Magic Self Opening Tailgate 2018 Denali

[ncpepperman]

I just finished hand washing and drying my '18 Denali for the second time. As I was drying the rear bumper, the lights flashed and the tailgate opened by its self. Finished drying it, lights flashed and it closed...... This is the second time it has happened as I am rubbing over the left rear sensors, doesn't seem to happen with the right sensors. I did have the key fob in my pocket but none of the buttons were pressed and my leg was not under the vehicle. Just curious if this is a normal occurrence.

 

[noob]

all it takes is a foot, so I’m guessing maybe it’s sensitive enough that it picked up your foot from being centered on the bumper?

 

[ncpepperman]

all it takes is a foot, so I’m guessing maybe it’s sensitive enough that it picked up your foot from being centered on the bumper?

Foot was not under vehicle. It has to be centered , straight in and straight out to open. It has something to do with the sensors in the bumper. Wet chamois has to be rubbed back n forth on left side sensors before it will open. Haven't been able to get it to do it on the right side. Weird ........

 

[adventurenali92]

It happens all the time when I’m detailing the 15 esky esv that belongs to my best friends parents. The pressure washer hose can be just slightly under the rear and move an inch and the damn tailgate will open. I hate it. I think the foot sensor is the dumbest design ever. And I hate that there’s no way to disable it. It would be better if there was a way to disengage it while I wash it so it doesn’t open mid wash step, and then re-engage when I’m done.

 

[sickk23]

It happens all the time when I’m detailing the 15 esky esv that belongs to my best friends parents. The pressure washer hose can be just slightly under the rear and move an inch and the damn tailgate will open. I hate it. I think the foot sensor is the dumbest design ever. And I hate that there’s no way to disable it. It would be better if there was a way to disengage it while I wash it so it doesn’t open mid wash step, and then re-engage when I’m done.

Twisting this knob to the off position should disable it.

 

[adventurenali92]

Twisting this knob to the off position should disable it.

View attachment 193290

Doesnt that just disable the whole tailgate?! So if I do that it won’t go up on it’s own when I actually push the button in the grab handle right?

 

[sickk23]

Doesnt that just disable the whole tailgate?! So if I do that it won’t go up on it’s own when I actually push the button in the grab handle right?

That’s right. You’d have to manually open and close it when it’s set to off.

 

[adventurenali92]

That’s right. You’d have to manually open and close it when it’s set to off.

I wish it wasn’t an all or nothing feature....

 

[ncpepperman]

It happens all the time when I’m detailing the 15 esky esv that belongs to my best friends parents. The pressure washer hose can be just slightly under the rear and move an inch and the damn tailgate will open. I hate it. I think the foot sensor is the dumbest design ever. And I hate that there’s no way to disable it. It would be better if there was a way to disengage it while I wash it so it doesn’t open mid wash step, and then re-engage when I’m done.

Nothing under the bumper . Have to rub the left sensors and it will open ... right sensors don't seem to be able to duplicate the feat. I can always take the key fob out of my pocket to eliminate the hatch opening. It has to be a wet chamois, dry polishing cloth won't get same effect. Will check with service when I take it in for my first oil change.

 

[adventurenali92]

Nothing under the bumper . Have to rub the left sensors and it will open ... right sensors don't seem to be able to duplicate the feat. I can always take the key fob out of my pocket to eliminate the hatch opening. It has to be a wet chamois, dry polishing cloth won't get same effect. Will check with service when I take it in for my first oil change.

From what I understand the sensors are on both sides, right behind that lower reflector piece on each bottom corner of the bumper. Yes taking the key out of pocket eliminates the gate opening.

 

[CND17 BURBAN]

If I remember correctly there should be a setting in the settings menu of the radio to disable to foot sensor on the rear bumper.
I'll have to double check this tonight when I leave work.

 

[adventurenali92]

If I remember correctly there should be a setting in the settings menu of the radio to disable to foot sensor on the rear bumper.
I'll have to double check this tonight when I leave work.

I’d love to know if there’s a setting for that or not!

 

[MTVP]

Or you could put the key fob somewhere other than on ones self works very well. And you don't have to reprogram anything. I have done the phantom open a few times while drying the Esky . I now just put it on the work table until I'm done. That way I can jump in and realize ,Key Fob not found!

 

[ncpepperman]

Or you could put the key fob somewhere other than on ones self works very well. And you don't have to reprogram anything. I have done the phantom open a few times while drying the Esky . I now just put it on the work table until I'm done. That way I can jump in and realize ,Key Fob not found!

Glad to know someone else experienced the same situation while drying. I was hoping the next time a Genie would pop out with a lowering kit and set of 22's...... In the future, will just set key fob some distance from the vehicle.

The sensors are for back up and still shouldn't have anything to do with the hatch.

 

[jeffbco]

If I remember correctly there should be a setting in the settings menu of the radio to disable to foot sensor on the rear bumper.
I'll have to double check this tonight when I leave work.

No such setting exists.

 

[adventurenali92]

Glad to know someone else experienced the same situation while drying. I was hoping the next time a Genie would pop out with a lowering kit and set of 22's...... In the future, will just set key fob some distance from the vehicle.

The sensors are for back up and still shouldn't have anything to do with the hatch.

No we aren’t referring to the rear park assist sensors. There’s a sonar type sensor on the underneath side of the rear bumper that activates the automatic rear tailgate.

 

[ncpepperman]

No we aren’t referring to the rear park assist sensors. There’s a sonar type sensor on the underneath side of the rear bumper that activates the automatic rear tailgate.

Sorry , in my original post I am referring to the driver side bumper sensors activating the hatch while I am drying the bumper. The "kick" sensor under the vehicle was never approached .

This is obviously some kind of glitch which is not of real concern, just an anomaly.......

 

[adventurenali92]

Sorry , in my original post I am referring to the driver side bumper sensors activating the hatch while I am drying the bumper. The "kick" sensor under the vehicle was never approached .

This is obviously some kind of glitch which is not of real concern, just an anomaly.......

Oh that’s odd. My bad. Yeah your park assist sensors on the rear bumper should not be activating your kick sensor for the tailgate. Like I said before, from what I’ve experienced with the few 15+ trucks equipped with them that I detail, they’re very sensitive. The foot sensor will go off with even the smallest object waving near it. I’d be willing to bet you activated the foot sensors when you were drying just by being near the rear bumper. But I would have your dealer check it out if in fact your park assist sensors are opening your tailgate as that’s not right.

 

[ncpepperman]

Oh that’s odd. My bad. Yeah your park assist sensors on the rear bumper should not be activating your kick sensor for the tailgate. Like I said before, from what I’ve experienced with the few 15+ trucks equipped with them that I detail, they’re very sensitive. The foot sensor will go off with even the smallest object waving near it. I’d be willing to bet you activated the foot sensors when you were drying just by being near the rear bumper. But I would have your dealer check it out if in fact your park assist sensors are opening your tailgate as that’s not right.

No problem. With the ignition off , one would think that there shouldn't be any power to the sensors . Seems that they might be powered all the time. Will check with the techs at my first service. Not a big deal , just strange.

 

[bladenbullet]

it isnt possible that the chamois is hanging down below the bumper at all and the sensor is picking it up?...