W210 Tailgate lock malfunction

[chiro]

My 1998 E320 4Matic Wagon tailgate lock is malfunctioning. Once the car is locked I can't open the tailgate door with the remote . I have to manually open it with the mechanical key. Once I have done that I can open the door with the door (tailgate) handle. However, once the car is locked again the remote will not unlock the tailgate. You can hear it trying but no luck. I have to resort to the mechanical key. I'm guessing the acuator isn't pushing a rod far enough to open the latch?? Has anybody experienced this?

[thornton]

I know we're over a ¥ear old on this one, but wondered if you had any luck, or if anyone else with the experience could chime in.

[mlozzi200478]

sounds like a possible defective vacum actuator,or possible leak,in the central locking system pump,this will cause an issue with unlocking the rear hatch.did you lube up the locking mechanism with some good white teflon enhanced lithium grease,maybe its just sticking,also check for proper alingment bewteen the locking clasp,and the hatch locking piece that is grasped from the locking reciever.

[thornton]

Well when I chimed in on this back in July I had indeed lubed it up with some quality Lithium based stuff.

The problem went away, but then later in the year we noted that when we locked the car, the rear hatch would often not lock. Not always, but 30% of the time. The car would be alarmed, but the gate would remain unlocked.

On Monday I drove the car as we had some winter weather, and used the hatch with no issue. Since then, it's now stuck shut. Tried the key itself in the rear lock , got nowhere.

So even aside from permanent repair....any guesses on getting this sucker open?