Installing rear camera, now tailgate door won't open

[CookieRoe]

Took the rear tailgate trim out to begin installing a rear camera (a project LONG in the making). Anyway, I was losing daylight and so I started to pack things away. The tailgate ECU (driver's side, black box mounted in the tailgate door) was disconnected when I closed the door. I realized my mistake immediately. Anyway, b/c the rear trim was already removed, I got into the trunk and reached into the latch area and pulled on the levers to open it. Once opened, I plugged in the 2 plugs on the ECU. I squeezed the opener and noticed no noise. I closed the door and tried to open it and nothing. No sound from the actuator. Wanted to mention that when I closed the hatch, it didn't (doesn't) close all the way. The door clicks and locks when it is closed, but you can move the door b/c the actuator never fully closed it (makes sense)?

Anyway, from the threads I've read, 1) I tried unlock/locking everything, nothing. 2) I started the engine, nothing. I haven't disconnected the battery (I know i know, I should've done that first) yet, but I would think it would still work. The conclusion/consensus I saw is that the rear trunk lock actuator is prone to die. Mine doesn't have any rust at all (major cause of failures). Just seems odd that all of a sudden it would stop working, I'm thinking it's something simple.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

PS: What a pain in the ass it is to get wires to fit into the loom from the tailgate to the body. Haven't been successful in getting my camera wires through it.................

 

[shine]

As far as I remember, the ECU will reset itself if you leave the battery disconnected for a few minutes. 10-15 minutes comes to mind.

 

[riceandpho]

i would do the lock and unlock couple of times, with key in the hatch, and also the button at the driver side.
roll the window up and down a few times like your reseting it and hold for few seconds.

 

[Terminator03]

Just went through this a month ago myself! I didn’t forget to reconnect the ECU, but closed my tailgate and then couldn’t open it just like you did. The difference was that I can’t manually open mine because I built a semi permanent plywood shelf to make a second level of storage in the entire rear section with tools above and below. Anyway, after pulling my hair out trying to research what to do, everything pointed to the reset of leaving the battery disconnected for awhile. I left it for maybe a half hour while doing other stuff. When I reconnected it, of course the power windows, rear wiper, etc. don’t work, so I reset all of them with the window down, hold, up, hold, etc. to relearn the limits. After that, the hatch worked again! I was really panicking because I was leaving on a trip the next day, and immediately needed the truck to start a job the day after my return! I was seriously panicking for a bit!

 

[CookieRoe]

Thanks for the reply guys, going to try that as soon as it stops raining.

 

[Letsrunem]

Thanks for the reply guys, going to try that as soon as it stops raining.

Did disconnecting the battery work. I just finished putting in a backup camera and the exact same thing happened. I went to shut the back door and I noticed the electric motor didn't close it. I cant get it to open now but it isn't shut all the way since the electric motor didn't close it.

I just disconnected the battery about 10 minutes ago.

 

[CookieRoe]

Did disconnecting the battery work. I just finished putting in a backup camera and the exact same thing happened. I went to shut the back door and I noticed the electric motor didn't close it. I cant get it to open now but it isn't shut all the way since the electric motor didn't close it.

I just disconnected the battery about 10 minutes ago.

I didn't reply? Anyway, if memory serves, disconnecting the battery did the trick. I was all ready to purchase a new assembly, but the door did close and return to normal operation.

 

[Letsrunem]

I didn't reply? Anyway, if memory serves, disconnecting the battery did the trick. I was all ready to purchase a new assembly, but the door did close and return to normal operation.

Awesome, thanks for the response. Disconnecting the battery worked for me as well. Left it unplugged for about a hour after reconnecting I rolled down the windows and the back glass then rolled them back up. I guess it re learned whatever it needed to and the rear door works as it always did.