99 CR-V Rear Window Latch Sticks --- silicone spray doesn't work

When the rear window opens and closes (above and independently from the door
swing gate), it activates a switch that is built into the top left of the
rear door. Something on the bottom left of the window depresses this switch
when the glass is closed, and when the glass is raised up (hinges at the
top) the switch is supposed to return.

It is not, and if I tap it very quickly and hard, it'll sometimes come back.

It feels very much like a plastic-on-plastic friction going on in there, but
am not sure if some part of the spring broke----although it does return, and
I /think/ it's returning with the same vigor as before (once unstuck). I've
sprayed everything I could see in there, and I'm actually surprised not that
it didn't work, but that there was *zero* effect.

Any ideas? How hard is this part of the door to disassemble?

Thanks!

 

I looked at my 01 thinking that there the same but I didn't see a switch, I
would go to the Honda body shop and ask them, sorry I can't help.

Tom

 

I looked at my 01 thinking that there the same but I didn't see a switch, I
would go to the Honda body shop and ask them, sorry I can't help.

Tom

 

-----------------------

Good point about the Realtors. Some of them will have a NEW-CLEAR (as
opposed to nuke-you'll-er) meltdown if they read it, but you're right.
Makes them sound like idiots.

Go sign in at hondasuv.com and 'search' for 'tailgate' and 'latch'. I
think you mean to say that the release handle is also dragging, or not
releasing after you squeeze it with your fist also, right? It happens
most in climates where salt is used on the roads. I've had a few apart.
Don't use white lithium or you'll be waiting for a warm day to go in
there AGAIN, like I am. You'll figure out how to contact me if you
need more help.

'Curly'

 

-----------------------

Good point about the Realtors. Some of them will have a NEW-CLEAR (as
opposed to nuke-you'll-er) meltdown if they read it, but you're right.
Makes them sound like idiots.

Go sign in at hondasuv.com and 'search' for 'tailgate' and 'latch'. I
think you mean to say that the release handle is also dragging, or not
releasing after you squeeze it with your fist also, right? It happens
most in climates where salt is used on the roads. I've had a few apart.
Don't use white lithium or you'll be waiting for a warm day to go in
there AGAIN, like I am. You'll figure out how to contact me if you
need more help.

'Curly'

 

'Curly Q. Links' said something like:

Well, actually, the handle works if the plastic switch is all the way up.
It doesn't work at all if the lever is depressed (it "thinks" the window is
still closed.) I'm not describing this properly.

On the tailgate at the top left corner there is what looks like a (maybe) 2"
x 2" plastic housing (IIRC---I can't get outside right now). Within that
there is a maybe 1"x1" plastic lever that (when the rear window is open) is
up and flush with the rest of the 2x2 housing. When the window closes,
there is a piece of metal attached to the bottom corner of the window that
depresses the 1x1 plastic lever inwards.

1. When the lever (switch) is pressed in by the window, the tailgate is
locked and cannot open.

2. When the window is opened, the lever (switch) is supposed to snap up
towards you, enabling the tailgate to open up. This is not happening, and
the tailgate stays locked and un-openable.

3. If I tap hard on the plastic lever, I can dislodge it from whatever and
it snaps toward me again, allowing the tailgate to be opened.

Thanks,

PS: Thanks for the heads up about the Wh. Lithium grease. The most
important things to post online are your own mistakes!!!!!!!!! They are
invaluable to others!

 

'Curly Q. Links' said something like:

Well, actually, the handle works if the plastic switch is all the way up.
It doesn't work at all if the lever is depressed (it "thinks" the window is
still closed.) I'm not describing this properly.

On the tailgate at the top left corner there is what looks like a (maybe) 2"
x 2" plastic housing (IIRC---I can't get outside right now). Within that
there is a maybe 1"x1" plastic lever that (when the rear window is open) is
up and flush with the rest of the 2x2 housing. When the window closes,
there is a piece of metal attached to the bottom corner of the window that
depresses the 1x1 plastic lever inwards.

1. When the lever (switch) is pressed in by the window, the tailgate is
locked and cannot open.

2. When the window is opened, the lever (switch) is supposed to snap up
towards you, enabling the tailgate to open up. This is not happening, and
the tailgate stays locked and un-openable.

3. If I tap hard on the plastic lever, I can dislodge it from whatever and
it snaps toward me again, allowing the tailgate to be opened.

Thanks,

PS: Thanks for the heads up about the Wh. Lithium grease. The most
important things to post online are your own mistakes!!!!!!!!! They are
invaluable to others!

 

If you can't get any success peeking in the 4" x 4" access hatch you'll
have to pop the whole cover off. Peel the door gasket up a bit , remove
screws behind the plastic hook, and inside the storage hatch. The whole
cover pops off just like a normal door panel toward you, not up. Have a
pry bar handy to help. Warm weather is helpful.

'Curly'

 

If you can't get any success peeking in the 4" x 4" access hatch you'll
have to pop the whole cover off. Peel the door gasket up a bit , remove
screws behind the plastic hook, and inside the storage hatch. The whole
cover pops off just like a normal door panel toward you, not up. Have a
pry bar handy to help. Warm weather is helpful.

'Curly'

 

'Curly Q. Links' said something like:

Excellent! Thanks---I'll give'r a look!

 

'Curly Q. Links' said something like:

Excellent! Thanks---I'll give'r a look!

 

'Curly Q. Links' said something like:

As it turns out, you are right---the release handle *is* not returning with
a snap either, "is dragging", or otherwise feels mushy.

I looked inside the 4x4 hatch. I have a genetic predisposition to being
UNABLE TO REMOVE HONDA PANELS, door or dashboard, so I failed miserably
there. Either the clips don't release (as with the door), or they snap out
entirely and fall within the chassis (as with the dashboard), or, or, or...
Too frustrating for me to face right now {author downs a prozac...}

So I put the door panel screws back in and did the best I could with the 4x4
access hatch. I'll do the best I can to explain it here.

The window lever thing on the left side of the tail gate is attached to a
piece of metal that slides along a curved piece of metal within the door.
This is rubbing with enough friction to actually stick. Heavy black lithium
grease carefully applied just there will get me through the very near term.

The curved piece of metal that it is sliding along looks like it is attached
to the handle and to the tail gate latch on the edge of the door. Here's
the thing: If I reach in with my finger and push the curved piece of metal
UP the extra 1/16" (or less!) then the curved metal is hardly contacted at
all and everything is smooth.

I have to wonder if there is a return spring or something similar broken, so
that the entire handle-curvedmetal-sidelatch assembly doesn't snap back
*all* the way.

Not sure----you said you've seen this a lot? I live in Massachusetts: there
is a /lot/ of salt dumped here...

 

'Curly Q. Links' said something like:

As it turns out, you are right---the release handle *is* not returning with
a snap either, "is dragging", or otherwise feels mushy.

I looked inside the 4x4 hatch. I have a genetic predisposition to being
UNABLE TO REMOVE HONDA PANELS, door or dashboard, so I failed miserably
there. Either the clips don't release (as with the door), or they snap out
entirely and fall within the chassis (as with the dashboard), or, or, or...
Too frustrating for me to face right now {author downs a prozac...}

So I put the door panel screws back in and did the best I could with the 4x4
access hatch. I'll do the best I can to explain it here.

The window lever thing on the left side of the tail gate is attached to a
piece of metal that slides along a curved piece of metal within the door.
This is rubbing with enough friction to actually stick. Heavy black lithium
grease carefully applied just there will get me through the very near term.

The curved piece of metal that it is sliding along looks like it is attached
to the handle and to the tail gate latch on the edge of the door. Here's
the thing: If I reach in with my finger and push the curved piece of metal
UP the extra 1/16" (or less!) then the curved metal is hardly contacted at
all and everything is smooth.

I have to wonder if there is a return spring or something similar broken, so
that the entire handle-curvedmetal-sidelatch assembly doesn't snap back
*all* the way.

Not sure----you said you've seen this a lot? I live in Massachusetts: there
is a /lot/ of salt dumped here...

 

----------------------------

Sorry I forgot to mention hondasuv.com. Sign in, then search the CR-V
section for 'latch' or 'tailgate'. You might have to look in the
archives. It happens on Generation 1's. ('97 - '01). Just don't put any
oil or dino-based GREASE on it. I won't work all winter if you do.

'Curly'

 

----------------------------

Sorry I forgot to mention hondasuv.com. Sign in, then search the CR-V
section for 'latch' or 'tailgate'. You might have to look in the
archives. It happens on Generation 1's. ('97 - '01). Just don't put any
oil or dino-based GREASE on it. I won't work all winter if you do.

'Curly'