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Need help! What use is a wagon when you can't get the tailgate open??

Background is - we had some snow and ice around here the night before last, -5 degrees C, and I couldn't get my doors to open 'cos they were frozen to the seals. I tried to open the tailgate and get in that way but it wouldn't open either. I pulled pretty hard on the tailgate handle and felt something give but I thought it was just the plastic shroud. Anyhew, the upshot is that I STILL can't get the tail to open.

Can hear the lock work both ways, by remote and key, but the door just won't open. Any ideas?

I've done a search but it doesn't look like anyone else has had this particular issue...

got a garage? stick it in there for a few hours

Maybe spray some methanol/water solution into the seams? Windshield washer fluid can do the trick, but more concentrated stuff will do better.

Some people just pour hot water on when doors freeze. I don't know if that's bad for anything.

Bad for any trim parts, Ive seen plastic shatter from that.

I've got a better solution, turn the heat waaaay up for a while.

Tried the heat thing already - drove around all day yesterday with the heater on full. All the doors open except the tail...

ciper - Which is bad for trim? Methanol solution, hot water, or both?

I can easily understand why hot water would be bad for it... And I could also imagine that enough methanol could hurt rubber or plastic in the long run... But I've used methanol solution to get my car doors open a couple times and everything seems okay. I did wipe it clean afterwards and let it dry.

Hot water

have you tried pushing your handle back in towards where its supposed to be, if it didnt bounce back.... Mine gets stuck occasionally, and it wont open til i put it back in place...

Good point, Laurel, mine did the same thing. They get rusty and stick. New ones over here are only like $12. Make sure you get a dealer who knows it's just the handle NOT the whole rear trim panel as I had one of those bastards try to sell me that whole piece despite my clear questions - they tried to tell me it was all one part.

Steve

LaureltheQueen wrote:have you tried pushing your handle back in towards where its supposed to be, if it didnt bounce back.... Mine gets stuck occasionally, and it wont open til i put it back in place...

Thanks Laurel - tried that too! It's done that since I bought her about 18 months ago now. I lubed it and it worked better.

I tried to open it from the inside but I can't see how to get the catch to unfasten, or how to remove the inside trim from the door whilst it's still closed. From a security perspective this is all great, but from the point of view of trying to use my car to it's full potential it's getting a bit annoying now...

Fixed it!

Took the inside trim off the door and used the rods inside to get the door open. Felt something click and now it all works perfectly!