For the next 4 months or so I'll have two kayaks on the roof of my 4Runner at all times. With the kayaks on the roof it limits the height the rear gate can open, otherwise the kayaks will hit the glass, potentially damaging it.

I've just been using the rear window to access stuff in the back, but my worry is when my wife takes the kayaks out without me she might forget about the limitation and open the gate wide up and it will hit the kayaks (this happened before with my 3rd gen)

Is there a simple way to disable the ability for the rear door to open but leave the rear window fully functional? One that I could quickly reverse once the summer is over? Last year I used a cord tied to the door strap to limit the amount it opened, looking for a better solution this year.

I don't know this, but I bet you could take the liftgate release switch off and that would do it. Its the soft squishy thing that you open the gate with!

Find the fuse and pull it temporarily. Assuming there is one isolated to the rear latch mechanism.

If I remember correctly, there is a computer in the rear hatch that controls the rear window glass and auto-latching mechanism. Weird things happen when you mess with any of the harnesses in the rear hatch - proceed with caution.




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So this one might be a stretch but what if you used something like a door jam wedge to keep it shut? It would require a very small one to fit between the bumper and the door, but it could be a very cheap and simple option. Also very simple to undo. It's also a visual thing so maybe she will see it before she tries to open the door.

I'd go with simple. Attach a strap to the lowest part of the lift arm or to the pull down strap and the other end inside the cabin. If you open it accidentally it will not lift up but give yourself enough looseness to latch it back down.

Put some tape on the underside of the latch mechanism so it blocks your hand before reaching in to push the button.

how about a "do not open" sign?

This was the first thing I thought about him doing.

How about removing one or both of the rear hatch struts? You could still open the hatch of you had to, but it would take real effort. Hopefully would make either of you think twice at that point.

@twa318

Depending on how much you want to limit the opening, You might be able to swap for lift struts with a shorter travel length or less power. I know when mine get cold they don't have enough oomph to lift all the way up and stop about 3-4" shy of fully open.

No way to move the Kayaks slightly more forward? Maybe add a spacer to raise the rear mount for the kayak; Tipping it up avoiding the hatch and glass?

Boort

You have to trick the hatch that it's closed by closing the latch device. When you are done, just press the unlock latch mechanism to reset the latch to open.

Given how much trouble these rear hatch motors/systems can cause I'd be wary about disabling anything electrical/electronic. I think I'd stick with the rope trick you used before. But that's just me.

If you want an electrical fix you need to interrupt the back door hatch motor from the back door ECU. This can be done by putting a switch in-between either wire going to the motor. The wire colors coming off the motor doing to the ECU are Blue with black stripe or Blue with red stripe.

That's the only way I can see electrically interrupting the hatch from looking at the wiring diagrams.