Rear Power Liftgate Won't Open
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
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From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
Rear Power Liftgate Won't Open
My Wife's 2013 GL450 rear tailgate / liftgate will not open. It appears to be stuck in the closed position. It will not move when the remote is pushed, when the switch on the drivers door panel is pushed or if you push the release handle on the liftgate itself (above the license plate). It doesn't make any noise either when any of these items are pushed, nor does the door move at all. it is in a secured and locked position!
I have tried pushing the buttons and pulling, very hard, on the handle with no success.
How do I get it open?
Thanks guys and Merry Christmas!
Chad
I have tried pushing the buttons and pulling, very hard, on the handle with no success.
How do I get it open?
Thanks guys and Merry Christmas!
Chad
Last edited by Tiffany's GL450; Dec 17, 2023 at 09:21 PM.
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gl450
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 9
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2013 GL-450
I had the same issue last year and manually unlocked it per the previous poster's recommendation and then changed the lock actuator, which was an easy DIY. I found instructions and a video somewhere online. The OEM part number for my 2013 GL450 was 204-740-13-00 and it cost $148.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
Likes: 29
From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
Thanks man, I ordered the part and should be in today. Looks pretty simple to R&R, hopefully that fixes it. I also found the reply from MTM to be beneficial, these Forums are little slices of Gold!!
Merry Christmas!!
Chad
Merry Christmas!!
Chad
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 9
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2013 GL-450
Glad I could help. Just a recommendation - be careful when unplugging the wiring harness connector from the button that lowers the liftgate (the button on the tailgate inside the car) - the connector on mine was brittle plastic and broke apart and now I've spent hours trying to figure out what part I need to repair that. My mechanic quoted me $450 to replace the entire wiring harness and I can't determine whether I can instead just buy the little plastic connector that likely costs $0.25. Actually now that I type that, could you please take a few pics of that connector and the wires (esp the order of the 3 wires that plug into the connector) and attach the pics here? And if you happen to gain any insight on where those wires go/what the larger part is without doing any extra work, that would be extremely helpful for me to know. I can't figure out with my searches online how to buy the little plastic connector itself or what the larger part is that the connector attaches to. Thanks and good luck with the lock actuator, I think you'll find it really easy to replace.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
Likes: 29
From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
Glad I could help. Just a recommendation - be careful when unplugging the wiring harness connector from the button that lowers the liftgate (the button on the tailgate inside the car) - the connector on mine was brittle plastic and broke apart and now I've spent hours trying to figure out what part I need to repair that. My mechanic quoted me $450 to replace the entire wiring harness and I can't determine whether I can instead just buy the little plastic connector that likely costs $0.25. Actually now that I type that, could you please take a few pics of that connector and the wires (esp the order of the 3 wires that plug into the connector) and attach the pics here? And if you happen to gain any insight on where those wires go/what the larger part is without doing any extra work, that would be extremely helpful for me to know. I can't figure out with my searches online how to buy the little plastic connector itself or what the larger part is that the connector attaches to. Thanks and good luck with the lock actuator, I think you'll find it really easy to replace.
Chad
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
Likes: 29
From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
It was one of the easiest jobs I've done on the car. I ended up having to remove the entire rear panel to get to the cable attach point and to remove a piece of deadening material behind the actuator. All of the push pins came out intact and all of them went back in with ease. My wife is very happy she has her trunk back, I told her she can thank me later!!
Once again these Forums prove their worth, I've done so much maintenance to the car from tips off of here!
Merry Christmas Guys!!
Chad
Once again these Forums prove their worth, I've done so much maintenance to the car from tips off of here!
Merry Christmas Guys!!
Chad
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2013 GL-450
Glad to hear the repair went well and your wife's liftgate works again. And thank you so much for the pictures, those are extremely helpful! I know what the white pin connector is since that's the part I'm trying to replace, is the red pin connector what's on the other end of those wires? So it looks like it really is just a wiring harness. And if so, any idea what the red pin connector plugs into (even a guess would be helpful)? I've literally spent hours trying to figure out what part I need to order and replace. Thanks again!
Edited to add: never mind on my last question, my mechanic was able to order the pin connector thanks to your pictures (it costs just a few bucks) and I'll assemble it next week. Thanks again for your pictures, they're a huge help!
Edited to add: never mind on my last question, my mechanic was able to order the pin connector thanks to your pictures (it costs just a few bucks) and I'll assemble it next week. Thanks again for your pictures, they're a huge help!
Last edited by Minerva66; Dec 22, 2023 at 05:01 PM.
