Mk 4 Estate Tailgate wont Unlock help please

[teapot]

Currently on holiday in Spain and tailgate on mk4 VW Golf 2004 Estate refuses to open, nothing was there to jam the mechanism, release motor is working but sounds a little slow have checked all fuses and blasted wd40 into the key hole and through the numberplate light openings and also sprayed into lock mechanism from inside at bottom of door

Can anyone help or at least advise how to open tailgate please

[Crasher]

You will have to remove the liner from inside. I have never seen this happen on a Golf 4 estate but on the hatch it is usually the result of water leaking from the rear wiper motor.

[Vagnum]

get in the boot look where the pull down handle is and take out the 2 screws the pull the panel off, look in the center of the boot lid and find the latch sound like the rod has popped off from the handle or latch give the rod a pull if it's still on the latch or put your hand in and see if you can pull the lever on the latch that has a white clip on. once open see if you can put the rod back on.

[teapot]

Many thanks for both of your replies, had already tried removing the liner panel by taking out the 2 screws as it didnt remove easily didnt want to force it out, will have another go at it, regards

[Crasher]

The metal clips take a really good pull to overcome, it feels like you are going to break it, and occasionally you will.

[teapot]

The metal clips take a really good pull to overcome, it feels like you are going to break it, and occasionally you will.

Once again cheers all for your advice, it did need a hefty tug to pull free but came away ok when I got more aggressive with it!

The actuating arm had come off the the latching mechanism so just replaced it and its been fine since

Rear panel was easy to refit too, just had to pull away and refit a few metal clips that had stayed in the door and had come away from the panel

Now back in UK