Have an US-spec '01 T&C with 98K miles on her.
Christine has been one of the best vehicles I've ever owned. Only issue has been a recalcitrant liftgate.
Mine tends to open when it is cool outside.
Once the air temp warms up (around 60F or so) it will almost always work.

Have already replaced the motor based on dealership suggestions. No change.
Symptoms suggest the electric cinch is not fully releasing.
No issues at all when using just the key or when closing by hand or by motor.

The dealership here (in Germany) is about to go into 'repair by replacement' mode ... at considerable expense.
Parts are steep here - example: motor that I could have gotten online for $150 was $400 here before installation!
So, I'd rather do some investigating on my own first.

Any ideas?

Have had the cinch off and appears clean, free of debris, and lubed well.
Absolutely no issue w.r.t the liftgate closing. Pulls down and cinches fine.

Think maybe the cinch is wore out?
Anyone got a part number for that?
The one I pull off the part itself isn't recognized by the online catalogs?

I'm leaning towards the cinch itself rather than the small motor on the back as it pulls down fine and I'm assuming that is doen by the motor on the back of the cinch. Opinions?

 

Sorry ... I mean it does NOT work when it is cool outside.

 

Man, what an idiot I am ... symptoms, duh.

Symptoms are:
The liftgate will begin to raise but will stop before releasing fully from the catch.
It almost always just stops there not fully released from the catch.
If you try to pull the liftgate up you can feel it loose but not released from the catch.
Typically I will get an off-note alarm similar to that you get when it hits an obstruction ... which it is since it is not fully released from the catch.
Trying to release the liftgate using the 'handle' (under the wings emblem) does nothing.
To release the liftgate I have to use the key in the lock.

 

Same vehicle, same exact problem. Repair shop says there is temperature sensor in liftgate circuit that prevents gate from opening below 15*F or above 96*F. Appears sensor may be the culprit. They said dealer must access computer to see exactly what problem is.

 

Interstingly enough, that is similar to what the Chrysler dealership here told me ... but that was after they told me to replace the lift motor, which was after they had 'reprogrammed' the ligftgate. It seems odd to me they'd put such sensors in since the lift motor has it' own stress sensor. Any idea where in the circuit these sensors are, if they're a unit or single, replaceable by us or only be service department, and if it also requires mucking arund in the computer?

I was hoping for something easy like ... Your cinch is hosed.

 

Question: Do you think they mean the ambient air temp sensor or does the liftgate have its own sensor somewhere?

 

the anbient temp sensor is for the engine and running the speed density calcuations. The cinch motor or LATCH has been most of my fixes for that kinda issue. The hatch will do the beep beep and then nothing right? There is an inhibit mode in the computer that the dealer can look at and for ne codes as well. The latch is not bad putting it in and once the new latch is installed open and close it a few times so the module can learn its locations.

 

Wow, thanks. That's what I was thinking ot had to be too.
One last question: Are the two pieces of the cinch individual parts or is it only one replaceable part.
It looks like the motor is separate from the actual cinch mechansim.

If separate I'm hinking the motor woudlbethe piece to replace?

Again, thanks for the help.

 

the latch is all one unit all sensor and motors are in one cost should be around 125 i think