OK this isn't on a Polo, it's on my 01 Ibiza, it has the same C/L as the 9N1/3

Today I went to get all my junk out of the Ibiza boot and put it in the new Octavia. The battery has been disconnected since Sept, so the normal electrical central locking is disabled.

I went to open the tailgate with the key but it wouldn't open ?? No probs I can drop the rear seat back and get the stuff out through the back door (4 door model) opened the drivers door and pulled the back door rod up and got in that way, I couldn't reach everything, so I tried the tailgate again and this time it opened ???? got all the stuff out, went to close the tailgate, slammed it shut, but it didn't fully latch and the key wouldn't allow it to be unlocked again, so I opened the drivers side rear door again and then the tailgate would shut/lock properly ??? I've looked through elsawin and every other manual/internet and I can't see why having the rear door open allows the tailgate to be mechanically unlocked/locked ???

Hi Nigel,

I am pretty sure that you had a vacuum in your boot which didn't allowed you to pull the tailgate open.

After opening a door, the vacuum was gone and you could open the tailgate.

The other version with the grinch inside keeping the tailgate shut, i better keep for myself.

Hope you had merry christmas.

cheers

Christian

Don't take this to seriously.

Edited 27 December, 201510 yr by Christian6N

I remember reading something on briskoda this week about a passenger door being open allowing the locks to work properly. But I can't remember what. I'll have a decent look tomorrow night.

I can't find any mechanical interlock between the rear door & the tailgate, it must be something mechanical as there is no electrical power in the car ???

Just a thought, but is there some sort of safety/childproof device that only 'kicks in' when there is no central locking working??

Regards

Just a thought, but is there some sort of safety/childproof device that only 'kicks in' when there is no central locking working??

Regards

There is nothing mentioned in the owners handbook/ElsaWin or anywhere else I've found, the owners manual says you can open the tailgate with the key at any time, you can hear the mechanism moving as you turn the key but the handle will not pull fully up to release the tailgate ?? looking at the pictures for the locking unit there are no mechanical linkages going from the lock unit towards top of the tailgate ??

I can't find any mechanical interlock between the rear door & the tailgate, it must be something mechanical as there is no electrical power in the car ???

Ah right, probably sticky lock then. Mine was solid when I bought the car. Bit of graphite lock lube sorted it though.

Seat boot locks are weird. Mine feels like turning right toggles the lock and left releases the catch.

I tried it again this afternoon, with the rear doors closed, drivers open, it wouldn't unlock, open either rear door and it opened ??

Ah right, probably sticky lock then. Mine was solid when I bought the car. Bit of graphite lock lube sorted it though.

Seat boot locks are weird. Mine feels like turning right toggles the lock and left releases the catch.

I can't see it being a sticky lock, as when the rear doors are opened it operates correctly ??

Anything to do with this ? http://www.seatia.com/secon-115.html

Anything to do with this ? http://www.seatia.com/secon-115.html

I would say that could be the reason if there was electrical power on the car, but as my battery is disconnected, not sure ??

Funnily enough this has happened to me a few days ago with our 6n2. Has no physical battery in it. Put the key in the boot and turned it every which way with no joy. Opened the drivers rear door and couldn't get what I needed so tried the key again and it opened. Made me think I was going crazy.

I know on the 9n/3 the latch mechanism is electric so when unlocked and you pull the handle it triggers a switch then an electric motor makes it open, so to use the key means it physically has to move an arm to unlatch the boot mean you don't have to pull the handle.

It is baffling really, and I can only think it is to do with pressure, either air pressure inside or pressure on the body panels... Somehow?

It is baffling really, and I can only think it is to do with pressure, either air pressure inside or pressure on the body panels... Somehow?

With a 6N2 it could be down to trapped vacuum in the pipework but these locks are all electric.

Can't be air pressure/vacuum in the car as the drivers door is open ???

Yeah, it's a long shot tbh. There is also a vent in the boot to avoid these type of things anyway.

Unles, somehow (this is a REALLY long shot) when you pull the handle to open the rear door, it's somehow produces a tiny current in the unlock circuit to turn something just enough to allow the boot to be opened?

Yeah, it's a long shot tbh. There is also a vent in the boot to avoid these type of things anyway.

Unles, somehow (this is a REALLY long shot) when you pull the handle to open the rear door, it's somehow produces a tiny current in the unlock circuit to turn something just enough to allow the boot to be opened?

As Captain Mainwaring would say, "Corporal Jones, I think you are in the realms of fantasy" BUT does the ECU have a 'back up' battery in it - again, yet another guess!!