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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red
Tailgate damage from handle/number plate light strip

The microswitch in the tailgate handle failed on my 2014 FL2. It is integral with the handle and a loom which supplies the number plate lights and is supplied as a complete unit.

To remove the switch and loom you need to remove the whole strip from the tailgate. First pull off the tailgate interior trim (2 screws to remove), disconnect the loom and remove 8x 10mm bolts holding the handle strip. Once off the tailgate the handle switch and loom can be exchanged for the new component.

HOWEVER. The plastic strip is a poor design. It has multiple rubber spacers separating it from the tailgate painted surface. Over time the rubber has compressed causing the strip to contact the tailgate along its edges. To make matters worse the edges of the strip do not have a flange parallel to the tailgate surface so the thin rubber strip had slipped sideways into the the strip's interior. The result is that the strip has worn away the paint down to the metal in several places.



Note the old loom disconnected from the number plate lights. With some brown rubber strip that I trialled.

Click image to enlarge


Note the thin strip edge which worn away the paint. and new EDPM rubber strip.



The handle/switch/loom and EDPM strip as ordered from Amazon and Ebay respectively (total £25)



It may well be worth people checking for damage and as a corrosion prevention measure. Jules

Last edited by jules on 22nd Mar 2022 8:54 am. Edited 1 time in total

Post #419674 20th Mar 2022 11:20 am
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SYFL2



Member Since: 16 Jun 2012
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 2542

2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Stornoway Grey

That’s a better job than I made of mine I stuck some rubber washers together and put them where the screws go. It was ages ago I did the switch but funnily enough yesterday I noticed the entire boot door trim needed knocking back into place I thought I put it back correctly at the time.

Post #419676 20th Mar 2022 1:47 pm
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red

Maybe your washers have compressed over time causing it to become loose again. Jules

Post #419715 22nd Mar 2022 8:56 am
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SYFL2



Member Since: 16 Jun 2012
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 2542

2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Stornoway Grey

No it was the push in clips that had come loose broke a few getting it off and replaced them maybe didn’t smack it on hard enough.

Post #419718 22nd Mar 2022 9:06 am
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sid



Member Since: 16 Jul 2015
Location: devon
Posts: 476

England 2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Manual Stornoway Grey

if this is the same as the early switch,save your self a lot of time,look at the new switch,see how it fits, prise the old one out, cut and join the wires ,fit the new one, easy 10 min job.

Post #419732 22nd Mar 2022 9:30 pm
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Aveling



Member Since: 24 Mar 2011
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 247

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 Metropolis LE Auto Firenze Red

That’s exactly what I did with my old car - 2012 / 62 plate car.

Post #419733 22nd Mar 2022 9:39 pm
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red

sid wrote:
if this is the same as the early switch,save your self a lot of time,look at the new switch,see how it fits, prise the old one out, cut and join the wires ,fit the new one, easy 10 min job.


In retrospect I could have done that but then I would not have discovered the hidden paint damage, which was the actual point of this thread - hence the title Jules

Post #419792 23rd Mar 2022 7:24 pm
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Nodge68



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Newquay
Posts: 1769

United Kingdom 2009 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Rimini Red

I've just changed my early tail gate handle to the later type.
There was a lot of rust where the handle had been rubbing on the tail gate metal.

I had to treat the rust, and paint the affected area in Bonda Primer. Thankfully the whole lot is hidden under the new handle, so it looks good, much better than the horrible original.

Click image to enlarge
 2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. My daily driver.
Gone. 2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE.

Post #419819 24th Mar 2022 6:00 pm
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red

Well done. Its much harder to hide the damage caused by the later one I'm afraid.
Mine really needs a professional painter as the lower edge of the tailgate was also damaged by the bumper moulding - again wearing away the paint. My DIY painting leaves a lot to be desired, but its only small areas and I cant see them when I'm driving. Jules

Post #419830 24th Mar 2022 8:05 pm
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Deano64



Member Since: 16 Aug 2013
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 602

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Orkney Grey

Mines been hit and miss for a while . I’ve bought the switch but don’t fancy taking the handle off to see what is underneath 😬😬. .Also I imagine I will break something as I normally do - whether it be the tailgate trim clips or lose he nuts into the tailgate . Will us the button on the key fob for a bit

Post #419941 28th Mar 2022 6:10 pm
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Deano64



Member Since: 16 Aug 2013
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 602

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Orkney Grey

Any good tips on removing the interior tailgate trim ? Just pull and work your way round from the window side ??

Chance of broken clips I guess if weather is cold

Thanks

Dean

Post #419954 29th Mar 2022 3:19 pm
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MotionInc



Member Since: 17 Jun 2019
Location: North America
Posts: 1278

Canada 2008 LR2 i6 SE Auto Tambora Flame

@Deano64,

very easy with two people, start at each end (top and bottom) and give it a short sharp pull directly down if tailgate is fully up and directly forward (towards you) if tailgate is partially open (don't drop the cover??!!). I've never broken a clip doing it but the high brake light cover, I can decimate 5+ trying to replace. Smile

Post #419955 29th Mar 2022 4:45 pm
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Deano64



Member Since: 16 Aug 2013
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 602

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Orkney Grey

Thanks for that - makes it look easy. . Mines the longer handl so more nuts to take off I think.
Looks like a forceful tug will get the tailgate trim off

Post #419957 29th Mar 2022 5:00 pm
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Deano64



Member Since: 16 Aug 2013
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 602

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Orkney Grey

By the way. I’ve been fine with the high level brake light clips

Post #419958 29th Mar 2022 5:01 pm
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red

Deano64 wrote:
Thanks for that - makes it look easy. . Mines the longer handl so more nuts to take off I think.
Looks like a forceful tug will get the tailgate trim off


I put a smear of Vaseline on the white clips to aid the putting the trim panel back and taking it off again Confused Jules

Post #419964 29th Mar 2022 7:32 pm
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