Power Liftgate Troubles

[alexleedrums]

Hi all,

My 08 Limited Expedition EL power liftgate quit working a while back, and I'm just now getting to trying to solve the problem. I checked if the option was turned off in the notification center, but it is turned on. It will thankfully open manually, but all power has been lost. When I push the "liftgate" button, I can hear the latch release, but then nothing happens, and it latches again. Could it be a fuse? Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Flexpedition]

So you have 3 buttons - the dash mounted button, the button on your remote control, and the button at the rear drivers side panel. I'll assume all 3 neither open nor close the hatch? Could be a fuse, thats where I'd start. At the front passenger side kick panel, pull that cover off and check #14, it'll be on the left side row, 3rd up. Red 10 amp. Under the hood, front & center in the power distribution box, #27 is a 30 amp cartridge (j-case) with a clear window.

Does the flip-up glass release work? (via remote, drivers door keypad, and/or button above license plate?)

 

[Flexpedition]

Just RTFM if you want to try the reset procedure. I'd assume step 1 would be to have the liftgate open:


Resetting the power liftgate:
The power liftgate may not operate under these conditions. If any of these conditions occur, the power liftgate must be reset.
• a low voltage or dead battery
• disconnected battery
• the liftgate is manually closed and left ajar (unlatched)
To reset the power liftgate:
1. Disconnect the battery for 20 seconds then, reconnect the battery.
2. Manually close and fully latch the liftgate.
3. Power open the liftgate by using the remote entry transmitter or
instrument panel button.
Note: If the power liftgate system is turned <OFF> in the message
center, the system cannot be activated with the outside release handle or
rear cargo area control button. The system will need to be turned <ON>
to resume operation with the outside release handle or rear cargo area
control button. The Power Liftgate is still operational through the use of
the Remote entry transmitter and IP button when the Power Liftgate is
turned off in the Message center.

 

[XR4Ti]

Just wanted to add my experience to this thread as it was the only one that came up that had the same symptoms I had.

Background:
- 2016 Navigator
- power liftgate would not open, but you could hear the latch releasing and then a few seconds later latching again
- there was no noise, like any attempt for the liftgate to try to open, just dead silence, inbetween the noises of the latch

I verified it wasn't frozen (it's winter now) by manually pushing it open from the inside (there's nogood spot to pull on the Nav liftgate) when the latch had released. Area was free of ice, snow, carpets, debris, kids, etc.

I pulled the 30A fuse for the power liftgate (location 36 in the underhood fusebox on the Nav) and it was good.

So I tried the liftgate initialization, similar to above (note the liftgate doesn't have to be opened if it is already closed in step 2). The alternative to step 1 is to pull the fuses for the LTM module, but it's obviously not the 30A power lift fuse, and I couldn't be bothered to look up which and how many fuses (the service manual says "fuses", not "fuse"), so I just disconnected the battery.

After reconnect, the power liftgate worked properly. I was skeptical it would work, as it seemed like an electrical/mechanical issue (vs electronic). So now if someone asks how I fixed the liftgate not opening, I will just tell them "I reinitialized the liftgate".

 

[XR4Ti]

Just to add to my reply above, the problem came back. But, I found the problem in my case, which was a corroded liftgate switch. See: Power liftgate opens randomly - fixed (2016 Navigator)