Tailgate Help

[jhhennes]

So last night, someone apparently backed into me and dented the tailgate. Now, I’m not super concerned since this thing has 205K miles on it and is my daily, it’s not perfect but it still frustrated me. So, I pulled off the back panel, removed the cover with the controls for the lock/window, and was able to push the dent out, mostly.

After that, the problem started. Tailgate wouldn’t auto close, it just sat like it was not latching. Wouldn’t open or close at all. I was able to locate the manual latch, and fully close the tailgate, but now I still can’t open it. The switch is dead... The window works just fine with remote and key, but I have no other access.

I checked fuses, and everything is fine. Any ideas what might have happened? Did the motor just fry itself?

I searched and found a bunch of stuff on replacing the motor, but that’s all I was able to find in my frustration and sweaty/sticky handed searching on my phone. Now, I’ve given up for a bit and getting ready to pack and leave town tomorrow morning for work.

TIA! John

 

[AuSeeker]

So last night, someone apparently backed into me and dented the tailgate. Now, I’m not super concerned since this thing has 205K miles on it and is my daily, it’s not perfect but it still frustrated me. So, I pulled off the back panel, removed the cover with the controls for the lock/window, and was able to push the dent out, mostly.

After that, the problem started. Tailgate wouldn’t auto close, it just sat like it was not latching. Wouldn’t open or close at all. I was able to locate the manual latch, and fully close the tailgate, but now I still can’t open it. The switch is dead... The window works just fine with remote and key, but I have no other access.

I checked fuses, and everything is fine. Any ideas what might have happened? Did the motor just fry itself?

I searched and found a bunch of stuff on replacing the motor, but that’s all I was able to find in my frustration and sweaty/sticky handed searching on my phone. Now, I’ve given up for a bit and getting ready to pack and leave town tomorrow morning for work.

TIA! John

Did you check the motor connector, and the connector to the hatch switch connector for having damage or being lossened, can't think of anything else

 

[jhhennes]

Did you check the motor connector, and the connector to the hatch switch connector for having damage or being lossened, can't think of anything else

Yup, all connectors are tight. Only unplugged one.

 

[lightfreak]

Try disconnecting the battery for a minute . This should reset the tailgate ECU and hopefully get it to work again .

I had a similar problem once and the above fixed it.

 

[jhhennes]

Try disconnecting the battery for a minute . This should reset the tailgate ECU and hopefully get it to work again .

I had a similar problem once and the above fixed it.

Thank you! I will try this when I get back home tonight!

 

[jhhennes]

Try disconnecting the battery for a minute . This should reset the tailgate ECU and hopefully get it to work again .

I had a similar problem once and the above fixed it.

That did the trick!! Thank you so much!

 

[lightfreak]

That did the trick!! Thank you so much!

Good to hear. It’s good practice to disconnect the battery or pull the appropriate fuse when working on anything connected to any of the ECU’s. They go into an error state if you unplug them while they’re communicating.