I've searched but can't find a similar thread so here goes.

The tailgate/boot won't open with the key fob, or double turning the key, nor with the central locking system.

It does open/actuate when I turn the light switch on the left stalk off.

It's happened once before, and I think it has to do with moisture, because both times it happened, it was raining pretty hard.

Any suggestions as to where I should look to troubleshoot before I go to the dealer?

Thank you.

05 MCS

 

It works now. I noticed that the tailgate wasn't closing properly or consistently. Concluded that the tailgate latch was dirty and sticking, so I cleaned, and sprayed it with WD40 and Silicone. Seems to have done the trick, because it works the way it should now.

Maybe the tailgate not latching properly confused the computer and electronics. Funny things can happen when dealing with electricals especially electronics.

Hope it stays working. Don't want to pay dealer rates to trouble shoot.

 

you may be correct on water as the source . . .

don't forget what WD40 was initially developed for and what WD stands for in the name . . . water displacement

What does WD-40 stand for?

WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion-a task which is done by displacing water. Norm's persistence paid off when he perfected the formula on his 40th try.

http://www.wd40.com/faqs/

the symptoms you see are sure the type of thing you'll see from a short someplace and water in a poorly sealed connector sure can cause a short like this ... and one that comes and goes as the connector gets wet and dries ... until things corrode....

 

I'll spray down every wire and connector I can find with WD40. Maybe even snort a bit. Or just move from Portland Oregon to Arizona.

 

Water gets into the handle and plays around with your electronics.

I changed the gasket on my handle to help prevent water getting into the handle and causing corrosion.

P/N: 51247114521 as seen here: numnber 14 in diagram.

 

Thank you. I'm going to feel around inside this evening to isolate the problem area.

 

Inside of car is dry. I'm going to replace the battery as my first fix. Still has the original battery which is now a little over 6 yrs old.

 

it doesnt leak enough to make your boot wet usually, just enough to cause corrosion, etc.