2015 Highlander Tail Gate

AlfaRomeo69 · May 25, 2023

I've been dealing with my tailgate on my 2015 Highlander not working for several years now. Here is my "latest remedy". When it malfunctions, I'll manually close the tailgate, go into the glovebox and turn the tailgate off, wait a few seconds then turn it back on. The tailgate seems to work for a while, then, at some point in the near future, I'll have to do it all over again. I think I've done something similar with the gate open. If it's open all the way, and starts to go down then stops, I'll force it back open all the way, turn it off in the glove box, then turn it back on.
I've tried all the suggested solutions, and none of them have solved anything. This is what has worked best for me. Good luck....

bill.ruggirello · May 26, 2023

To solve this issue, it would be good to know how the TG works. My GUESS.
Since one can set the opening height, I would assume there is a motor revolution sensor or timer in the ECU to tell it how far to open it - maybe also to close it.
The glove box switch, then, must cut power to the TG ECU, otherwise it wouldn't reset it.
So, the question is, what sensors does the TG ECU use for this?
Since the motors work, it either those sensors, the connections, or the ECU.
The most likely would be a bad/corroded connector.
Anyone got a schematic showing those sensors, wires and ECU location?

AlfaRomeo69 · May 26, 2023

I've looked and looked but couldn't find an electrical schematic anywhere. I wanted to look for a sensor that sensed a restriction and stopped the tailgate from functioning. That's what I feel is at the heart of this problem.

bill.ruggirello · May 29, 2023

If you think it is sensing a restriction and there is none visible, the lifts might be hanging up.
Not sure if they can be serviced, but you might try that. If you can regrease them, it might work.

AlfaRomeo69 · May 29, 2023

Bill,
Thanks for the input.
I originally thought about that and oiled the lifts / rams where one slides inside the other, and every other contact / hinge on the tailgate that I could. It seemed to help at first, and I felt smart, like I had discovered fire, but not for long. Then sometimes I would physically assist the rams thinking they needed a little help. This sometimes seemed to help, but I think it was just a coincidence. I've thought about taking them apart, thinking I might find some broken piece inside, obstructing their operation, but that is my last resort. I was hoping to get a more definitive answer before getting that extreme.
I still think it's a malfunctioning sensor somewhere. An electrical schematic.... that's what I need....
Thanks......

bill.ruggirello · May 30, 2023

This might help.
this is the Liftgate Control Module Part Number: 892220E081

Where is it? Number 19

Looks like some disassembly required to follow the wire. I am guessing a loose connection causes the controller to disconnect. Powering off/on causes it to reset.

2015 Highlander Tail Gate

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