Focus tailgate won't open

[Pints]

I recently bought a used Focus estate and it's all been good thus far except for...

The tailgate, which will only open when pressing the button on the remote but according to the manual it should open using the button in the tailgate when the driver's door is unlocked, which ours doesn't do. Also, it will occasionally unlock itself automatically when I'm in the car (and no, I'm not inadvertently pressing the remote).

Any ideas?

(I'm pretty certain it's out of warranty although I should check)

[Podie]

Sounds like it could be the GEM (General Electrics Module) - kinda like a secondary brain.

[Pints]

That sounds like it could be expensive. Is it?

ETA: Thanks

Edited by Pints on Thursday 7th May 13:47

[Podie]

I'll be honest, I'm not 100% sure.

Got a nasty feeling that it's has to be programmed to the car.

Worth a quick call to the local Ford garage to ask... might not be as bad as it seems..?

[Pints]

Turns out it's the "microswitch" in the release button. The Focus apparently has an annoying habit of allowing water to get in and... well, you know the rest. It usually costs about 50 squids to get it done at a dealership if it's out of warranty but I've spoken with the company I bought the car from (very recently) and they'll be repairing it FOC.

[Podie]

Pints said:

Turns out it's the "microswitch" in the release button. The Focus apparently has an annoying habit of allowing water to get in and... well, you know the rest. It usually costs about 50 squids to get it done at a dealership if it's out of warranty but I've spoken with the company I bought the car from (very recently) and they'll be repairing it FOC.

Thanks for the update. My Mondeo decided last night to do EXACTLY the same thing (key works, dash button and switch on the boot don't).