Reasons Behind Power Tailgate Failure in European Cars

There are certain issues in your European car that can become very frustrating to deal with and the power tailgate failure is one such problem that is pretty common in many European cars. In fact, European cars come equipped with hands-free or electrically assisted opening and closing through key fobs, dashboard buttons, exterior switches, or foot-gesture sensors.

Now, as the system depends on various electrical, mechanical, and electronic components working in sync, issues with any one section can completely derail the working of the power tailgate in your European car. In this article, we will discuss the reasons behind power tailgate failure in European cars.

Reasons Behind Power Tailgate Failure

Failing Tailgate Battery Supply

One of the leading reasons behind power tailgate failure in European cars is linked to weak or failing battery in the vehicle. In fact, the electric motors and control modules require a very stable electrical supply, especially when the tailgate is moving under load.

Moreover, when the battery voltage becomes inadequate, your European car is going to disable non-essential electrical functions to help conserve adequate power to start the car. This is when the power tailgate becomes very slow, operates intermittently, or stops working completely in your vehicle.

In fact, you will observe that in some European cars the tailgate will tend to unlock mechanically, however, it is going to fail to open or close electrically. Often, it is noticed that repeated short journeys, an aging battery, cold weather, or excessive electrical loads can lead to low battery voltage.

This is when getting in touch with a certified mechanic becomes very important as testing and checking the car’s battery-management system whether inadequate power is responsible for the problem or not.

Malfunctioning Power Tailgate Motor

The power tailgate motor is a very crucial component in the whole system as it is responsible for providing the mechanical force required to move the heavy tailgate. Now, depending on the model of your European car, one or more electric motors might work in sync with powered struts or drive mechanisms to help raise and lower the tailgate.

Over the years, as your vehicle gains miles, the motor wear can develop gradually because the motor experiences considerable loads every time the tailgate operates. At times, it is seen that internal brushes, bearings, gears, or electrical windings can eventually degrade.

In addition to that, a malfunctioning motor might cause the tailgate to move slowly, stop during operation, make unusual noises, or require manual assistance. In worst case scenarios the motor is going to completely stop responding, and advanced diagnostic equipment needs to be used to find out whether the motor is receiving accurate electrical command and voltage or not.

Bad Tailgate Position Sensors

There are numerous sensors your European car comes equipped with and the tailgate position sensor is one such component that helps the power tailgate control system to determine the tailgate’s position during opening and closing mechanism.

In fact, the position sensors, hall-effect sensors, encoders, or other feedback mechanisms can provide this valuable data depending on the design of the European car you are driving. Now, if the system receives inaccurate position information, then it is going to determine incorrectly that the tailgate has reached its maximum opening potential or has encountered an obstruction.

This is when you start experiencing certain problems like tailgate stopping unexpectedly, reversing direction, refusing to close, or opening only partially. This is where a diagnostic scan can help in revealing position-related fault codes and help determine whether the problem is caused by sensor, wiring, or control module.

Erratic Tailgate Control Module

The tailgate control module is the most important component in your vehicle and acts as the electronic brain of the system. Now, it receives command from the switches, the key fob, body-control electronics, sensors, and other systems for controlling the motors and related components.

In fact, the internal electronic failure, software issues, communication discrepancies, or corrupted calibration can adversely affect the module from operating the tailgate efficiently. You might come across loss of power operation, multiple warning messages, or the tailgate responding to one control method but not another.

Finally

These are some of the leading factors behind power tailgate failure in European cars. If you come across a malfunctioning power tailgate in your European car, then you must get in touch with a certified mechanic to get your tailgate mechanism inspected and fixed accordingly.

Auto Scandia is one of the most sought-after high-end European car maintenance and repair facility located in Herndon, VA that is having over 40 years of experience in looking after luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Volvo.