Electronic tailgate won't open
03-19-2018, 06:34 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Electronic tailgate won't open
I went to lower my tailgate last night and it won't open. I tried everything (doors locked, unlocked, remote, button on tailgate handle, etc.). I did notice that when I double hit the button on the remote, my brake lights flashed. I don't recall if this is normal. When I hit the button on the handle, nothing. I listened to see if I could hear anything (actuator in a bind) and nothing.
Any ideas? Any known override? I searched the owner's manual and that was useless!
Any ideas? Any known override? I searched the owner's manual and that was useless!
03-19-2018, 08:17 AM
#3
Senior Member
I wish ford put a manual keyed override... They screwed the pooch on this POS design. There is a hole on the tailgate if you can get inside and don't have a tonneau cover that prevents you from getting to it.
Good Luck!!!
Hope they are not making like this still...
.
Good Luck!!!
Hope they are not making like this still...
.
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wesjs (09-02-2022)
03-19-2018, 08:34 AM
#4
Senior Member
Does your back-up camera work? (If you have one.) I'd look in the part of the manual regarding removing the tailgate; there's a harness plug under the truck for the tailgate that might be loose. Only thought I've got other than fusing.
03-19-2018, 08:44 AM
#5
No fart cans allowed
You also might try disconnecting the battery terminals for 15 minutes or so, then touching the positive and negative cables together before hooking the battery back up. I have been successful getting wacky electrical gremlins to "reset" with this method before. I have been told that touching the cables together assures all power drains off from all modules; I don't know if it's true, but it certainly doesn't hurt anything.
Last edited by BadAV; 03-19-2018 at 08:57 AM.
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03-20-2018, 10:15 AM
#9
Senior Member
might be a relay or the wireing but I'm a bit shocked there isn't a manual pull cable in the cab for this. Like there would be for a trunk or SUV tailgate opening.
Course I say that and realize that I don't believe there is such on my explorer. sad - that would be a good solution.
Course I say that and realize that I don't believe there is such on my explorer. sad - that would be a good solution.
03-20-2018, 10:58 PM
#10
Senior Member
Disconnect the harness for the backup camera and than reconnect and try dropping it with the fob, than try dropping it with the push button on the handle if that doesn’t work. Also as of now does when you go into reverse, does the camera show video on your screen? Have you done any work to the tailgate recently or around it?