Power lift gate does not open all the way

[edgemaster]

Hi,

After hitting my forehead pretty good on the open power lift gate (Edge 2009) I noticed that it didn't open all the way. I could manually push it up a couple of inches. Is there any adjustment?

[akirby]

Can't remember if the 09 had the option (check your owner's manual) but on later models you can put the liftgate where you want it and hold the push button for a few seconds and it would remember that opening height.

[edgemaster]

I did check the manual but it doesn't mention this procedure.

[akirby]

Then the answer is no.

[omar302]

The adjustable height liftagate feature was only added in the 2015+ Edge. Prior models had a fixed height liftgate,

[enigma-2]

Your liftgate cylindars are weak and need replacing. Easy to do.

Edited October 11, 2018 by enigma-2

[akirby]

The adjustable height liftagate feature was only added in the 2015+ Edge. Prior models had a fixed height liftgate,

 

Escape got it a couple of years earlier which is where I keep getting confused.

[omar302]

Also the Explorer got it from 2011.

[edgemaster]

Weak lift gate cylinders at 43k miles? Hard to believe.

[akirby]

Not hard to believe based on the symptom. Parts fail all the time.

[edgemaster]

Sure, you are right, things fail all the time.

However, assuming that there is a screw drive shaft that moves the lift gate up and down it has to have some kind of sensors at the end points, similar to those on automatic garage doors, right? If yes, they probably can be adjusted. Or?

[akirby]

I don’t know how it determines where to stop but I don’t think it uses sensors like a garage door.

[edgemaster]

Maybe not like a garage door but some kind of sensor has to tell this screw drive when to stop.

[akirby]

It's usually inside the motor.

[edgemaster]

OK, thanks a lot for your patience.

[akirby]

I'm just guessing here. The motor by itself can't lift a heavy door all the way up which is why the struts are suspect. They're also relatively cheap and easy to change.

[edgemaster]

You're right, a small motor can't do that but a screw drive could.

[enigma-2]

The screw drive only starts the lift process. The lift cylindars continue the lift to the full up position. If tbe hatch doesnt open fully, its the lift cylindars at fault. My 09 mkx has original cylinders and also sags about a couple of inches. No biggie afaic.

[edgemaster]

If the screw drive only starts the process, why do I hear it running until the lift gate is way up?

It's no big affair until you hit your forehead on a regular basis.

[enigma-2]

Dont know, maybe the screw drive runs for a specific amount of time. It's the cylindars that lift the hatch to the full up position and hold it there.

 

I hit my head once, cussed at it and learned to duck after that.

 

Hit me once, shame on you. Hit me twice, shame on me.

Edited October 11, 2018 by enigma-2

[edgemaster]

Well, to paraphrase George W.

I'll try to remove that cover of the lift gate motor to check what happens.

[akirby]

Let us know after you do all that stuff and then end up replacing the struts.

[edgemaster]

Just looked at it again.

The screw drive runs continuously until the lift gate is all the way up or down.

Otherwise one could not reverse the movement in mid-air by hitting that rubber button in the lift gate handle.

I also removed that cover of the motor housing and it turns out that the motor is located way down in the rear fender and it looks like the adjustment, if there is any, is inside the motor housing.

The funny thing is, that after moving the gate several times it appears that it now opens all the way up, give or take half an inch. Go figure!

Thanks for all the input.

My forehead is slowly healing!