Tailgate manual latch not engaging t6.1

[Toby12]

Hi all, new T6.1 owner here (as of yesterday!)

My T6.1 has a manual-closing tailgate (e.g. manual closing, electric opening) and I’ve noticed that when I close the tailgate door firmly, it only engages the first latch stage instead of fully locking. To get it to engage the second stage, I have to push it in hard at the bottom of the door.

Is this normal, or could there be an issue with the latch, striker alignment, or something else? 99% sure there isn’t a soft close mechanism, so don’t think it’s this. Have searched the forum already but no luck… cheers!

 

[Salty Spuds]

Is it a standard latch I.e electric release/ manual close. Or is it a power latching latch, I.e you softly close the tailgate onto the first click & then the latch pulls in electrically? There’s a subtle difference. Yours sounds like a soft close power latch that’s not pulling in under power. A photo of the catch plate on the threshold with the plastic flaps pulled aside (oooer matron) will show if you have power latching or not. The power latching part is on the van, not the tailgate.

 

[Toby12]

Haha love it here are some pictures, thanks mate!

 

[Skyliner33]

View attachment 275693View attachment 275694View attachment 275695

Haha love it here are some pictures, thanks mate!

That looks like a standard latch I.e electric release/ manual close, not the soft close.

 

[Alster]

If all the other doors/windows are closed they do need a bit of a shove. If you try it with a window open and it closes fine then it’s fine. If it still doesn’t latch then there’s probably a problem.

 

[Salty Spuds]

That looks like a standard latch I.e electric release/ manual close, not the soft close.

Correct
Back to the OP, there are 2 plastic blocks/guide wedges on the sides of the tailgate aperture on the van body. Try loosening these (hint, use a marker pen to mark the original position before you move them) and then close the tailgate & see if it latches. There is also adjustment on the striker plate (the bit fastened to the van that the tailgate locks onto)
You can also use a screwdriver on the tailgate latch mechanism, to spoof it into thinking it’s closed onto the striker plate. Just use a screwdriver/nail/rod to simulate the striker plate & operate the latch into the closed position, this will prove whether the latch is working correctly. Once you’ve proved the latch, it can only be the striker or the guide blocks.

 

[Toby12]

If all the other doors/windows are closed they do need a bit of a shove. If you try it with a window open and it closes fine then it’s fine. If it still doesn’t latch then there’s probably a problem.

It was exactly this such a simple solution, I feel stupid! With side door open it works no problem. Cheers guys

 

[Toby12]

Correct
Back to the OP, there are 2 plastic blocks/guide wedges on the sides of the tailgate aperture on the van body. Try loosening these (hint, use a marker pen to mark the original position before you move them) and then close the tailgate & see if it latches. There is also adjustment on the striker plate (the bit fastened to the van that the tailgate locks onto)
You can also use a screwdriver on the tailgate latch mechanism, to spoof it into thinking it’s closed onto the striker plate. Just use a screwdriver/nail/rod to simulate the striker plate & operate the latch into the closed position, this will prove whether the latch is working correctly. Once you’ve proved the latch, it can only be the striker or the guide blocks.

Solved by opening the side door, but this still very useful info thanks!

 

[Salty Spuds]

Solved by opening the side door, but this still very useful info thanks!

There’s me overthinking it again