2010 Limited tailgate is on the fritz

[simonj]

2010 Limited tailgate is on the fritz ***UPDATE- Toyota issued a TSB****

Live in Canada, where temps have been in the -10 degree celsius range.

I went thru a touchless carwash last week, and since then, the following has happened:

1) rear window no longer operates and appears to be fully up (yes, I've checked the locking switch next to the window switches on driver door)
2) rear wiper/sprayer no longer operates and appears to be in the up and locked position.
3) rear defrost no longer operates
4) opening the rear hatch with the smart key in my pocket is hit or miss. More often then not, when I push the latch button near the licence plate, nothing happens. It takes a few tries, often 8-10 pushes of the button, for the tailgate to unlock and open.

I have an appt at the dealer tomorrow, I will report back with the solution. I've read about the battery disconnect/reset and "normalizing" the windows. I will suggest that to the service department.

 

[Mark86]

Sounds like the sensor thinks your rear window is open. As a result, the wiper, sprayer, and defroster will not function. Car wash must have misaligned or tweaked something.

 

[NYRunner]

With those temps, unless you're parking in a heated garage, might that be possibly caused by a piece of ice blocking the mechanism from fully closing?

 

[harper7]

Could have had a sensor go bad or could be all frozen up inside the door. Touchless car washes spray high pressure water that can get past that outer seal and get down in the door.It has seals on the inside also so it doesn't get inside the truck but water gets in the doors.

They expect water to get in doors to some degree as there are drains in the bottoms of all the doors and the liftgates for most vehicles that I've seen.High pressure car washes compound it. Look along the bottom and you'll see the drain holes.There are 2 or 3 in each door.When I had the lift gate apart there was all kinds of dirt and traces of water that gotten in there on mine and I've never had it thru a high pressure car wash.

 

[simonj]

Update:

The module that controls the tailgate functions is shot. All the solenoids and motors are fine, as they were able to activate all of the functions (wiper, window, latch release) via the diagnostic tool.

They also tried an ECU reset by unplugging the battery to try to re-establish communication between the ECU and the module. No joy.

Back to the dealer when the part arrives.

 

[TNteacherguy]

tailgate on the fritz

did the part repair the problem? I have the same issue but, it was working fine yesterday and today (in the rain) I noticed rear defrost, rear wiper, rear window switch, all became NON-working.

thanks

 

[SOMDRUNNER1]

My rear defroster, wiper and washer stopped working recently also. I have not gone to the dealer yet. I do use an automatic carwash regularly. Who knows?

 

[simonj]

The ECU was on back order. It just came in today and my appt is on Friday.

I will report back with the results.

 

[TNteacherguy]

snow day in Middle TN today. At dealer for diagnosis. Oops...I think I know more than the advisor...will keep you all posted.

 

[TNteacherguy]

ECU on order...same symptoms, same ordered part.

 

[F8watcher]

I've got the same problem. Rear wiper stopped working the other day. Guess I'll book it in to the dealer for a repair.

 

[usajar52]

Add another one to the list with the same problem.

 

[simonj]

Update. No good. Replaced the door ecu and no joy. Again everything works using the diagnostic tool. The service manual now calls for a main ecu replacement!

They are going to look at the arrow buttons next. The unlock down arrow doesn't work. They are going to replace that before we go the ecu route.

I'll report back when that happens.

 

[TNteacherguy]

Houston...we have a problem

I have heard that my ecu is on backorder until 2-7-2011. The tech still swears by the diagnosis. The service manager is checking with technical assistance to see if there is a real accurate fix in the works.

i feel sorry for everyone that has to visit the dealer more than once to have repaired. I suspect that a lot of us are going to make multiple (3 or more) visits to the dealer before someone figures out what really needs replacing.

 

[TNteacherguy]

update to the can't open the tailgate or use any tailgate functions...

after chatting with the service manager...he called his FTS (field technical specialist)...according to him...lucky for me...it happened to an FTS in his 4runner demo...

they think there's a broken wire in the "spider leg" harness from the tailgate control module. i have one coming from Japan...

will keep everyone posted...until then, I'm driving my 04 Avalanche at 13 mpgs...

 

[simonj]

UPDATE - Fixed!!

One of the wires was broken on the harness that goes to the control module inside the hatch. All is good now!!!

 

[TNteacherguy]

fixed

harness replaced....everything back in working order.
BUT, you have to hate getting back your pride and joy with grease marks all over the area the technician worked in...

 

[simonj]

Thread back from the dead. Well, its happened again. But this time:

- defrost doesn't work
- rear window is intermittent. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it stops half way open - not good, middle of winter here.
- rear wiper spray doesn't work
- rear wiper is acting crazy. Sometime it works, sometimes doesn't. On occasion in intermittent mode, it retracts back into the spoiler between cycles.
- latch button and UP/DOWN buttons appear to be working for locking/unlocking - but not for the window.

I've tried battery disconnect. The "window reset" procedure doesn't seem to work, since the window usually gets stuck half way down or up.

Back to the dealer again......hoping its just a harness again.

 

[Antman]

Sounds like they didn't route the harness properly and a wire (or wires) chafed through causing them to make intermittent contact.

Or- the rear hatch is possessed...

 

[simonj]

Upate - its the harness again. Wires are broken.

There is now a TSB on this issue for 2010/2011 4Runners. The length of the wiring harness is too short which after time, stretches and breaks.

Toyota now has a longer harness - which has been ordered for mine. I'll try to get a copy of the TSB and post it for future reference for those with a possessed tailgate.