With regards to the soft close i'll try and explain what i meant. My sport is an 05 model and when shutting the tailgate i have to physically pull down and slam it too, just like i've always done with every other car i have ever owned. This has not really been an issue until recently when i went on one of the brilliant Land Rover experience days which we used a 2010 model. Upon closing the tailgate on this vehicle you simply push the tailgate to it's closing position (no effort required) and then something would engage and you could hear the tailgate pull too, latch and lock automatically. A little bit like how a modern kitchen drawer closes instead of one from years ago, ha ha. Had i not used the 2010 car i would not have know of this and it got me wondering if my 05 model should do it. If anyone can shed a little light i would be much a obliged. It may be something that needs repairing under the extended warranty if so. Thank you.

Yours is normal. The soft-close (powered latch for the last 1cm or so) was only introduced for 08my (from memory). All RRS before it need a good old slam!

The one you drove will have stopped when it was almost closed, made an electronic buzz/growl for half a second and will have then closed the last 1cm. Very much like a Blum soft-closers on a kitchen units.

So your's sounds fine.

James

This is a picture of the soft close mechanism fitted in the floor of my 07MY. It's a Ford part as you can see from the FoMoCo stamping. When the tailgate latch engages the U shaped anchor piece in the middle, it starts a motor which rotates the gearwheel on the right. This turns the crank connected to it which via more levers slides the U shaped anchor back along the mounting plate pulling the latch and tailgate down with it.

Haven't yet heard of anyone having a failure of this but at least if you haven't got it it can't go wrong!

Click image to enlarge

accyis
Soft close is a feature introduced in the later models.
Contrary to what has been said about oil in the cylinders etc., the newer models simply incorporate a powered striker, that's all.

Don't worry about it - your model dosen't have it. Malaysia Boleh!
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Hiya, thanks for all your info. I thought as much due to it's year (05). With regards to the gas/oil struts being mentioned earlier i knew there had been some confusion so i'm glad it has been cleared up.
Some great responses and helpful knowledge dished out yet again. Thank you!!!

Me being a muppet sorry... Increasing the strut oil will stop the tailgate from flying open and jarring the mountings upon reaching full strut extension. More a "soft opening" than "Soft close".

I'll get me coat

James, softclose came with 2007MY as I have it on my car. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Mine is a MY2007 and the tailgate is quite "heavy" in operation. Once it has got about halfway it does open fully but very slowly. On closing it is somewhat stiff and loses control about 8 inches (20cm?) from closure and close with a very loud crash onto the soft close which then takes over.

My boss's tailgate close on its on without this crash effect and quietly.

Took it to the dealer yesterday and was told there was nothing they could do about it, which seems odd as it is under warranty. Noticed corrosion around the cylinder head but this was brushed off as normal. They said my bosses could be an exception.

Is it me or should the door close more gently and quieter? Now - MY11 RRS Autobiography TDV6, Orkney gray, tints, steps, daylight running lamps and allllll the toys!!!
Ex- RRS HSE TDV6 07 Java Black, bi xenon, corner lights, side steps, tints, cool box, smoke side repeats, chrome "sport" boot sill
Ex - Audi A4 Cab 3.0TDi Quattro
Ex - Freelander2 SE TD4
Ex - CRV Auto

super gentle and quite sexy. Mine's a 57 plate. If still under warranty escalate to the Dealer Principal. Is it a Stratstones because they are a pain.

Steuart64 wrote:

Noticed corrosion around the cylinder head but this was brushed off as normal.