reversed up to a wall while I was out of it, the boot suddenly decided to fly open with no warning. It had not been touched since the dogs were loaded into it at home, we had been on 30 mph and 50 mph stretches of road. We had negotiated left turns, right turns and roundabouts, and been over speed bumps. Luckily it happed just as I pulled onto a roundabout - I heard a yelp and looked in the mirror to see the tailgate open. Slammed on the brakes which meant I stopped blocking traffic coming onto the roundabout while I leaped out and recovered 2 dogs. Fortunately they were not hurt but we were all very shaken. (I dread to think of what would have happened if I had not stopped blocking the roundabout, or if someone had been following me). I had looked at the clock only a couple of minutes previously, to check the time, and there was no indication of a door being open. I have since heard that my neighbour's son had the same thing happen on his Peugot Partner (same car, different manufacturer name) 3 times. I also warned a friend who has a Berlingo and she has twice had the tailgate fly open - she thought she might not have closed it properly at the time, but had no warnings on her display either. I have contacted Citroen regarding the problem, and am getting the catches checked by an independant workshop on Monday. Quote
DesdinovaUK2 Posted January 6, 2006 Posted January 6, 2006 Haven't had any such problems with mine Quote
Terry1100 Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Not something I've been aware of either. Out of interest, do you have autolocking enabled ? Quote
benemja Posted January 7, 2006 Author Posted January 7, 2006 not sure what you mean by autolocking - but when I set off I have a habit of clicking on the central locking - after a friend got an uninvited guest in her car at traffic lights I thought better to lock everything while travelling. Quote
DickieG Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Autolocking is where the car automatically locks itself as soon as its speed exceeds 5 mph. Its enabled by pressing the central locking button for several seconds. It sounds like it may well be useful for you :D Quote
Terry1100 Posted January 8, 2006 Posted January 8, 2006 Benemja, The "autolock" is one of the reasons we buy Citroens - I'malways happy with the knowledge that my wife and kids are safe when out and about. I often play the "outraged buyer" when asking about this feature when idly shopping for other cars knowing that it's not a feature - except on Jags and London Taxis (and probably a few others but not on anything which might be considered an alternative to a Citroen). Another thought on the boot - is it simply adjustment on the catch - if you don't necessarily drive with doors locked, you wouldnt notice the "clunk" of the system unlocking as it detects the mislock of the boot not being properly latched. I have occasionally closed the tailgate and found that it hadn't latched - could this have been your issue ? Quote
benemja Posted January 9, 2006 Author Posted January 9, 2006 Useful info there Terry, thanks. I will now have to try and find if it is on my one. Force of habit is to press the central locking until the light comes on as I move off, and I am sure I had done this. Surely if the catch had not clicked properly to start with the boot would have flown open before the 7 miles traipsing around were up?? Anyway - got it checked by works mechanics today - they could not find anything wrong with the catch, and think it must have been a freak - but I have now added a strap from bottom of boot lid to spare tyre holder for my own peace of mind - fleet kept saying go back to Citroen and say you will hold them responsible if it happens again, but as that could involved injured or dead dogs rather than the very lucky escape we had, I don't want to risk it..... Fleet did find however that the warning about open doors did not flash up until the boot was fully open - so there is definitely something wrong there as bouncing along the road means it would be up and down, never fully open continually, so there would never be a warning. Quote
Terry1100 Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 One thing's for sure, I will definitely try to lift the tailgate after closing it each time just to be sure it is properly closed - better safe than sorry. At least then if it does fly open I will know it is a vehicle rahter than owner fault. Quote
benemja Posted January 10, 2006 Author Posted January 10, 2006 Thought I would let you know I have been experimenting, and rather than pressing the central locking as I start to move off I have waited until I am doing about 20 mph - then holding the button for a few seconds as you suggested...... I get an almighty clunk, the light on central locking button goes on, and there is a bing bong noise as if I am about to get "this is your captain speaking".... assume this is the autolock!!!!!!!!!! Quote
Terry1100 Posted January 10, 2006 Posted January 10, 2006 Yup, the Blingo gives aways it's origins with an industrial sized clunk when the doors lock. The C2 is a much more refined and muted click. Quote
northman Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 We've had this problem too. We bought our new Berlingo in March 2002, and not long afterward (whether a few weeks, or a few months, I can't remember) the boot opened as we were driving along at about 60 mph. Since then, we have ensured that the boot was locked before driving off, and it has not happened again. We don't have central locking, by the way. Quote
benemja Posted February 7, 2006 Author Posted February 7, 2006 Quick update: Citroen had the car in yesterday - could not find any problem with the latch (not surprised as works garage had already checked it) but they "tightened" it???? re the warning when it came undone - according to the "technician" it is not meant to go off until the door is almost open. I said I was not impressed with this as by then most of whatever was in the back could have been lost.... they maintained that they were right. I have emailed Citroen UK re this, pointing out (as an extreme example) that if the same criteria was set for the driver's door, rather than a warning when the handle was pulled the driver could find him/herself lying on the road before the warning went off..... ok I know that is a silly example, but the driver is next to the door which causes hysterical flashing of interior lights etc, the boot is at the far end of the car, so what is the point of a warning that the door has come open if it has actually been open for many miles....... will keep you posted Quote
Guest dan Posted August 20, 2007 Posted August 20, 2007 Has anyone else had a problem with the boot suddenly flying open without warning. A couple of nights ago, after appx 7 miles of errands during which time the car was reversed up to a wall while I was out of it, the boot suddenly decided to fly open with no warning. It had not been touched since the dogs were loaded into it at home, we had been on 30 mph and 50 mph stretches of road. We had negotiated left turns, right turns and roundabouts, and been over speed bumps. Luckily it happed just as I pulled onto a roundabout - I heard a yelp and looked in the mirror to see the tailgate open. Slammed on the brakes which meant I stopped blocking traffic coming onto the roundabout while I leaped out and recovered 2 dogs. Fortunately they were not hurt but we were all very shaken. (I dread to think of what would have happened if I had not stopped blocking the roundabout, or if someone had been following me). I had looked at the clock only a couple of minutes previously, to check the time, and there was no indication of a door being open. I have since heard that my neighbour's son had the same thing happen on his Peugot Partner (same car, different manufacturer name) 3 times. I also warned a friend who has a Berlingo and she has twice had the tailgate fly open - she thought she might not have closed it properly at the time, but had no warnings on her display either. I have contacted Citroen regarding the problem, and am getting the catches checked by an independant workshop on Monday. yes, it happened to me once going round a roundabout and I nearly had my laptop run over! I always double check it shut properly now. Vehicle is 02 Quote
DesdinovaUK2 Posted September 2, 2007 Posted September 2, 2007 yes, it happened to me once going round a roundabout and I nearly had my laptop run over! I always double check it shut properly now. Vehicle is 02 Happened to us going up the San Bernardino pass in the Alps last week with a fully loaded boot - luckily we had just negotiated a tight hairpin and were accelerating away when it happened otherwise visions of baggage disappearing over the edge of the mountain. Not sure if we had closed it fully - heavily laden bags were pressing against the back door when we cloased it. Been checking it's fully closed since though. Quote
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