XM tailgate wont unlock - now working, with a bonus.

[DSdriver]

I cant get into the back of the estate because the key just spins in the lock. There doesn't appear to be a handy handle on the inside. Central locking keyfob stopped working about two days after I bought the car although the red light glows so that isn't an option.

[dollywobbler]

XM locks are odd things. If you don't push the key in hard, they just swivel. Oddly my boot lock unlocks on the fob, but doesn't lock on the fob. This has been filed under 'frustrating.'

 

You might get away with re-pairing the fob and car. Worked on mine. I think the drill is to turn the ignition on, then hold the lock button in on the fob for a couple of seconds. Mind you, the fob really didn't want to work the other day, and then was fine again the day after. French electrics!

[steve_earwig]

Cor, french elektriks, may as well bridge it now and save yourself the bother.

 

Umm, is the same anti-lock forcing nonsense as my Pug? Where if the key doesn't quite fit it defeats a spring and the whole lot just spins? Not had an XM so I don't know. Copious amounts of WD does them, as well as not letting the locks get into that sort of state to start off with...

[dollywobbler]

Sounds very similar. Problem is, when you have a fob, the regular locks don't get used, so problems like this can occur. I try to operate all the locks manually on mine from time to time, but it's easy to forget...

[DSdriver]

I have managed to get the tailgate open by prizing the top edge of the interior panel out so I could reach the rod between the keyhole and the catch. I could then get at all the screws and remove the panel completely. I have sprayed electrical contact cleaner onto the plug-ins and now the solenoid is clonking now when I press down the lock on the passenger door whilst the drivers door is open. This is supposed to unlock all the doors but it aint working on the tailgate which may be in the "isolated from other locks mode" which is activated depending on whether the key was last taken out in the up and down position or at 3-9 o'clock. 

I need to know how to get the lock into the unlocked position so that when the button is pressed it activates the lever mechanism.

There is a autoshite solution which I will use if nobody has the answer to the spinning key and that is to cut a hole in the panel behind the lock and attach a piece of string the the lever mechanism so it can be reached without crawling into the boot space. I can see problems with this when the boot is fill of stuff though.

[Station]

The locks on these are utter shite.

There is a single 1.5mm ball bearing in there that is meant to engage the lock when you press it in and spin it round.

Spray loads of brake cleaner in there and give the key a good turn. If that doesn't work put loads of grease in (do it in that order).

[DSdriver]

Yay it works. Once I had removed it from the car and got it on the workbench it realised the game was up and responded to key turns. So I cleaned it up and oiled it and put it back in the car and it even works on the solenoid after two or three goes. I am going to cut a finger hole in the trim panel so that it will be easier to open from inside next time. Anything else I should do before putting it all back together? The solenoid is very free moving so I presume its reluctance is a volts in or out problem. Are the tailgates prone to earthing problems?  

[DSdriver]

... the tailgate which may be in the "isolated from other locks mode" which is activated depending on whether the key was last taken out in the up and down position or at 3-9 o'clock. 

 

 

This is apparently owners handbook bollocks because the key only comes out in the twelve o'clock position.

[DSdriver]

...You might get away with re-pairing the fob and car. Worked on mine. I think the drill is to turn the ignition on, then hold the lock button in on the fob for a couple of seconds...

 

Tried this but it didn't make any odds. Strange but true: when I turn the key in the boot lock the red light in the fob flashes but ef all else unlocks. What's that all about?

[eifion]

Both my XMs have had this problem. Thankfully the remote fob's worked on them both and the solution has been to stand there like a numpty locking and unlocking the car until I finally hear the click from the back that tells me that the tailgate lock is finally working again. I may have to actually put some effort into fixing it before the remote locking fails.

[DSdriver]

Hey eifion

still got the DS?

[eifion]

Yes I have, and I've never had any problems with the boot lock on that at all. 

[dollywobbler]

ALL MODERNER CITROENS R SHYTE!

[robinmasters]

There is a autoshite solution which I will use if nobody has the answer to the spinning key and that is to cut a hole in the panel behind the lock and attach a piece of string the the lever mechanism so it can be reached without crawling into the boot space. I can see problems with this when the boot is fill of stuff though.

Cut a hole in the boot lid for the string to hang out of, so you can open it from outside the car. Problem solved.

[beko1987]

Mine did this once, I'd caught something in the latch assembly which jammed it all up. Gave it a boot by the lock which squashed whatever it was that was caught, and the lock started working again...

[Junkman]

[DSdriver]

Strange but true, the central locking remote had decided it is going to work again. Could it be that the sticking tailgate lock ram was stopping the whole shebang from operating?

[vulgalour]

It's more likely a common case of Because Citroen.

[UltraWomble]

ALL MODERNER CITROENS R SHYTE!

Quite probably.

The COMMS2000 unit on mine is playing silly buggers at the moment and use of the light switch seems optional to operate the headlights.  Thought I had a leak on the C8 last night as there was a large patch of diesel on the gravel where Mrs Womble had parked up - right over the (non-functioning) cabin heater. Looks very much like its not her diesel as everything underneath dry as a bone.