Tail gate closure problems
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 297
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From: Bay Area CA
2014 GL 350 blue tec
Tail gate closure problems
Anyone else having sticky tailgate issues? Last 3 or 4 times, our tailgate did not shut all the way and we realize when we see the alarm as we start driving. I use the tailgate button on the door to close again and then it latches. Last night I went in command menu and toggled tailgate limiter option. It seems to be working now but will watch for few days to see if it is fixed.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
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From: Las Vegas, NV
GL450 (Alabaster White/Black Interior)
Anyone else having sticky tailgate issues? Last 3 or 4 times, our tailgate did not shut all the way and we realize when we see the alarm as we start driving. I use the tailgate button on the door to close again and then it latches. Last night I went in command menu and toggled tailgate limiter option. It seems to be working now but will watch for few days to see if it is fixed.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 226
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From: South of the Mason Dixon, North of the Gulf
2007 GL 320 CDI, 2008 M5
Anyone else having sticky tailgate issues?
For the second time now, the mechanism that operates the power liftgate on my GL has failed. The first time it was a pump of some kind and it required two days to fix. I don't know what the problem is for sure this time, but it seems like the same thing.
BTW, it's really hard to open and close manually.
For the second time now, the mechanism that operates the power liftgate on my GL has failed. The first time it was a pump of some kind and it required two days to fix. I don't know what the problem is for sure this time, but it seems like the same thing.
BTW, it's really hard to open and close manually.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Make sure there are no obstructions around the latch. You probably already did but, in my case, only times I have seen issues is when there was a blockage around the latch.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
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From: Las Vegas, NV
GL450 (Alabaster White/Black Interior)
Nish, that was my thought as well since it was not happening all the time. I ended up taking my cargo liner out to make sure it was not the problem and it is still doing it. I will post the fix. I sure hope mine won't be gone for two days.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Also, make sure to have the dealer check the "close assist". If you notice, when you shut the liftgate, it first comes down and then at the end there is a bit of extra pressure applied to "close" it all the way. If your close assist is not working then the door is not shut all the way and could cause the alarm to come on.
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
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From: Las Vegas, NV
GL450 (Alabaster White/Black Interior)
Also, make sure to have the dealer check the "close assist". If you notice, when you shut the liftgate, it first comes down and then at the end there is a bit of extra pressure applied to "close" it all the way. If your close assist is not working then the door is not shut all the way and could cause the alarm to come on.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 297
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From: Bay Area CA
2014 GL 350 blue tec
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 254
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From: N. Illinois, USA
2021 GLS450, 2015 E250BT 4Matic, 2007 GL320CDI, 2005 SLK350, 2001 SLK320
If anybody has a dealer-fix, please post. I plan to call it to the dealer's attention at the 10k service (still 4400 miles away).
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 297
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From: Bay Area CA
2014 GL 350 blue tec
Ditto here. Someone in another thread observed that the tailgate needs some back pressure to activate the close assist. So, when it doesn't close all the way, I give the tailgate a little tug outward. The close assist will activate and close the tailgate the rest of the way.
If anybody has a dealer-fix, please post. I plan to call it to the dealer's attention at the 10k service (still 4400 miles away).
If anybody has a dealer-fix, please post. I plan to call it to the dealer's attention at the 10k service (still 4400 miles away).
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 800
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From: Southern California
2014 GL 450
We had problems with ours last night, not opening when the inside release was pressed. The vehicle was in about 2" of snow and it was in the low 30's. There was quite a bit of snow along the roof line where the rear hatch opens, so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it or not. I'll try it again this morning (no snow, temps in the 40's).
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
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From: Las Vegas, NV
GL450 (Alabaster White/Black Interior)
We had exactly same problem. I dropped the car at dealer this morning, he called and it is supposedly fixed. He adjusted the latch point to make sure there was back pressure for it to close. I will post again in a day or so to let you know if that actually fixed the problem.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2007
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2013 GL450
WE have had trouble for he last couple months intermittently with the tailgate closing all the way. However, my wife discovered that the when she starts accelerating the tailgate mechanism will latch and the alarm goes out. We have this happen every couple of weeks and have not had to actually reopen and close it to get it to latch. Now if I can just get the check engine light to keep coming on and off!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 297
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From: Bay Area CA
2014 GL 350 blue tec
Update on tail gate closing
WE have had trouble for he last couple months intermittently with the tailgate closing all the way. However, my wife discovered that the when she starts accelerating the tailgate mechanism will latch and the alarm goes out. We have this happen every couple of weeks and have not had to actually reopen and close it to get it to latch. Now if I can just get the check engine light to keep coming on and off!
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1
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GL320CDI
mine 320cdi has had the same problem and has been in the dealer for more days than i can remember!
anyhow, full credit to the dealer - they did find the problem. there is a strut in the roof lining that actually monitors where the tailgate is - it is basicially a strut with a sensor on it. it goes through the rubber boot bung between the hinge on the top left hand side - it looks like a cable rubber boot - you can see it when the tailgate is open on the upper right hand side.
anyway - the sensor breaks on this strut and the car doesnt know where the tailgate is - hence why when its shut it doesnt operate the closure mech
had this replace (6hr job!) and its all good. interestingly this part wasnt even listed on their parts database hence why it took so long to find
a good test to prove if its the sensor strut is to open the tailgate and the stop it with the remote immeditaley so its only open about 30cms. press the remote again and it should close. if its working correctly it wont close straight away, there will be 2 sec delay - then it will close
if you tailgate doesnt close, or you can hear the motor still going when the door is closed the its the sensor strut that has failed
hope this helps
w
anyhow, full credit to the dealer - they did find the problem. there is a strut in the roof lining that actually monitors where the tailgate is - it is basicially a strut with a sensor on it. it goes through the rubber boot bung between the hinge on the top left hand side - it looks like a cable rubber boot - you can see it when the tailgate is open on the upper right hand side.
anyway - the sensor breaks on this strut and the car doesnt know where the tailgate is - hence why when its shut it doesnt operate the closure mech
had this replace (6hr job!) and its all good. interestingly this part wasnt even listed on their parts database hence why it took so long to find
a good test to prove if its the sensor strut is to open the tailgate and the stop it with the remote immeditaley so its only open about 30cms. press the remote again and it should close. if its working correctly it wont close straight away, there will be 2 sec delay - then it will close
if you tailgate doesnt close, or you can hear the motor still going when the door is closed the its the sensor strut that has failed
hope this helps
w
Super Member
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From: Southern California
2014 GL 450
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 254
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From: N. Illinois, USA
2021 GLS450, 2015 E250BT 4Matic, 2007 GL320CDI, 2005 SLK350, 2001 SLK320
Mine's at the dealer today. They replaced the "tailgate motor". Maybe this is the same thing as the "locking motor"? I'll post the part name/number and more details tomorrow after I pick up the car.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 254
Likes: 4
From: N. Illinois, USA
2021 GLS450, 2015 E250BT 4Matic, 2007 GL320CDI, 2005 SLK350, 2001 SLK320
Well the service advisor might have told me the wrong thing. The receipt says "performed short test, replaced tailgate door latch assembly, verified correct operation". The replacement part is 164-740-04-35 LOCK.
I'm not sure if the door latch assembly is the same as the locking motor or the tailgate motor. Doesn't sound like it.
Bottom line is that it's working again. That's the main thing.
I'm not sure if the door latch assembly is the same as the locking motor or the tailgate motor. Doesn't sound like it.
Bottom line is that it's working again. That's the main thing.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 71
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From: Omaha, Nebraska
'08 GL 320 CDI (scheduled delivery 3/20/08)
I've had my GL 320 CDI a week now without incident, that was until this afternoon. This morning I read about the tail gate problem here ont he MBWorld site and chuckled with glee "glad it's not happening to mine"....and then the lightning struck. This afternoon after loading groceries closed the tail gate and began to drive off only to encounter an error message "tail gate not closed." Remembered reading about the "back pressure" suggestion/trick earlier in the day and tried it which took care of the problem, at least for now. Seems that the shock or actuator motor doesn't remember how far it has gone and/or needs to go leaving the tail gate slightly open thus returning an error message. Closing the tail gate by hand and giving it a bit of assist on the final closing maneuver also helps. Will have the dealer check things out to make sure. Hats off to this forum...much obliged with all your input, knowledge, and assistance.
And Jack, your GL550 is stunning. What kind of wax do you use?
And Jack, your GL550 is stunning. What kind of wax do you use?
