lift gate on my 2011 Tahoe wont open

[Danayala]

I have a 2011 Chevy Tahoe and my lift gate wont open .. it goes up bout quarter of the way and then just closes..has this happened to anyone .. or any ideas where to start

 

[SpareParts]

Needs new lift gate struts.

 

[ianbis]

agreed with SpareParts above, it is designed to sense resistance and retract/reverse direction so as not to cause damage to the tailgate or a human or animal or other objects when opening/closing just like pinch control on your power-windows. If the struts are weak or the strut rod is dirty it will sense/feel resistance and reverse direction. You could try opening the tailgate manually and cleaning the rods but at 15 years old they are probably tired and worn out as the tailgate is pretty heavy.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Been there, done that. Your lift struts need to be replaced. IMO, get GM OEM replacements from RockAuto.com or GMPartsDirect.com for cost savings over the local dealer. Note that the left and right lift struts are not the same, and have different part numbers, so proper installation is important.

Last, don't be shocked at the freight price, as they are classified as slightly hazardous, due to their internal pressure.