2007 Tahoe Tailgate - Auto Lift Not Working

[ugadawgs311]

The auto-lift feature on my 2007 Tahoe's tailgate is not working. I can manually open the tailgate, and it stays open, so it's not the hydraulics, but the auto-lift function doesn't work. I've checked the switch near the sunroof, and it is in the on position.

When I try to open the tailgate using the key fob, the interior button, or from the back handle, I can hear the door beginning to open, however it sounds like the latch doesn't fully release. The tailgate doesn't move at all. The gate also doesn't lower when I hit the close button on the gate or the key fob. Any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks!

 

[wjburken]

The auto-lift feature on my 2007 Tahoe's tailgate is not working. I can manually open the tailgate, and it stays open, so it's not the hydraulics, but the auto-lift function doesn't work. I've checked the switch near the sunroof, and it is in the on position.

When I try to open the tailgate using the key fob, the interior button, or from the back handle, I can hear the door beginning to open, however it sounds like the latch doesn't fully release. The tailgate doesn't move at all. The gate also doesn't lower when I hit the close button on the gate or the key fob. Any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks!

You may have a bad motor/gearbox on the lift mechanism. These have been known to strip out. There are some videos on YouTube showing how to check/replace it.

Will the liftgate go down when you press the button on the bottom of the tailgate?

Does it work if you press the button by the rear view mirror, up or down?

 

[ugadawgs311]

You may have a bad motor/gearbox on the lift mechanism. These have been known to strip out. There are some videos on YouTube showing how to check/replace it.

Will the liftgate go down when you press the button on the bottom of the tailgate?

Does it work if you press the button by the rear view mirror, up or down?

No, it doesn't open or close when I press any buttons. You can hear it start to open, however it never fully unlatches.

I was hoping it'd be an easier fix than replacing the the motor or gearbox, but it sounds like that may be the only fix...

 

[ugadawgs311]

Went ahead and ordered a new latch Actuator (“
Standard Ignition DLA1017 Power Door Lock Actuator”) off Amazon. I’ll give it a shot to see if I can install the new one in my own. Anyone ever tried this? Seems like the hardest part will be removing the door frame on the interior tailgate.

 

[PatDTN]

When mine did that it was the switch that you've already checked. Is it possible that switch is bad near the sunroof?

 

[ugadawgs311]

When mine did that it was the switch that you've already checked. Is it possible that switch is bad near the sunroof?

I don’t think so, because when I try to open the tailgate, I can hear the motor trying to open, so it seems that the tailgate is still getting power. It just cannot unlatch from the locking mechanism for some reason.

 

[PatDTN]

Mine made similar sounds when I used the remote or the handle out on the gate. If the switch is commanding that the gate is disabled it could sound that way. A water leak from around the sunroof might reach the switch and cause trouble. Just a thought.

 

[wjburken]

No, it doesn't open or close when I press any buttons. You can hear it start to open, however it never fully unlatches.

I was hoping it'd be an easier fix than replacing the the motor or gearbox, but it sounds like that may be the only fix...

Went ahead and ordered a new latch Actuator (“
Standard Ignition DLA1017 Power Door Lock Actuator”) off Amazon. I’ll give it a shot to see if I can install the new one in my own. Anyone ever tried this? Seems like the hardest part will be removing the door frame on the interior tailgate.

I think I am missing something.

If I understand your situation correctly, you are able to unlatch and open the liftgate manually, and close the liftgate and have it latch manually. You are just not able to get the liftgate to open or close automatically, correct?

If that is the case, and this is where I may be missing something, why are you replacing the latch actuator? It sounds like the latch is working otherwise you wouldn't be able to open the liftgate manually.

You state that when the liftgate is closed, you can hear the motor try and lift the gate but then it stops. What happens when the liftgate is up and you press the button? Do you hear the motor try and lower the liftgate?

 

[ugadawgs311]

I think I am missing something.

If I understand your situation correctly, you are able to unlatch and open the liftgate manually, and close the liftgate and have it latch manually. You are just not able to get the liftgate to open or close automatically, correct?

If that is the case, and this is where I may be missing something, why are you replacing the latch actuator? It sounds like the latch is working otherwise you wouldn't be able to open the liftgate manually.

You state that when the liftgate is closed, you can hear the motor try and lift the gate but then it stops. What happens when the liftgate is up and you press the button? Do you hear the motor try and lower the liftgate?

I can manually open and close the gate. The gate also stays open when I manually open it, so it's not the hydraulic arms.

When the gate is open and I try to close it automatically, the same thing happens as when I try to open it: I hear noises like the motor is trying to close the gate, but it doesn't go anywhere. I have to manually pull down the gate in order to close it. Buttons on the key fob, the gate, or from the drivers seat do not work.

 

[wjburken]

I can manually open and close the gate. The gate also stays open when I manually open it, so it's not the hydraulic arms.

When the gate is open and I try to close it automatically, the same thing happens as when I try to open it: I hear noises like the motor is trying to close the gate, but it doesn't go anywhere. I have to manually pull down the gate in order to close it. Buttons on the key fob, the gate, or from the drivers seat do not work.

Based on that, I would suspect that either the lift bar is disconnected from the motor or something in the lift motor is stripped out. I do not think it is your latch actuator as that should have nothing to do with the liftgate closing. Pull back the rubber around the slot for the lifting bar and you should be able to see where the lifting bar connects to the output of the motor and see if that is connected and if the gears are turning when the liftgate tries to close.

 

[ugadawgs311]

Based on that, I would suspect that either the lift bar is disconnected from the motor or something in the lift motor is stripped out. I do not think it is your latch actuator as that should have nothing to do with the liftgate closing. Pull back the rubber around the slot for the lifting bar and you should be able to see where the lifting bar connects to the output of the motor and see if that is connected and if the gears are turning when the liftgate tries to close.

Thanks for the info. I'll try to check that out. Noob question here... where is the lift bar I should look for? I'm guessing I'll need to remove the interior cover on the gate...

 

[wjburken]

Should be able to just pull the rubber gasket back a little and see the motor and if things are turning or not.

Here is a video of a guy working on the liftgate.

 

[ugadawgs311]

Should be able to just pull the rubber gasket back a little and see the motor and if things are turning or not.

View attachment 255329


Here is a video of a guy working on the liftgate.

thanks for the video. I pulled back the rubber piece like you recommended, and I can see the arm trying to move, but it just doesn’t. It seems like the gears aren’t engaged back there...

It definitely seems like it's that gear that you pointed out. I can see the gear try to turn, but it never does, then kind of pops back to its starting position. However, when I manually close the gate, I can see the gear moving perfectly. Grr....

 

[donjetman]

I had this problem last year. Here is a thread I did: https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/remove-liftgate-panel-to-replace-latch-2008-yukon.79001/

 

[MrAguirrechu]

Have you tried replacing the lift struts? Mine did the same thing when the struts died.

 

[ugadawgs311]

Have you tried replacing the lift struts? Mine did the same thing when the struts died.

I don't think it's the struts, because the gate stays open on its own when I manually open it. It seems like it's the metal bar on the driver side (not the strut) that isn't "pushing" the gate up or down. I can hear the motor running, so I don't think it's an electrical issue. I also can here the motor running near the door latch (directly below the handle).

 

[cam3439]

I had this problem last year. Here is a thread I did: https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/remove-liftgate-panel-to-replace-latch-2008-yukon.79001/

I helped my brother diagnose this issue and the symptoms described by the OP were identical to his. If you have a tech 2 or similar scanner, the body codes may point you to the right direction. The codes for my brother’s truck pointed to the latch on the door. The latch has internal sensors, one of which had failed.

We did the relearn procedure after the replacement, and it’s been working since with no issues.

 

[ugadawgs311]

I helped my brother diagnose this issue and the symptoms described by the OP were identical to his. If you have a tech 2 or similar scanner, the body codes may point you to the right direction. The codes for my brother’s truck pointed to the latch on the door. The latch has internal sensors, one of which had failed.

We did the relearn procedure after the replacement, and it’s been working since with no issues.

What did you replace on the latch? The whole unit?

I’ve also noticed that the latch doesn’t seem to move when opening or closing. The little piece that should move when opening, stays put, and when the gate is open, I can manually move the latch myself.

 

[cam3439]

Yeah, we replaced the whole latch assembly within the rear door. It’s called different things, like door lock actuator / liftgate lock actuator/ etc., but it was an assembled unit. The sensor that failed was internal to the unit in the screenshot below, and it looked like some of the sensors were epoxied (helps with longer life) so I wasn’t about to start messing around with trying to find the single sensor.

If the latch turns out to be your issue, find the correct replacement part for yours. When we looked for our replacement, multiple units/versions came up.

 

[cam3439]

Double post.