When it's cold (usually below 20*F), the liftgate won't close manually. I can push it down to within 4-6" of closing and then it binds up. The liftgate will close using the motor. (It always opens fine either manually or with the motor).

Under warranty, the dealer replaced the actuator (p/n 5019038AA), but the problem stills persists. Unfortunately, when I returned to the dealer, I couldn't reproduced the problem (likely because things have warmed up on the trip).

Anyone have any suggestions for what might be wrong?

I don't have a diagram or know the theory of operation for the power liftgate, so I can't speculate.

Thanks

 

Sorry this won't help but my 05 did the same thing a few months back when it was colder than usual here in CA. It worked fine automaticlly just like yours. I sprayed oil in the controller area but not sure if it went away because of the oil or because it has warmed up. However now the lid won't open if I press the button on the door. Only opens by auto or by using the key in the lock.

 

(thanks for the post mrfixit454)

Just a follow up…

It’s been below 0* this week, so my dealer was able to reproduce the problem

The plastic gears were binding in the motor assembly, so the “Power Liftgate Housing Assembly” (p/n 5096296AC) was replaced.

We'll see if it continues to work ...

I’d still like to see a diagram of the components in the liftgate … anybody have anything?[sm=smiley20.gif]

 

No Problem, thanks for reporting back. It's nice to know what causes it and since its plastic.. that makes more sense.

I have the manual on CD.. I'll have a look later tonight and try to post anything I can find.

Fixit

 

Thanks. Where did you get the service manual on CD? (from here? https://techauthority.gltghosting.co...atalogId=10051)

 

I think I bought it from ebay.. I have had several chrysler products so I have a few of these manauls. I got busy last night and simply forgot to check the manual. I don't have a copy of it here at work so I'll have to get back to you tonight, or over weekend. I do have a Pacifica Manual here so it may have as similar mechanism. The sounds the PAC and the T&C make are exact when openeing and closing the rear hatch.

 

Here is the PAC one.. I'll try and check the T&C one later.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...tgateMotor.jpg

 

How’s the quality of the images on the CD? (what you posted looked fine). I bought one CD that had some very poor scanned images … almost useless.

 

The copy I have is perfect. The images I linked to you are captures with adobe picture tool. Then pasted into Power Point (from microsoft office) and then exported as jpg. So the images are a little fuzzy after this conversion.

Here is the TC pictures.. much different than the Pacifica

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...CLiftgate1.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...CLiftgate2.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...CLiftgate3.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...CLiftgate4.jpg

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks mrfixit454 … I appreciate it [sm=groupwave.gif]