Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

The rear door does not open.
It makes all the right sounds with remote and key.
The handle is very floppy.

Mias Calitz wrote:The rear door does not open.
It makes all the right sounds with remote and key.
The handle is very floppy.

What model paj? You should still be able to open the door form the inside. If not the actuating rod has become detached, jammed due to dust or even broken. You will have to take the back trim panel off from the inside, and get into it there to open.

Thanks Simon
It is a 2002 3.2 DID LWB.
I removed the toolbox but can't get any further from the inside.

Hi Mias,

Sorry to hear about your problem.

There are two locking mechanisms for the 5th door.
The one is the solenoid actuated by your remote and the second is the mechanical turning of the key.

If neither of these work (eg if the rod from the exterior catch mechanism between the number plate lights becomes disconnected) then you will have to remove the door trim. You start with the high level brake light then the upper half of the door trim then the lower half.

Thanks Andrew

I will follow your instructions!
I enjoyed watching your photos, just a bit worried about the engin pics!
And the l/km stats - I presume it included a lot of fully laden off raod!
I recently bought my Paj - (same model as yours, with 113000km on clock)

Regards
Mias

Mias Calitz wrote:Thanks Andrew

I enjoyed watching your photos...
Mias

Thanks Mias

Mias Calitz wrote:Thanks Andrew
And the l/km stats - I presume it included a lot of fully laden off road!

Mias

Sadly my Paj does not often get on the open road - mostly stop-start urban driving. Until we go away. And then it is quite heavily loaded on long stretches of tar combined with whatever nature throws our way in terms of sand, gravel, rocks etc. Not the best conditions for good fuel consumption.

113000km for a 2002 is a rare find!

Best of luck with your repair.

Hi Mias,

I've had this once or twice on my 2001 SWB. I found that when the handle went floppy, it was due to the lock mechanism being very dirty / dry. A "soft" bump with the hip against the door normally caused the handle to release.

This worked for me, and was a lot easier than going in from the inside .

Hope you get it sorted quickly.

Fanus

Thanks Fanus
I tried the bumping, but in the end I removed all the trim from the top down as Andrew suggested.

I now have to lubricate the mechanism, but do not know what would be best in the dusty conditions!

I plan to post a detailed report of how I went about removing the trim (with a picture or two)

For future use I have decided to make a hole in the trim (behind the toolbox) through which the mechanism can be reached quite easily.

Because there are some wires around, I will take care to explain where and how to make the hole.

I will post these instructions and pics on the forum once I find the time to clean and assemble the door trim!

Regards
Mias

WD40 would be my suggestion.
It not only lubricates, but prevents corrosion.
(I'm addicted to the stuff!)