Liftgate not working, well here is a fix

[Slow5.0]

On my 16 Denaly i had some problems with liftgate this pass winter. When cold after pressing any of 3 buttons or using feet yo open it it will just unlock and start raising a few inches than stop. Than a few dayo ago it started doing same thing but on wark weather. I never had problems liftgate opening and closing by it self because spoildr was hitting roof
Looks like GM update part # 84036214 Lift Cylinder to new part # 84306929. I didnt had time to mess with dealer and use warranty so i bought new one off ebay $120 shipped and install it my self. There is 7 small red retainers part # 11547026 if you broke them. You can get 10 of them on ebay for $12. Also if you mess up upper trim part # for black one is 84299959, they go by color. Around $50
Old one was opening and closing faster but it did slammer right before fully closed. New one is little bit slower but its quiter
Here is pics of new one installed on left and old one on right

 

[cheyenne383]

Great info, I'm wondering how long the originals will last on my 16.

 

[Slow5.0]

Mine only lasted 15k miles

 

[cheyenne383]

75k so far and with kids it opened at least daily... I shut it off in the winter since snow build up back there, not sure if that helped or not.

 

[daryl]

Mine just went out on my 17 XL with 18k. Opens a few inches and stops. Or, lowers a few inches and stops. Super frustrating, as the one on my old (company car) 14 Escape with 111K still functions perfectly.

 

[Slow5.0]

Well replqcement didnt last long either. After 4 lk miles lift gate started acting again. This time slam ******* bottom, lock and unlock right away. I think problem is me leaving lift gate open after unloading stuff from the back. So i guess close liftgate soon you are done

 

[Undeserving]

all the more reason I am not happy they went away from the van doors. the lift gate is a bad design that offers nothing over the van doors yet comes with a slew of negatives. why chevy, why???

 

[Kpwweb]

all the more reason I am not happy they went away from the van doors. the lift gate is a bad design that offers nothing over the van doors yet comes with a slew of negatives. why chevy, why???

Because it’s nice to stand under when raining. Works well when getting something out of or putting something into the back while it’s pouring, keeping the water off my lid.

 

[cigarsmoker]

I'm having the same issue with the power lift gate on my 2016 chevy suburban (~60K) only opening a few inches. Unable to open past the few inches manually either. I've ordered the replacement left actuator (84306929) and right strut (84183515). My question is how do you release the actuator to open the lift gate manually to allow for replacement? I've only been able to find information on older models (2007-2014) where they drill a small hole in the lift gate to release the hatch. Appreciate anyone's help.

 

[Slow5.0]

Update. Lift cylinder quit working 4 times and control module once. This power liftgate is joke. I miss my 07 Tahoe LTZ and power liftgate setup
Also i found out dont leave liftgate open for any long period and also water can leak into top of cylinder where motor is located. I opened one of bad cyliner and found corrosion due to water leak. One one of new replacement i put some cilycone around, water didnt leak any more into it but i left damn liftgate open a few times so quit again. So as soon you done with taking stuff from or into the trunk, close damn thing right away

 

[Miami-Dade]

At 83K miles mine is still good but if it goes out I would not even bother to fix it. I will open and close it manually just as law enforcement does.

 

[cheyenne383]

Mine is still kicking at 107k and rough winters... just turned it back on for the season and no issues. Keeping my fingers crossed it holds up.

 

[Slow5.0]

At 83K miles mine is still good but if it goes out I would not even bother to fix it. I will open and close it manually just as law enforcement does.

Good luck. Its not easy to lift and close this liftgate when motor is bad like old liftgates without motor. You cant just slam it. To lock it you have to bring it down slowly and than it will lock it self. If you slam it it will never lock. Maybe these SUVs without power liftgate option are easy to operate but bustet power ones are not

 

[gat0r]

wonder what else they changed for other years, my '15 is still going good.
i leave mine open as long as i need to.

fingers crossed it stays working well

 

[BigIan279]

Nope! I have a 2016 Denali has done 45K miles and the second set have just failed about 18 months after the first set being replaced under warranty. I'm hoping the "stealer" might do it under extended warranty - I'll find out tomorrow. Do you think its anything to do with high are temperatures and dust as I live in Abu Dhabi.

 

[DWTahoe]

Nothing helpful I can add......but I wish Chevy would make the tailgate like the land cruisers. Have the bottom half fold down like a tailgate so I can sit on it and the upper lift up. Oh man that would be sweeeeeet!!

I have 95K miles on mine and the lift gate still works, for now. Often I have to give it a little pull when it starts to open to break that seal. I rarely use the overhead buttons up front to open or close it. Maybe that initial opening when its sort of stuck is ******* the motors after time?

 

[Tahoe14]

Try spraying your seal with silicone spray. Should keep it fairly loose.

 

[stallion_412]

Try spraying your seal with silicone spray. Should keep it fairly loose.

Yep, use super lube or even WD-40. Spray the hinges, the cylinders, basically any part that moves. This alone will often fix a door that opens partway and then starts to close again.

 

[Tylus]

so is there no easy DIY fix?

when I bought it the Dealer replaced them as part of the purchase. Last week the damn thing went out. Exactly like last time. Sometimes if I help it out it'll work 1-2 times perfectly. Then mess up.

 

[Slow5.0]

Well since last year, liftgate quit 3 more times, 42k right now. Wtf. Im tired of this