Hi..All of a sudden rear top Tailgate won't open.
In past had issue and a crafty neighbors friend got it open from inside and
repaired broken end of Actuatior with a paper chip and has been working great for. 6 years now.
But back then when when having this issue when I tried to open in the back you could hear switch working with the unlock sound
but door didn't open)
Now when I try to open it in back..no sound at all.
Please..What is it most likely ..? And what to do.
Many thanks.

 

If you don’t hear anything, the actuator may be dead.
Should I not ask if you added a manual release last time you were in there?

 

Have you tried pressing the unlock and lock buttons together for over 3 seconds on the center facia? If this opens the Liftgate then you know your switch in the upper lift gate is bad.

If it does not and you are not getting any sound either the electrical signal is not getting to the actuator inside the Liftgate or the actuator is bad.

There is a grey electrical connector under the drivers seat (left hand drive) that the wire that sends the electrical signal to the actuator goes through. If this has not come unplugged more than likely it is not a wiring issue.

Most likely the actuator in the lower tailgate has gone bad.

You will need to get in the rear compartment and pull down the carpet, remove the grey foam on the left side to expose the actuator. Check out Youtube videos from here on how to release the cable and actuator so the uppertailgate can be lifted. This is not easy. However once it is lifted a new actuator can be purchased for about $100 and installation is not very hard.

 

Fuse?

 

The tailgate does not have a separate fuse. It is combined with the Central Locking System #49 a 30 amp fuse. This is for all the doors, upper tailgate, lower tailgate and hood. Basically if your door locks work with the fob or the buttons in the center facia then the fuse is good and that's not the issue.

 

Since it's likely the Actuator that has died I orderedthe genuine part from Atlantic British.
The car should have had an inside manual release.
I'm glad that Atlantic British made that video.on how to open it.This is the second time..the first time the end of the cable a known weak point failed...but guy we know rigged it with a paper clip and all has been good for 4-5 years..this time unlike the last no sound .
Switch in back ok mechanic contested a computer and switch is working on off...the connector under seat looks connected..and not fuse as door locks work.

 

Late update solved last year..Bought new Actuator and Cable .. separate parts..from Atlantic British and mechanic went through the hassle of breaking in from the inside (Atlantic British has a video on a way to do it on YouTube) and changed part.This thing is too darn prone to fail I'm going to order the manual release part from Lucky8 just in case this happens again which would be for the 3rd time.I was told new from AB Actuator is not really an upgraded part so it probably will fail.The cable end tends to snap AND the Actuator fails.Which makes opening tailgate with no manual release a big hassle.