Rear Window Latch Problem

CliffK · 06-30-2008, 11:08 AM

I have a recurring problem where I am unable to get the rear window to latch. Happened again this morning: I used the fob to unlock the car, used the softtouch button on the tailgate to open the window, and when I went to close it, it would not latch. This is not a problem of not shutting it hard enough; there is simply nothing there for it to catch on.

This has happened twice before, and some random combination of locking/unlocking the car has, hours later, fixed it. It seems that there is a connection with waiting several hours.

Anyone else having this problem? Any idea what the cause may be or if there is a solution?

rawlusÂ® · 06-30-2008, 11:12 AM

if you can make the problem happen at will, then i would show it to the dealer for diagnosis. there's nothing special about the window latch different from any number of other vehicles with the same basic mechanism - perhaps it is a misadjustment or something.

**JPaul** · 06-30-2008, 11:18 AM

Can you check if the crack between the clear roof and the plastic plate that just aft from it is even? If the gap between the hatch and the tailgate is even? Maybe yours requires some adjustment?
Good luck.

the_dude · 06-30-2008, 03:47 PM

i get that every once in a while. it's just a matter of hitting the unlock button for the tailgate again. it's like it somehow re-locks the latch so it won't close right.

**jwight** · 06-30-2008, 04:42 PM

From a similar thread:

Quote:

Cabrio lock
I had same issue with the tailgate working only when it wanted! Turned out to be a faulty micro switch attached to the tailgate latch. Works fine now just as Hal2 said his does. Very quick warranty fix.

Just a thought.

Karl Roth · 06-30-2008, 10:27 PM

Try opening your tailgate and making sure that nothing has inadvertently gotten in there a backpack strap did it for me and shut it and then try the window. Worked for me good luck hope that helps.
karl

CliffK · 07-01-2008, 07:48 AM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I cannot make this happen at will (at least, not yet), so I cannot expect to take it to the dealer (90 miles away) and demonstrate the problem.

When it happens again, I'll investigate some of these ideas.

saintload · 09-18-2008, 05:21 AM

The same thing happened to me today in the morning. When it happened I tried to lock the car and it wouldent lock anything (front doors or hatch), but the unlock button worked (I heard the clicks). When I got to work I turned the car off and while sitting inside I hit the lock button on the key and everything locked. Its very odd. Dont like being worried if the car will lock itself or not.

What was the weather like? For me, there was a lot of dew on the car when this happend and when I got to work I was in the sun and the car had a chance to warm up. Just a thought.

CliffK · 10-10-2008, 09:22 AM

Sorry, I haven't been monitoring this thread.

I still am having the problem. It went away for awhile and then I noted that it was very warm and humid when it came back. I don't really know if that is a pattern yet and it is unlikely that we'll have that weather again soon up here in Wisconsin.

When the window does not latch, the car does not lock. If you lock the vehicle while pressing in on the window, then the doors will lock, but the window is, of course, still unlatched. And yes, the problem seems to go away after it sits for a while (few hours? Overnight?).

My check engine light is on for a minor problem, and when I get around to taking the car in to get that fixed, I'll have them look closer at the latch as well. It's an unfortunate problem living 90 miles from the dealership. My wife thinks WD-40 solves everything and she wants to try that, but I'm resisting until the dealer can look at it.

I'll post again once it appears to be fixed.

SubSlr88 · 10-10-2008, 09:42 AM

If the rear window doesn't latch, the car won't lock. Sort of a safety feature to let you know that one of the openings isn't closed. I found this out when one of my doors wasn't completely closed, very early in my ownership. I thought it was broken, cuz the door looked closed. I opened and closed it tightly and then everything locked.

I guess if moisture got into the latch/switch area it could create the problem you've experienced but with all the rain/humidity in FL you'd think it would have shown up here lots~! Good luck with it. . .