Tailgate doesn't lock

[robt]

I'm slowly working my way through the jobs on my BX, but this one has me stumped. Despite doing many adjustments and general faffing about getting confused, the lock and strike plate just don't meet up properly. I'm wondering if the strike plate (or whatever it's called) has been replaced with the wrong type, as the metal casing surrounding the plastic catch keeps fouling so the catch can't make contact. This is what I've got, does it look correct?



Crap photo, but hopefully you get the idea - I even bent back the metal casing to try and make it work, but still no joy



The central locking solenoid works, so that's one less thing

[Tim Leech]

It looks rather bent to me!

[Brian]

Yep, the loop is bent much too far forward...

[robt]

Cheers, I'll try and bend it back then, wasn't sure if it was supposed to look like that. Someone has obviously messed about with it in the past, why I've no idea as they rendered the boot permantly unlocked

Some chump has also tried to slam it shut with lots of force as the plastic has cracked where the catch mounts onto the tailgate.

[ken newbold]

That's a general fault with most BX estates, due to the weight of the tailgate; these are incredibly heavy. It really used to annoy me when people would slam mine shut, there's simply no need, gravity does the job all too well.

On the good news front, the two lower bolts can be removed and long bolts fitted right through the tailgate to hold it tight if needs be, they'll come out behind the rear bumper trim that sits on the lower edge of the tailgate, bit of drilling required but easy enough

[robt]

That's a general fault with most BX estates, due to the weight of the tailgate; these are incredibly heavy. It really used to annoy me when people would slam mine shut, there's simply no need, gravity does the job all too well.

On the good news front, the two lower bolts can be removed and long bolts fitted right through the tailgate to hold it tight if needs be, they'll come out behind the rear bumper trim that sits on the lower edge of the tailgate, bit of drilling required but easy enough

That's a good idea Ken, should take some of the stress away from the cracked area around the catch hopefully.

First time I lifted it I thought the tailgate was made of iron I presume it was cheaper to make a plastic one than metal as it can't have been done for weight saving reasons!