Powered Tail Gate failed

[2007 Denali XL]

Hi,

My powered tail gate door does not work, when I press the button on the remote the motor does kick in but it does not raise the door so I have to open it manually.

When opening it manually I need to pause once it has opened a little bit and then it clunks and I can then open it the rest of the way, I am not sure if that helps the diagnosis.

I assume it needs some replacements parts and I wonder if the fix is doable by an amateur like me?

Thanks

 

[swathdiver]

Hi,

My powered tail gate door does not work, when I press the button on the remote the motor does kick in but it does not raise the door so I have to open it manually.

When opening it manually I need to pause once it has opened a little bit and then it clunks and I can then open it the rest of the way, I am not sure if that helps the diagnosis.

I assume it needs some replacements parts and I wonder if the fix is doable by an amateur like me?

Thanks

Replace the other lift struts and see what happens.

 

[wjburken]

Hi,

My powered tail gate door does not work, when I press the button on the remote the motor does kick in but it does not raise the door so I have to open it manually.

When opening it manually I need to pause once it has opened a little bit and then it clunks and I can then open it the rest of the way, I am not sure if that helps the diagnosis.

I assume it needs some replacements parts and I wonder if the fix is doable by an amateur like me?

Thanks

You may have a broken gear in your liftgate motor. Here is a link to a post discussing this issue.

https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/back-lift-gate-motor-not-working.114943/#post-1383401

 

[2007 Denali XL]

Replace the other lift struts and see what happens.

I would but I'm quite sure that the the motor is not working or getting any power as it's as dead as a dodo

 

[wjburken]

I would but I'm quite sure that the the motor is not working or getting any power as it's as dead as a dodo

Take a peek through the lift arm opening and make sure it is still attached to the motor output.

 

[2007 Denali XL]

Take a peek through the lift arm opening and make sure it is still attached to the motor output.

Yep, its all attached.

I can open manually by pressing the opener on the tailgate. I have to wait for the door catch to open and then I can lift it open a small amount, I then have to wait for a clunk sound and then I can open the rest of the way.

It seems like the motor is not operating at all.

I will take a video of the opening process and post here

 

[2007 Denali XL]

Replace the other lift struts and see what happens.

I don't think its the struts as the motor is not even trying to lift the tailgate.

 

[wjburken]

I don't think its the struts as the motor is not even trying to lift the tailgate.

Here is a post with a video on the topic

It could be a couple of things.

Your first post stated that you can hear the motor running but no action so that eliminates the possibility that your liftgate switch is turned off and it indicates that you are getting power to your motor, or so one would assume if you're hearing it.

The linkage could have come loose which you can try and check by grabbing the lift rod and seeing how much play you have.

I believe there is a clutch on the motor and those sometimes fail.
There are also a gear train that can strip out and if your gas springs failed, it could have overloaded the gear drive and stripped a gear.
View attachment 232668

Here is a video that discusses how to get to the motor. There is a couple things the guy covers at first but around 2:45 he gets into the lift motor.

View attachment 232667

 

[2007 Denali XL]

I don't think its the struts as the motor is not even trying to lift the tailgate.

Here are the video's showing the current state


https://youtu.be/E_68njr13ls

https://youtu.be/q9yxO0maYAc

 

[2007 Denali XL]

Here is a post with a video on the topic

Thanks, I have watched this a couple of times now. What is not clear is was the lift motor faulty or was the door latch fault causing the lift motor to not engage

thoughts?

 

[wjburken]

Thanks, I have watched this a couple of times now. What is not clear is was the lift motor faulty or was the door latch fault causing the lift motor to not engage

thoughts?

I think the guy in the video had a bad motor.

 

[swathdiver]

I was thinking along these lines:

 

[2007 Denali XL]

I was thinking along these lines:

Thanks for sharing this.

Does you think if the struts are faliing it would impact the door motor activating?

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks for sharing this.

Does you think if the struts are faliing it would impact the door motor activating?

I dunno, don't have it but thought the video was intriguing. If there is not enough support from the struts, maybe the motor senses too much resistance and doesn't work to preserve itself. I dunno, but changing out a strut is cheap and easy.

 

[2007 Denali XL]

I dunno, don't have it but thought the video was intriguing. If there is not enough support from the struts, maybe the motor senses too much resistance and doesn't work to preserve itself. I dunno, but changing out a strut is cheap and easy.

thanks, I am going to try that and will report back on the outcome.

 

[2007 Denali XL]

Replace the other lift struts and see what happens.

Replaced both lift struts but has not fixed the issue. The symptoms remain the same, I am unsure if I should tackle the lift motor or the switch/lock on the tailgate.

The later seems to be working as I can operate it manually therefore I think something is up with the lift motor itself

 

[swathdiver]

Replaced both lift struts but has not fixed the issue. The symptoms remain the same, I am unsure if I should tackle the lift motor or the switch/lock on the tailgate.

The later seems to be working as I can operate it manually therefore I think something is up with the lift motor itself

Ok, and you do not have a Tech-2 or VXDIAG NANO? Either of those or a Snap-On bi-directional scan tool will identify the problem right quick. I've got a dumb tailgate, so no experience with them.

 

[2007 Denali XL]

Here is a couple of vid showing the action from the tail lift motor when I press the button on the tail to close it.

 

[BG1988]

Here is a couple of vid showing the action from the tail lift motor when I press the button on the tail to close it.

the motor is broken..



try applying 13.5Volts directly to the motor..(make sure the polarity is correct)

 

[2007 Denali XL]

w

the motor is broken..



try applying 13.5Volts directly to the motor..(make sure the polarity is correct)

How would I do that, there are no obvious power points on the motor to connect a supply?