Squeaky tailgate?

[Andy McGhee]

I know this is a common problem (I've had more than my fair share over the past 40 years!).
The tailgate on my GTL had been squeaking really badly for ages, so I removed the latch from the boot floor and used a Dremel to elongate the screw holes so the latch could be pulled outwards. The tailgate's now completely squeak free!
Worth a try if you have the same problem.

 

[jjad]

Could you post a photo, Andy? Thanks!

 

[Andy McGhee]

Could you post a photo, Andy? Thanks!

Sure - here you are. The whole thing now sits a few mm nearer the back of the car.

 

[reidalpine]

I know this is a common problem (I've had more than my fair share over the past 40 years!).
The tailgate on my GTL had been squeaking really badly for ages, so I removed the latch from the boot floor and used a Dremel to elongate the screw holes so the latch could be pulled outwards. The tailgate's now completely squeak free!
Worth a try if you have the same problem.

Andy-You Sure you let that squirrel out of there from you latest scenic-expedition into the greenery -just asking//-Reid

 

[angel]

A guy buys a brand new R4 that was completely silent - no squeaking tailgate. Luckily, it was under warranty and he got it fixed :-D

 

[reidalpine]

A guy buys a brand new R4 that was completely silent - no squeaking tailgate. Luckily, it was under warranty and he got it fixed :-D

HI Angelos-If one buys a Renault 4 that is dead silent and with no quirks and squeecks he'd better get his hearing checked out..
Me? -I'd rather have all kinds of known noises then just a whiff of a Hissss.... -If I wanted that I could as well taken the B-U-S-S ..

 

[John Edmonds]

Great fix Andy, adding a few turns of electrical insulation tape on the central shaft can also help to eliminate the metal to metal contact and take up some of the 40+ years of wear within the lock. This also works for the bonnet lock!

 

[Andy McGhee]

Funnily enough, I cut off the electrical tape I'd had on the central shaft before I changed the position of the latch! The tape worked fairly well for a while, but I'm hoping that moving the latch will keep the tailgate quiet(er) for longer.
All of the TLs and GTLs I've had have had squeaky tailgates - thankfully intermittently!