post-Aug 1991 tailgate and lock mod

[Erebus]

Around August of 1991, Delicas started shipping with a centre-mounted brake light. Wonderful, except that it covers the tailgate lock button, so there is no way to lock the tailgate except with key, or dash-mounted switch. That's kind of a pain. I've spent hours pondering various work-arounds until someone here on the forum posted photo of fix. So I've done the same mod.

The brake light is a wide, thin LED strip that is mounted on the inside of the tailgate at the bottom of the window.

Step 1. Remove trim. It is held on with two of those plastic push-pin like fasteners. Mine broke on removal, so I used speednuts and screw to reassemble.

Step 2. Mark on the trim exactly where the lock button is. It is not in the centre!

Step 3. On the light assembly, mark the area to trim. This will make it easier to press the button.

WhatToCut.JPG (39.23 KiB) Viewed 6041 times

Step 4: Unplug wiring harness and unbolt brakelight
What you now have have is:

Both trim.JPG (52 KiB) Viewed 6037 times

Step 5: Trim the LED assembly. I used a Dremel, but anything can work. (Obviously, my camera doesn't focus this close.)

Trimmed.JPG (29.45 KiB) Viewed 6031 times

Step 6. Put black electrical tape (or paint if you like hard work) on the back side of the LED strip, so the hole won't glow in the dark. (Although it will be below 3rd-row seat height, so not that big a deal.)

Step 7. Cut hole in trim. I made mine only just big enough to be able to lock the tailgate. If I want to be able to unlock it from inside, I'll have to make the hole bigger.

Hole.JPG (51.7 KiB) Viewed 6034 times

Step 8. Reassemble.

[Adam]

Thanks for posting the pics, I think I might try this one next weekend. Do you think it is possible to extend the locking mechanism to stick through the brake light covering?

[loki]

I was thinking of wiring another switch and mounting it in the back. Bad idea? to hard?

[delicat]

The reason for the mods IMO is to have mechanical access. Putting another electrical switch won't solve the problem...

[Green1]

Thanks for posting the pics, I think I might try this one next weekend. Do you think it is possible to extend the locking mechanism to stick through the brake light covering?

We thought of that, but it seems that various parts would get in the way (like the light itself) so it really doesn't seem feasible.

I was thinking of wiring another switch and mounting it in the back. Bad idea? to hard?

That is another possibility, I prefer the mechanical approach as it is more reliable, and fewer things to go wrong, however wiring a switch in there should be pretty straight forward too.

The reason for the mods IMO is to have mechanical access

I see that as a side benefit, the real reason is so you can lock/unlock the tailgate without having to either use the key or walk to the front of the vehicle, it is a convenience thing more than a "mechanical access" thing. (you always have the key lock for mechanical access)

[Erebus]

I was thinking of wiring another switch and mounting it in the back. Bad idea? to hard?

Also, you would have to run power to the back somewhere. Not sure how the existing solenoid is wired, whether you can tap into that or would have to supply an entire separate wiring run.

I tried using my mod today. No sweat to lock, but the hole is too small to unlock it with just fingers. I had figured that. We'll see if that's a problem. Suspect not given that if opening from outside, you use key. If thinking ahead inside, you can reach dash switch. Don't really want a larger hole. This one is about the size of a quarter.

[loki]

I was thinking of wiring another switch and mounting it in the back. Bad idea? to hard?

Also, you would have to run power to the back somewhere. Not sure how the existing solenoid is wired, whether you can tap into that or would have to supply an entire separate wiring run.

I tried using my mod today. No sweat to lock, but the hole is too small to unlock it with just fingers. I had figured that. We'll see if that's a problem. Suspect not given that if opening from outside, you use key. If thinking ahead inside, you can reach dash switch. Don't really want a larger hole. This one is about the size of a quarter.

You might be able to get a longer knob for the lock from another model car, not sure how different the lengths and threads are though so that is a bit of a long shot. Another way would be to get a second deli one and cut the knob part off the top of and glue it to the bottom of the good one as an extension. Of course that is just off the top of my head not sure how easy that would be or how strong. lol hell you could tie a short string around the knob that hangs out of the hole so you can pull it up :)

[Green1]

I suppose the string solution would work... hadn't thought of that one!

but an extended lock would NOT work, it would interfere with the light itself. (that was our first idea, but upon closer inspection it is not nearly that simple unfortunately)

[loki]

but an extended lock would NOT work, it would interfere with the light itself. (that was our first idea, but upon closer inspection it is not nearly that simple unfortunately)

that sucks, I haven't taken the stuff apart myself so I was just throwing ideas out there.