Tailgate issue finally resolved?
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 164
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From: Columbus, OH
2008 GL 320 CDI
Tailgate issue finally resolved?
For a long time I've had the same issue many others have experienced with the tailgate not being pulled closed the last half inch or so by the electric motor. This was happening about 30% of the time, more so in cold weather. At my last visit, the dealer replaced the latch (a last resort I'm told, after trying several times to correct the problem), but this actually made it worse.
When I told them this during the follow up courtesy call, to his credit my SA insisted I bring it back or he'd send a tech out to look at it. I stopped by and this time they were able to adjust the latch, which now seems to be working properly.
The tech came out to discuss this with me. Apparently, the metal latch in front of the loading area can be adjusted forward or backward and must be EXACTLY placed so that it activates the closing mechanism each time. The mechanism in the tailgate itself has 3 positions, and if the latch isn't perfectly aligned it will not activate the motor. The tech said that cold weather or even being parked on an incline can affect this, and every GL is slightly different, so it's a trial and error process to get it right each time. Just thought I'd pass this on.
When I told them this during the follow up courtesy call, to his credit my SA insisted I bring it back or he'd send a tech out to look at it. I stopped by and this time they were able to adjust the latch, which now seems to be working properly.
The tech came out to discuss this with me. Apparently, the metal latch in front of the loading area can be adjusted forward or backward and must be EXACTLY placed so that it activates the closing mechanism each time. The mechanism in the tailgate itself has 3 positions, and if the latch isn't perfectly aligned it will not activate the motor. The tech said that cold weather or even being parked on an incline can affect this, and every GL is slightly different, so it's a trial and error process to get it right each time. Just thought I'd pass this on.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 487
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2007 ML 500
For a long time I've had the same issue many others have experienced with the tailgate not being pulled closed the last half inch or so by the electric motor. This was happening about 30% of the time, more so in cold weather. At my last visit, the dealer replaced the latch (a last resort I'm told, after trying several times to correct the problem), but this actually made it worse.
When I told them this during the follow up courtesy call, to his credit my SA insisted I bring it back or he'd send a tech out to look at it. I stopped by and this time they were able to adjust the latch, which now seems to be working properly.
The tech came out to discuss this with me. Apparently, the metal latch in front of the loading area can be adjusted forward or backward and must be EXACTLY placed so that it activates the closing mechanism each time. The mechanism in the tailgate itself has 3 positions, and if the latch isn't perfectly aligned it will not activate the motor. The tech said that cold weather or even being parked on an incline can affect this, and every GL is slightly different, so it's a trial and error process to get it right each time. Just thought I'd pass this on.
When I told them this during the follow up courtesy call, to his credit my SA insisted I bring it back or he'd send a tech out to look at it. I stopped by and this time they were able to adjust the latch, which now seems to be working properly.
The tech came out to discuss this with me. Apparently, the metal latch in front of the loading area can be adjusted forward or backward and must be EXACTLY placed so that it activates the closing mechanism each time. The mechanism in the tailgate itself has 3 positions, and if the latch isn't perfectly aligned it will not activate the motor. The tech said that cold weather or even being parked on an incline can affect this, and every GL is slightly different, so it's a trial and error process to get it right each time. Just thought I'd pass this on.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 377
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From: .
08 GL450
Cold weather definitely affects it - closing hatch only activates the motor once in 2 tries when I'm up at our Tahoe place in Winter. Almost never happens back in the Bay Area. I suspect the cold causes the rubber gaskets around the hatch to stiffen just enough for the gate to be off by a mm or two at it's " receiving " position.
Problem is, if latch plate is readjusted sl "outwards " for cold weather, will it now be in " wrong " postion in warmer weather ?
Problem is, if latch plate is readjusted sl "outwards " for cold weather, will it now be in " wrong " postion in warmer weather ?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, NV
GL450 (Alabaster White/Black Interior)
Had my GL in for service yesterday and had my liftgage fixed as part of the process (round three for me). My service advisor told me that MB put out an instructional DVD specific to this problem and how to fix it properly. He told me all service people had to watch it. Maybe its fixed for real this time around. One can only hope....
