Mikchek

I have been having problems with my liftgate since I got the vehicle and I’m doing my best to figure out what parts go into the liftgate function.

I changed the button
the latch
the little computer behind the button
the pump
the sensors around the border of the liftgate area

now if I pull the latch it beeps and it lifts on its own sometimes
when I press the button to close it nothing happens. If I start to manually close it sometimes it will catch or sync and finish the close.

what part am I missing?

expl0rer

Are you able to open/close the liftgate with your remote keys and/or the button on the driver's door?

Mikchek

nope all of they buttons produce the same results

expl0rer

I would try to reset the height of the gate first, seeing that you have replaced what I would suggest may be the culprit -the actuator. I have a theory about the actuator not kicking in when you are closing the gate. Do you hear elecrric motors engaging when you press the buttons to close the gate? Or when you "help" the gate along?

Mikchek

how do you reset the height of the gate? I don't feel anything kick in when I "help" it close. The latch pulls it closed once closed and sometimes if I press the button it will just beep and then after awhile start to close on its own but its kinds too later so it will just go back up.

expl0rer

IIRC the steps are in the owner's manual. Toy can also set the gate to open to a certain height lower than the max, which is handy for those with vertically challenged reach.

Also, this video should be helpful.
When I open/close the gate, I hear the sound of electric motors running for a second or so at the beginning of the cycle, opening and closing the gate. I had some issues with my gate last year. Intermittently, the gate would open/close, and sometimes it would go down but not lock and the gate would lift back k up. I replaced the actuator which resolved it. The electric motors in the actuator (there are two) seem to work in tandem to prep the actuator for releasing the hook when opening, and engage with the hook when closing. Mine were louder with the old actuator. I think that depending on which of the two motors is the culprit, you may not be able to open the gate, or close/lock it. It is easy to replace the motors, but they sually come from China so there is some waiting involved. I had started another thread about replacing the motors which I have not finished. I also ordered a Chinese actuator from Amazon which I've been using for 2-3 months with no problems so far.

This is the actuator I bought.
Once I have the motors swapped in the OE actuator, I'll have a spare in case the Chinese one bites the dust.

Edit: the setting/deactivating of the tailgate height is on pages 79-80 of the pdf version I have.

chassis

What about the two struts/actuators? Have those been changed?

Mikchek

Liftgate demo

Mikchek

the latch eventually caught when I drove down the street and hit a bump


the door has been going up pretty consistently using the button on the door but won’t catch every time going down

expl0rer

I can't see the video as it's private, but if your latch us catching from a bump in the road, I think your liftgate bumpstops need to adjusted or the hook, or both. If the hook was not touched, I would leave it alone and get the bumpstops lowered first.

Mikchek

I have changed the actuator but what are the struts? The arms? I vaguely remember changing those but I might not have.

Mikchek

sorry it’s fixed now.

what are the bumpstops?

expl0rer

I can see the video now, thanks tor fixing it.

Scratch the bump stops, at least for the time being. They're rubber feet which act as limiters to how gar the gate gets to the frame. I think they are on the liftgate, not the frame.

I had the same problem as you depicted in the video. In my case it was induced by my tinkering with the actuator/locking mechanism. That's when I determined that one of the electric motors in it was busted. I didn't hear the electric motors running when I you tried to close the gate with the smart key. But there was electric hum when you opened it. You should be hearing electric motors working in both scenarios. I think your actuator is either not connected fully to the harness, or it is faulty. Also, check the manual release cable to make sure it is not stuck/caught. Pull it a few times with the gate closed and open and see if that might help you.

Did you reset the height of the liftgate?

Mikchek

where is the manual release cable?

I don’t remember being able to adjust the height. I tried before and I can only make it open half way or open full.

expl0rer

it is on the inside of the lift gate, right side, just below the glass. Slide the handle right, then pull up. When the gate is closed, you will release the lock but the gate may not move up. You can move it open with the outside handle. When it's open, using a screwdriver, you can move the tongue of the actuator to locked position, then use the manual release to unlock it. Then try closing the gate with the smart key or the button on the gate.

if you're certain that the gate opens fully, which I think it is from watching the video, that should be OK.

BTW, the floor in your garage looks great! I'm a fan!

chassis

On the W166 the left side is a gas strut, the right side is the electric powered lift actuator.

On the W164 is the powered lift actuator hydraulic, and on the right side? Is the left side a gas strut?

Mikchek

Took it to another shop and they found that all of the fluid leaked out due to a bad washer on the reservoir BUT now the actual handle isn’t working anymore maybe because I kept pulling on it to get the door to open lol

how much is that handle?

chassis

Looks like $72 if all you need is the exterior handle.

https://www.mercedesbenzstarparts.co...body--liftgate

Mikchek

awesome! Thank you!