The power function wasn't working well so we have been opening it manually with no issues until recently. Any ideas with what the problem might be is appreciated.

 

you most likely need to replace the gas struts that act as springs to help the motor open the door.

 

Thank you. I will look into that.

 

I did remove both gas struts which were both still pressurized and the hatch still didn't lift any further without them. Perhaps it is a computer problem.

 

The hatch weighs something like 300+ pounds. Without a good working pair of gas struts, it is guaranteed that the wimpy little motor that raises the hatch will not open the hatch.

A gas strut has rubber seals inside it that allows it to work. When the seals wear, the gas/oil leaks past the seals and does not exert the needed assist. The strut will still have pressure when you try to compress it by hand, but not enough to do its intended job.

If the struts are good, the hatch would have to be binding for the hatch to not open fully. Once the computer gives the motor the start signal, it is all mechanical then. Since you were opening the hatch manually, you should have felt any binding if it occurred.

 

Thanks. I guess the hatch must be binding then. With the struts removed, the lift gate still only opens manually a foot. There was never any resistance opening the hatch manually previously. I disconnected the battery for a couple hours in case that mattered with the same result. The hatch started this issue after my son had loaded the trunk with heavy items and perhaps had to force the hatch closed.

 

With the struts removed, the motor will not be able to open the hatch because the hatch is too heavy. The one foot (or whatever it is) opening is the point where the motor can no longer overcome the weight of the hatch.

If you want to test the binding possibility, slowly open the hatch by hand and when you reach the 1 foot point, be very aware of how smoothly (or not) the hatch moves past that point.

I still think you need to replace the struts.

 

Thank you for the replies. I can try new struts, but I'm not trying to use the motor at all to open the hatch. I disconnected the battery and it still won't open manually more than 1 ft. The struts are still out. Does the motor for it still try to operate with the battery disconnected?

 

Probably, there is mechanical damage in motor if you can't open hatch more than 1 ft.
PS: Items between body and hatch could block hatch from full opening. Did you check that area (highlighted on image below)?

 

Am I missing the boat here or what?

Are you saying that you can no longer open the hatch manually? If that is true, how did you open the hatch to get the struts off? Please un-confuse me.

 

I was able to get them off with the hatch partially opened with a wrench by taking the bolts off the mounting brackets. Both struts were pressurized and expanded when the last bolt came off. I positioned myself so I wouldn't get injured. I thought one might bepressurized and one not but had pressure. I haven't found anything that would block the liftgate yet, but I will look again and check the diagram.

 

I would solve "1 ft" problem first. I don't think it connected to struts/lifts. Maybe motor has broken and doesn't allow to open the hatch.

 

You can disconnect the hatch from the motor while the hatch is closed. It's not that hard. The motor is attached to the driver's side hinge by 2 bolts (10mm).

Pry off the cover to get access to the bolts


Back side of cover


Here are the 2 bolts. The one is half covered by the plastic trim.


If you have an offset wrench, it will will work fine.


To use a socket, just pull out the trim that is over the bolt.


And you can put the socket on it.


Add an extension and loosen the bolt. I don't advise taking the bolt all the way out with the socket because it
might bend the plastic trim too much and possibly break it. Back the bolt out maybe a quarter inch and remove
the socket and finish removing the bolt with your fingers.


Remove the other bolt and now the hatch is free of the motor. The bracket you disconnect is not the hinge for the hatch, it is strictly the connection to the motor, so there is no need to worry about the hatch falling off or anything like that.

 

Thanks. I will try that.