For some reason, the hatch light likes to stay on intermittently all by itself. I manually turn off the light and leave it for a week or so and then it's fine for a while. Is the door switch defective?

1994 850T Wagon 200000km

Same problem. First the light stays on but closing the tailgate a few times with a firm hand push usually turn it off. Now the tailgate doesn't lock when using the remote key, just the 4 doors. The anti-theft does not get activated since it detects the tailgate is still unlock. There's a small black colour plastic box with electric wires connected to it inside the tailgate (not sure the name for it). It has mechanical connections to the locking latch. This box still makes some noise when remote is pressed but that's all it will do. Using the key to lock the tailgate and this will activate anti-theft. Removing and re-installing the interior tailgate panel to access the bits is just as painful as paying your dentist an unscheduled visit. Anyone knows of a DIY way of getting the tailgate back to it's original operation with the remote?

Eurika: thanks to this post, I have the reason why my key fob not locks the car. It appears to be the tailgate. If I open and close it one or two time, My fob works and lock car. Also when I try open car with fob, I must bang on tailgate with fist (not too much) and remote work fine. If someone knows how to cure this problem, please post it here for me and others who seem to have this problem. Many thanks.

Be careful not to bang shut the tailgate too hard, otherwise the inside panel trim will get loose. The design that holds the panel to the tailgate is very flimpsy. IPD in Oregon US has a beefed up design to replace the original bits. I haven't tried but if anyone has a loose inside panel, consider researching it with IPD. Catalogs and web sites available.

Let us know if you have any luck fixing it, and how hard a job it is. Mine has the same problem.

JG

The trunk/tailgate light switch is a micro-switch integrated in to the lock assembly, both wagons and sedans.

Thanks Bill. I'll look into it.

The switch is going bad (the one that senses if the trunk is closed or open). Mine's been bad. I just don't know where it is or what it looks like (first step to fixing it -- find out what it is you need to fix!! :-)

Matthew

Bingo. I've had the same problem for the past few weeks and I've been cureing it in the same way. I turn it off for 2 or 3 days and it's fine again for a week, then I've to go through the same proceedure all over again. Any fix would be greatly appreciated.