Dead rear tailgate latch

[Billynath1988]

3 time over the span of 4 years the latch got messed up again.. it locks, and then double locks and then wont open and needs to be released through the levers in the access door.. Lets see if I can revive it a 3rd time. lol

 

[knarfwhite]

I had mine freeze in the closed position while the tailgate is open. I happened to be near my local body shop and needed to paint the hatch anyway. So I had him repair it. He said it was a problem with the switch and that he replaced it. He did also adjust the latch because it wasn't closing tight. Did you check the switch?

 

[importman]

To me, this is the single worst part on my 4th gen. It's acted up an average of once a month since I had it. This past weekend it finally bit the dust. I opened it and as I was raising the hatch I could hear the motor run a second time. When I closed it it only went halfway closed. And it wouldn't open. Even with the manual release lever it wouldn't open. Ended up that I could unhook the battery, initialize everything, work the door locks several times and then it would work 1 time. I ordered an aftermarket unit on Amazon for $80. (Thankfully they are fairly cheap now). Installed it yesterday and it is working perfectly for the time being. If someone would design a manual latch to replace this defective system I'd pay good money for it. This is the only thing on my runner that I can say I truly despise. I love the vehicle and everything about it, except this.

 

[Billynath1988]

I ended up fixing it again, pull the ECU B fuse for 20 min or so.. wd40 the hell out of the latch, and manually move a few times with levers.. re insert fuse, key on engine off

unlock and lock doors 5 times, Drivers window up and down 3 times, tailgate window up and down 3 times, Shut tailgate door

 

[woodman60]

Reviving this dead hatch thread

I revived another thread to get some advise as well. My hatch stopped working yesterday. Just wouldn't open. I did the ECU-B fuse reset and it opened and closed again normally. Then I locked the doors with the key fob, Wouldn't open again until I reset it.

At the same time, the rear glass won't go down with the key fob or the key, but will operate form the dashboard.

I'm assuming I need the actuator for the lock, but wondering if I also need the switch. Doesn't seem like the actuator should affect the window. Or does the actuator malfunctioning make the EC shut down everything?

Just wondering whether I should order actuator and switch.

 

[D0GRunner]

I'm new so I can't start a thread. Here's what I've done so far...

Replaced the rear tailgate latch actuator...was a $60 one from amazon, but had good reviews. I did the battery reset for 3 minutes, re-attach battery, lock/unlock all doors from drivers side 3x (did it without the key in), tailgate opens and closes - YAY.

Then I put the key in and start the vehicle. No rear defrost, no rear wipers, no tailgate window up/down. Tailgate won't open anymore. Turn car off. Take key out of ignition, do the lock/unlock 3x on drivers side door. Now the back tailgate will open again. WTH?

Can't use the key in the tailgate to try anything (we are at 320k miles, so we're way past key holes working).

Engine and dash ECU fuse looks ok...I think. I traded the 10 fuse with the 10 horn fuse and it didn't make a difference.

What am I missing?!

 

[AuSeeker]

I'm new so I can't start a thread. Here's what I've done so far...

Replaced the rear tailgate latch actuator...was a $60 one from amazon, but had good reviews. I did the battery reset for 3 minutes, re-attach battery, lock/unlock all doors from drivers side 3x (did it without the key in), tailgate opens and closes - YAY.

Then I put the key in and start the vehicle. No rear defrost, no rear wipers, no tailgate window up/down. Tailgate won't open anymore. Turn car off. Take key out of ignition, do the lock/unlock 3x on drivers side door. Now the back tailgate will open again. WTH?

Can't use the key in the tailgate to try anything (we are at 320k miles, so we're way past key holes working).

Engine and dash ECU fuse looks ok...I think. I traded the 10 fuse with the 10 horn fuse and it didn't make a difference.

What am I missing?!

Not sure why the hatch wouldn't open again after starting the vehicle....BUT on the window not working...anytime you disconnect the battery you have to initiate the windows and moonroof functions again by.....hopefully this may help getting something working the way it should


To reset the driver's side power window auto-close:
1. Push down and hold the driver’s door power window switch to completely open the window.
2. Pull and hold up the driver’s door power window switch until the window closes. Continue holding the switch for approximately one second until the switch changes from blinking to a constant illumination.
3. Check for proper operation of the “one–touch open/close” by pushing the switch briefly to the “DOWN” and “UP” positions.

To reset the moonroof one-touch operation:
With ignition switch in the “ON” position, do the following:
1. Push and hold the “TILT UP” side of the switch until the moon roof tilts all the way up and then tilts down slightly (approximately 10 mm [0.39 in.] at the rear).
2. Check for proper operation of the “one–touch slide open/close” and “one–touch tilt up/down” functions by pushing the switch briefly to the “SLIDE OPEN” and
“TILT UP” positions.

To reset the rear window operation:
1. Turn ignition switch to the “ON” position.
2. Push the back door power window switch to the “DOWN” side to open the window.
3. Push and hold the back door power window switch to the “UP” side until the window closes. Continue holding it for approximately 1 second.
4. Check for proper operation of the “one-touch open/close” functions by pushing the switch briefly to the “DOWN” and “UP” position.

 

[Cezar]

Try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, this sometimes will get it work
one last time

Yeah this was a lifesaver when it happened to me. I think the computer detects too much current draw and disables the motor, and disconnecting the battery makes it forget that. Obviously this only works on a failing motor and not a failed motor, but definitely the first thing to try.

 

[razerface]

unlock and lock doors 5 times, Drivers window up and down 3 times, tailgate window up and down 3 times, Shut tailgate door


This is what made mine work after replacing the latch. Thanks! I learned it here