Auto tailgate doesn't have safety auto-reverse feature
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 456
Likes: 8
From: California
Bam,
Please visit your dealership. They maybe able to plug in their computer and adjust the closing force on the rear gate. You can also check the auto reverse function going the opening direction too. Again very carefully, so you don't get hurt nor you scratch your paint, stand at the back of the car with the lift gate closed and using your key fob open the door. As the door opens, apply downward pressure on the license plate (so you don't scratch your paint by accident) and the lift gate should auto reverse and close.
Besides all the things that can happen you've mentioned, the force sensor associated with the motor should (notice I said should) auto reverse if you have too much or too large of objects packed in the car or you open the door in the garage and it hits something. Having the pinch type sensor on the inside glass or the exterior of the car just wouldn't be practical.
Again, please visit your dealer and hopefully they can adjust it or explain what's going on with it. At a minimum, they can explain how it really works and you can come back and straighten me out!
Good luck.
Please visit your dealership. They maybe able to plug in their computer and adjust the closing force on the rear gate. You can also check the auto reverse function going the opening direction too. Again very carefully, so you don't get hurt nor you scratch your paint, stand at the back of the car with the lift gate closed and using your key fob open the door. As the door opens, apply downward pressure on the license plate (so you don't scratch your paint by accident) and the lift gate should auto reverse and close.
Besides all the things that can happen you've mentioned, the force sensor associated with the motor should (notice I said should) auto reverse if you have too much or too large of objects packed in the car or you open the door in the garage and it hits something. Having the pinch type sensor on the inside glass or the exterior of the car just wouldn't be practical.
Again, please visit your dealer and hopefully they can adjust it or explain what's going on with it. At a minimum, they can explain how it really works and you can come back and straighten me out!
Good luck.
Now I'm sure that if you do what you're describing and put my hand on the license plate, the tailgate will eventually auto-reverse but I must assume that it will only auto-reverse after a lot of resistance to the point of where it might burn out the motor. Try forcing it to auto-reverse when closing by grabbing the bottom of the tailgate and forcing the door to open. You'll see what I mean when I say that it seems to require a lot of resistance for the door to auto-reverse in this scenario considering that there is no mention that it will even auto-reverse in this instance, per the manual.
Again, it will only auto-reverse (with minimal resistance and by design) when the two sensors on the sides are triggered.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,549
Likes: 230
From: San Francisco, CA
the sensors that look like gaskets are the same as what they use in auto closing minivan doors like on my Sienna. However, in that scenario the rubber gasket is the first thing you touch when it closes on you since it lines the whole side of the door.
In the RX's case, I would think they shouldnt rely on the gasket since it is not the first thing you touch. I agree this is a design flaw
In the RX's case, I would think they shouldnt rely on the gasket since it is not the first thing you touch. I agree this is a design flaw
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 416
Likes: 20
From: VA
lot of times we are in a hurry to load/unload from the back and several times I had my boys get "pushed" before reversing. if you really want to test, use a pillow in between so you don't harm or scratch the gate area.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 27
From: Iowa
Bam,
Thanks for clarifying things for me. I agree it does seem to require some force to actuate the auto-reverse function by stalling the lift motor, either in the close or open operation. In both my 2010 and 2012, the auto-reverse worked without contact with the side pressure sensors, however I think children's hands, fingers, arms and bodies in general are in jeopardy of injury.
Pages 76 - 81 of the manual discuss all manner of ways the door may auto-reverse and even fail.
Thanks for clarifying things for me. I agree it does seem to require some force to actuate the auto-reverse function by stalling the lift motor, either in the close or open operation. In both my 2010 and 2012, the auto-reverse worked without contact with the side pressure sensors, however I think children's hands, fingers, arms and bodies in general are in jeopardy of injury.
Pages 76 - 81 of the manual discuss all manner of ways the door may auto-reverse and even fail.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 27
From: Iowa
In the RX's case, I would think they shouldnt rely on the gasket since it is not the first thing you touch. I agree this is a design flaw
Is there a better system in another manufacturer's vehicle than the three point system of Lexus? Is the system the same for the RX, LX and GX?
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 456
Likes: 8
From: California
BTW, I don't think the GX has auto-close as it's a barn door style tailgate. Not sure though.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,549
Likes: 230
From: San Francisco, CA
the GX does not have auto closing trunk per what Bam said, barn style door.
I would assume all Lexus' have this same type of design and not just the RX. I have not driven any other makes, but I assume there would be something better out there
I would assume all Lexus' have this same type of design and not just the RX. I have not driven any other makes, but I assume there would be something better out there
Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Kitchener Ontario, Canada
Interesting
Now I know why I got whacked on the head when my wife closed the hatch ( by accident) while I was unloading the cargo area. I just thought the reverse function needed adjustment.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 27
From: Iowa
I keep thinking Jim "Cruiter" will chime in and correct me, since he's had his "10 RX about the longest of us all, but Bam I think, don't know for sure, the primary safety is the sensor on the lift gate motor. It senses current draw on the motor and if the current draw is above or below the parameters Mother Lexus programmed into the computer the door has either jammed, hit something or failed. To me, it appears to work just exactly as you state in post number 21. What I think is the problem is Mother Lexus has set the parameters too far from what other manufacturers have set as safety levels. Perhaps over compensating for wind loading, snow loads or dry hinges.
If yours doesn't work, get that warranty claim made. It should work, albeit poorly.
If yours doesn't work, get that warranty claim made. It should work, albeit poorly.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: NY
What are you people talking about? What sensors? I just put my arm on the way of the closing liftgate. Slight touch + beep and the gate went up. Doesn't matter where the obstacle is located. Sides or down it works perfectly.
2007 Lexus RX 350.
2007 Lexus RX 350.
Last edited by Alfa777z; Jun 7, 2012 at 03:14 PM.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
The sensors are not in the same location on the 3rd gen.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: NY
Really? Are you sure there are any sensors at all? What kind of sensors? Infra-red sensors? Laser sensors? Motion sensors? :-)))) It doesn't matter what generation. If there would be so called "sensors" the lift gate sensing the obstacle would NOT start/continue the closing operation at all, but the lift gate keeps closing until it meets an abstacle. The system works just like with windows. Touch, press, back up.
It doesn't matter what generation. If there would be so called "sensors" the lift gate sensing the obstacle would NOT start/continue the closing operation at all, but the lift gate keeps closing until it meets an abstacle. The system works just like with windows. Touch, press, back up.
Last edited by Alfa777z; Jun 7, 2012 at 06:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 456
Likes: 8
From: California
The sensors for the 3rd gen rx are only on the sides of the tailgate and it doesn't have an auto-reverse from tension/resistance. The system will only auto reverse if the sensors are triggered.