NewNiceMrMe Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Why is it that it takes me 2/3 attempts to get the fecking tailgate to shut on my A4 Avant? It seems to bounce upon closure, not connecting properly - but not bouncing open again. It's locked - but the light comes up on the DIS and there is movement in the tailgate if you push it. I have to unlock it, then shut it again, usually 2/3 times before it catches properly. Anyone else have this problem? It's becoming very irritating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fergy Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Yep, seems to be intermittent and no pattern. Usually a good hard slam helps to close it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 I think you just have to catch 'the sweetspot' if you know what I mean I HATE slamming car doors/tailgates and sometimes my tailgate doesn't shut 1st time. The lock has a motor built in to assist with opening/closing and if it doesn't catch first time you have to wait 2 or 3 seconds for it to reset before attempting to shut the tailgate again.Sometimes you can hear the motor resetting. One thing I was told by the salesman was don't slam the tailgate as this fecks up the motor. I find dropping it from about 18 inches is about right. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 Mine is just the same; have to be really careful as the dog travels in the back all the time and tends to lean against the tailgate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 Hmm, in which case it's bad design surely? I've never had this problem with any other car, no matter how hard or soft I've tried shutting a boot or tailgate. I don't think I'm slamming it hard either. Indeed I've just been out and tried a variety of strengths of closing it - and 3 out of the 5 times it did the bounce! I then tried to replicate the closure of the 2 successful times - and both times it bounced! Bloody stupid! I'm going to tell them to look at it when it goes in for its next service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 Mine only does it about once in every 100 shuts so it doesn't bother me that much, but it's a bit like there is something in the way and is bloody annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 Make sure you are not holding the bit you press when you open it, easely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Make sure you are not holding the bit you press when you open it, easely done. [/ QUOTE ] Nope, I'm definately not. I thought it was that the first time it did it (about a week after getting the car). The way AvantSE describes it is spot on. It's as if something if in the way of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkidscd001 Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 you need a new boot catch mate. Still in warranty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I don't think I'm slamming it hard either. Indeed I've just been out and tried a variety of strengths of closing it - and 3 out of the 5 times it did the bounce! I then tried to replicate the closure of the 2 successful times - and both times it bounced! Bloody stupid! I'm going to tell them to look at it when it goes in for its next service. [/ QUOTE ] It doesn't sound quite right to me. I'd say possible tailgate catch faulty too BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazzy Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 have you tried a bit of squirty oil/wd40 on the hinge of the catch, maybe the overcentre spring can't fully pull it round?? Chas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 I haven't tried anything remedial on it myself, although I don't think I should have to on a car that is 18 months old! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 ON the avant if you use the handle on the inside of the bootlid and in one movementpull the door down to close and then let it go, then usually that does the trick. A couple of people at work have Avant's and it does the business for them. It's all in the wrist action apparently! If this fails, perhaps it is a faulty lock mechanism? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] ON the avant if you use the handle on the inside of the bootlid and in one movementpull the door down to close and then let it go, then usually that does the trick [/ QUOTE ] I always use the handle-hole on the inside, because the outside is usually filthy so I don't want to get covered in grime from it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffyboyo Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 yes same problem with mine (2004 avant) allthough it was worse when I first picked the car up about 2 6 weeks ago, I think its just a matter of getting used to it, Taffy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Doe Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 Chris, only one thing for it mate!!! Me thinks the sell by date has definitely expired on the Avant...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] yes same problem with mine (2004 avant) allthough it was worse when I first picked the car up about 2 6 weeks ago, I think its just a matter of getting used to it [/ QUOTE ] That amounts to putting up with it though, doesn't it? Or, finding that there is only one specific way guaranteed of getting a simple tailgate to shut! I'll be giving the problem to the dealer and asking them to sort the bugger out. You're right djbs4, it's not good. It's been an unhappy marriage with this car from the start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Doe Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 And as for THAT feckin dealership..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffyboyo Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] yes same problem with mine (2004 avant) allthough it was worse when I first picked the car up about 2 6 weeks ago, I think its just a matter of getting used to it [/ QUOTE ] That amounts to putting up with it though, doesn't it? Or, finding that there is only one specific way guaranteed of getting a simple tailgate to shut! I'll be giving the problem to the dealer and asking them to sort the bugger out. You're right djbs4, it's not good. It's been an unhappy marriage with this car from the start. [/ QUOTE ], sorry mate, i meant getting used to it, as to use the right amount of force to shut it, there is definately a knack to it on mine, cant really comment to much on yours, your right to let the dealer sort it out though Taffy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazzy Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 MrME, i blame YOU!!! guess what happened today for what i think is the first time!! it was only the DIS that made me realise and it was raining. Chas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetrolDave Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 I've had three different A4 Avants since 2003, and I've found that you must wait after letting go of the soft touch open button before you try to shut the taligate. If you don't the electric unlocking mechganism is still holding the lock in the open state, and it won't lock shut. What I do is hold the tailgate about 6 inches open until I hear the mechanism release and then just gently push the tailgate down, doing that it shuts every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPLiiX Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 Exactly what Petrol Dave says!!!! Can not add anything, he is spot on. It was a pest until I knew what the problem was but now, no prbs, thanks to TSN!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 Sorry, but it's nothing to do with the 'soft touch open button'. Not in my cars case anyway. I have got out of the car many times to open the boot manually from the release on the tailgate itself, got a case out of it, then gone to shut it - and it does the bouncy act. I've used the lock/unlock button on the keyfob hundreds of times, waited, waited again and then waited even longer - and it still does it. I'm of the firm opinion now that there is no 'knack' to it. It's just crap design or bad lock. The fact remains you shouldn't have to do any sort of waiting or holding the tailgate 6.7892 inches open before it'll shut properly. It should just work!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 The A4 saloon and avant has a soft lock type mechanism in the boot. You should pull the boot down and the last 8 inches or so just give it enough beans to shut. The mechanism should "grab" the boot lid and shut. If you slam it, it tends not to work - I think it can "bounce" out again. Just try shutting it carefully, like you would on the 6-series! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 Honestly UBM, I just shut the boot on the 6 and the 320d without thinking about it. I'm just trying to do exactly the same on the A4. 100% genuine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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