Power Liftgate Issue
 

Hi, I searched the forums but couldn't find this particular issue.

I have a 2002 T&C. 85k miles. Excellent vehicle for the most part.

The power liftgate struts both needed to be replaced about 5k miles ago (the attachment studs to the liftgate corroded, damaging the ball joint on the struts). Since OEM struts were not readily obtainable, I replaced the struts with NAPA replacements.

It turned out that the NAPA struts were much firmer than the OEM struts. When attempting to use the power drive for the liftgate, the motor could not overcome the resistance presented by the new struts (ie, the motor could not pull down the liftgate since it was held up so firmly by the struts). In fact, I could hear the motor straining and even heard what sounded like a clutch or other mechanism in the motor adjusting itself - kind of a skipping of a gear.

Since this clearly wasn't good for the van, I ordered replacement Chrysler struts, and didn't use the motor on the liftgate until the new struts arrived.

I replaced the struts with the new Chrysler ones once they arrived. The liftgate motor, however, will no longer lift the liftgate all the way. It goes up perhaps 90% of the way, then reverses course and closes the liftgate. Everything sounds normal, the gears in the motor assy sound just fine. Somehow the motor is confused, thinking the gate has encountered an obstruction, and reverses course. Or so it seems.

Is there a way to retrain the liftgate motor to allow the liftgate to fully rise? Or, did I somehow mess the motor up when I heard the clutch or gear slippage? Or, can the motor/gear assembly be taken apart and fixed?

Thanks for any and all suggestions!