RX450h Tail Gate Won't Open

[emjay82]

Purchased a 2013 RX450h a few weeks ago, the car was already fitted with a 7 pin Westfalia Towbar. On Thursday we had an autoelectrician come out to upgrade the 7 pin plug to a 13 pin. He spent an hour on the car and claimed the install was simple and only had to feed off the Battery, nothing too complicated. I didn't notice immediately but now the boot/trunk will not open. Disconnecting the Battery in the boot allows it to open but then it'll stop working after a couple more operations. The remote operation from the keyfob or dash makes a beep but the tailgate doesn't lift. I've also tried the little button in the glovebox but that doesn't help. Wondering if anyone has experienced these symptoms following a towbar install or has any ideas, many thanks in advance. 

[PCM]

I would get the electrician back asap.

[The-Acre]

2 hours ago, PCM said:

I would get the electrician back asap.

Me too!

[Lager shandy]

Oh the joys of so called auto electricians . I imagine he just scotch locked onto the nearest Battery feed he could find . 

[emjay82]

Autoelectrician has been back on a couple of occasions, he's now convinced the boot latch is faulty and it's nothing to do with the electrics 😏...... There are used parts available but looks like a pig to get at the latch. Might end up with an extensive job at the dealership at this rate.

[C Mclean]

I think I would carefully disconnect all the wires from the 13 pin plug making a note of what goes where. Also make sure none of them are connected together further up the loom and then see how things go.

[PCM]

22 hours ago, emjay82 said:

Autoelectrician has been back on a couple of occasions, he's now convinced the boot latch is faulty and it's nothing to do with the electrics 😏...... There are used parts available but looks like a pig to get at the latch. Might end up with an extensive job at the dealership at this rate.

Is there the correct power to the boot latch?

[Delphius1]

I'd make sure the 12v Battery is fully charged. It's the time of year when we all start turning on the heater fan up to full to demist and the screen/mirror/seat heaters go on. i.e. it's puts more strain on the 12v Battery.

It's very easy to get the Battery to a stage where it doesn't have the oomph to unlock the latch and work the tailgate (it's takes quite a bit of current to do the job). On a hybrid you don't tend to notice the 12v Battery dying as you would with a totally internal combustion engine car.

If you can, try charging the 12v Battery and see if the tailgate action improves. Might save you a bit of money chasing other things when all you might need is a new Battery.

 

[granadaman]

Had this problem last winter but rectified itself, the issue was back door buttons dead, button on dash dead, went into engine bay moved a few relays about and it would work again for a few minutes then all dead again. Hope it doesn’t happen this year it was a pain.

[Lager shandy]

You can rule out most things with a cheap multi meter testing power to the boot motor and lock assembly .it all depends on your own skill set 

[emjay82]

Tailgate is now fixed, I purchased a replacement boot latch/motor and swapped it over! Clearly the mechanism or motor must have failed. Thanks for the input! 😃

[Herbie]

Glad you got it sorted but don't chuck the old one out, try to fettle it first so you have a spare and also gain the knowledge as to what, exactly, is wrong so that you can pass that knowledge to others