What’s an Electric Tailgate, and Why Are They So Common in Hamilton?
If you drive around Hamilton these days — whether it’s cruising down Te Rapa Straight after a shop at The Base, or bumping along those potholes out in Rototuna — you’re bound to spot heaps of cars with electric tailgates. Instead of fiddling around with a key, all you need is a button press, a quick touch on the dash, or – in newer European and Asian cars – just a little swipe of your foot near a sensor under the bumper. Next minute, up goes the boot, hands-free. Handy as when your arms are full of groceries at the Chartwell Countdown or juggling footy balls for the kids out in Whitiora!
Electric tailgates are driven by a few main bits – typically a motor (that’s what actually does the heavy lifting), and a solenoid or little actuator that triggers the catch. If you ever find your rear door won’t budge (or it refuses to close in wild Hamilton wind), these are the parts most likely playing up.
Why Does My Electric Tailgate Stop Working?
We see this all the time in the workshop. Maybe you’re dropping the kids at Fairfield Primary and the boot just refuses to open. Or you’re loading garden waste after a job out in Ngaruawahia and the tailgate won’t close. With all the stop-start city traffic and speed bumps along Kahikatea Drive, parts do cop a hiding.
Some of the usual suspects we spot:
1. Dodgy Tailgate Motor: If you’ve got something like an older Honda Odyssey or a late model Peugeot 5008, the motor can burn out over time — especially with heavy use or if the hatch is often forced open on an angle due to uneven parking on old Hamilton kerbs.
2. Flat or Weak Battery: This is a biggie. Loads of folk from Tamahere to Frankton get caught out, especially if they’ve already got a few other electric bits sucking power. If the battery’s weak, there’s just not enough juice to run the tailgate properly. Here’s a handy link for more info on dead car batteries.
3. Valve or Coil Issues: Some German SUVs – thinking Audi Q5s and Mercedes MLs – use trick hydraulic or electric systems with valves and coils inside. When one goes on the blink, the boot gets stubborn or only works sometimes when it feels like it. If you want a geeky look at the parts involved, check out this graphic. Fair warning, it’s pretty technical.
4. Something Stuck in the Mechanism: Loads of gunk, loose coins, and even the odd chip packet can hold things up. Pretty common with family cars like a Toyota Estima or a Kia Carnival that’s carting kids all over Baverstock.
If your boot won’t budge at all, or just keeps beeping and giving you grief, there’s some more info on common boot issues here.
Why Bother Fixing or Replacing a Faulty Electric Tailgate?
Look, it’s just a pain having to manually heave open a heavy SUV boot at New World in Dinsdale when you’re in a rush. When the auto tailgate’s working right it’s simple, safe, and saves you time (and your back). Plus, if it doesn’t latch properly, you’re risking the boot flying open as you bounce over a pothole near St Andrews, or stuff falling out on the Waikato Expressway. You don’t want to chance it — not worth the safety risk.
If it’s playing up, best to get it looked at. Sometimes it’s a straightforward fix, but if the main unit’s cactus, we can swap in a replacement and have you sorted in no time.
Electric Tailgate Repairs and Replacement in Hamilton
Got a stubborn boot or suspect your tailgate’s sulking after all those rainy mornings and hot summer afternoons on Hillcrest Rd? Bring your wagon, SUV, or hatch in for a look. Whether you’re in Cambridge, Morrinsville, or right here in Hamilton, our experienced techs at Grimmer Motors can sort electric tailgates on all sorts – Mazda CX-5s, Hyundai Tucsons, even that Lexus RX you picked up from Auckland last year.
We treat every car like it’s our own. We’ll let you know exactly what’s gone wrong, what needs fixing, and get it done right, fast.