This is a random thing that happened last week while we were on a road trip and then it fixed itself. I need to figure out why it happened so I'm posting up here.

The hatch door gets pulled in and you can hear the usual motor whirrrrrr. After the hatch is all the way pulled in, the motor again makes the same whirrrr and the hatch comes back out again.

First thing I checked was obstructions and there were none. In the past, if there was an obstruction, the hatch still got pulled in the tone of the whirrrr was different due to the extra drag on the latch motor.

On a fuel stop, we locked up the 4runner using the door lock switch since the FOB wasn't able to lock it since the door open indication was lit up in the instrument cluster.

Unlocked the vehicle, accessed the back and voila, the issue resolved itself.

The latch actuator is one from Amazon since the OEM unit finally bit the dust last year. I'm not sure if the actuator is the issue or the hatch door ECU is sensing something and telling the actuator to reverse itself.

Ideas?

I had a similar problem in the middle of my 8 day trip through the Arizona Strip a couple months back. The door would pull in, then release. I needed to strap the tailgate closed and drove all day like that. (The banging drove me nuts and my sleeping platform was covered in dust).
We did a little field surgery, removing, disassembling as much as possible, and cleaning the latch assembly. That seemed to fix the issue, and I haven’t had a problem again.
This is my second assembly, having replaced the faulty stock unit maybe 80,000 miles ago. I can’t remember where I bought the replacement or if it was new or used


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@alia176 - weird, unexpected, intermittent electrical gremlins sometimes turn out to be battery issues. You might check it and the charging system.

But if I understand correctly, it only happened once then stopped after you opened & closed the hatch? If so, could be that something physical caused it. For example, say the cargo area is full with something slightly overhanging the hatch sill. System closes the hatch but senses an obstruction and releases. You cycle the hatch and it works properly b/c the first closing pushed the item far enough that it’s no longer a factor. I’d be less inclined to think that with an OEM actuator b/c mine just pushes whatever it is and stays closed, but yours is aftermarket so maybe that’s a difference.

In any case, if it was an easily resolved one-off, I wouldn’t worry about it until it happens again although I understand and appreciate your healthy curiosity about the cause.

I forgot to mention on my original post that I disconnected the battery in order to reset the ECU. However that didn't make any difference.

So come at this time I'm ruling out a battery / charging issue, but that was a good suggestion!

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Hmm, I replied to your first thread on this. In case you didn't see that one I paste what I said here too.

The way these work is the motor pulls the door in far enough that the latch locks into place then the motor releases. You should hear the motor 2 times. When the latch starts to fail it will not stay latched. I would lube the snot out of it while it still mostly works but who knows how long the China ones last. I also have one in my truck. I always pull on the hatch to make sure it stayed latched as I don't trust it. Never had it not latch though since replacing.

So, this happened again and then fixed itself again, total random. As I stated previously, I can hear the motor engaging, then unwinding itself.

I ordered an OEM replacement from PartsOuq and will be swapping it out.

I had similar issue on my 04 for a while. Eventually swapped out motor with an Ebay unit and haven't had issues since. Its a really easy swap. Mine was inconsistent as well, seemed to work after disconnecting battery or if I pressed on the hatch. Sometimes it wouldn't latch, others it wouldn't open.

Been 3 years or so since I got the new hatch motor and haven't had an issue since.

agreed, it's an easy swap.