Encountered a strange problem with the hatchback on my 2004 4runner SR5...all of sudden all electrical/motorized components on the hatch stopped working. So my rear defogger, rear wiper, rear window and the motorized latch all stopped working. All other electronics/motorized items seem fine, it's just everything in the hatch. Can't even open the hatch because of the motorized latch. I checked fuses and all seem OK, besides these are controlled by several fuses. Anyone encounter this before or have any idea what's going on? Thanks,

Are you able to check the wires going into the rear door? I believe the wiring for all the components enters the door through the same wire loom on the upper left side. If the fuses all check out, then I'd look to see if something damaged the wiring where it goes into the rear door.

I have an '03 and it works fine for 7 yrs. Has your 4R been in an accident?

Unfortunately I can't even open the rear hatch to check.

...and no, no accidents. All was well then it stopped working.

Does the dash switch work? If so be sure your rear window is all the way up. This is exactly how it acts when the window is slightly down.

Just a guess but sounds like you are not getting power or signal to the back door ECU.

I have an '03 and I had problems with the back window but not the latch. This happened after only one year after I picked the truck up new.

It took the Toyota service 2 weeks to figure out what was wrong. Turns out it was a bad connection in the connector going to the back door ecu.

There is a fail safe for the back window, if the ecu is getting power this should work to check the window , not sure about the latch.


Turn the ignition switch to the "on" position now try the back window switch on the dash to move the window up or down or with the ignition switch still in "on" position, use the key in the back door to move the window up and down. I would be curious if either of these works. If it works then you are getting power to the back door ECU.
GL
-Toy-Man-

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately no luck. Tried the dash switch for the rear window - it will not go up or down with the engine on, or with the key in "on" position.

Also check the window lock switch in the drivers side door panel controls. Make sure it's not depressed.

Yup - checked that. All other windows open.

That's weird that everything in the back doesn't work especially when you cannot even open your rear hatch. :jaw drop:

Put the key in the back and see if the window will go up and down... Same thing happened to mine... Got the window down and back up and everything worked again.

The fact that you can not open the back door window from either the rear window switch or the key in the back door suggests strongly that your problem is power to the back door and back door ecu.

If you have checked all fduses associated with the back door, then now is the time to look at the power and ground connections since, as I understand, nothing electrical on the back door (hatch) works.

I will check the manuals to see if anything jumps out at me but I suspect that won't happen.

Meanwhile I have to replace the back door window regulator assembly, since during this last winter the mounting brackets that hold the window glass to the regulators allowing it to move up and down have completely rust away. These brackets are made of very poor quality metal, I suspect is is just soft iron. The rest of the assembly is as good as when it came from the factory.

Here comes the rant. If toyota had spent an extra couple of bucks and used stainless steel or even a better quality metal in those brackets, they would last alot longer. Anyway I don't want to highjack the thread.

Good luck with finding a solution to your problem. I will check around also.

-Toy-Man-

OK - couldn't figure it out so took my runner to the mechanic. Turned out that yes, the ecu in the tailgate had died. A couple hundred bucks later for the part and labor and all is well now. I was amazed at how much stuff Toyota packed into that tailgate. Thanks again for the troubleshooting tips.

My tailgate is dead again. Gate works only when ignition is on, move rear window through up and down cycle, and door locks open and lock. Then go to the rear and open the hatch. Turn off key and the whole thing goes dead again. Key switch does not work in gate and fob does work window either.
It did this last year, but somehow it healed itself and was good for months, but now broke again. At that time I checked all the connectors and fuses and reprogrammed everything to no success, so no sense doing any of that again.
Ideas?