Tailgate

[Crickleymal]

When we looked at the car (2008 Aeras) prior to buying it the tailgate worked exactly as you'd expect. When we picked it up a week later I asked the dealer to show me how to fold and unfold the rear seats and then the tailgate struts appear to have failed and you have to hold the tailgate open which is heavy. The dealer is supplying me with new struts but I wondered if it was a power tailgate and something has failed or been switched off. When you open it there is a warning whistle which sounds for about 20 seconds and stops after the gate has been held open for a while. The manual I downloaded is machine translated and is not entirely helpful.

[JohnGW]

No warning whistle on my manual opening. Estima 2010.

[Crickleymal]

6 minutes ago, JohnGW said:

No warning whistle on my manual opening. Estima 2010.

So does that imply its a power tailgate and is there a switch that's inadvertently been pressed? There's no button on the remote to activate it unlike the side doors and no button on the overhead console 

[RUToyota]

I would have thought it unlikely to be a power tailgate on a 2008 model tbh..

Was there any evidence of "power" when you initially inspected it prior to purchase..?..you said it worked as expected.????..what did you expect..and what did you find.?

[Crickleymal]

1 minute ago, RUToyota said:

I would have thought it unlikely to be a power tailgate on a 2008 model tbh..

Was there any evidence of "power" when you initially inspected it prior to purchase..?..you said it worked as expected.????..what did you expect..and what did you find.?

No. It opened and closed like a normal tailgate. It struck me as odd that the struts suddenly failed in the space of less than a week given there was no reason for the dealer to open it. Also why the warning whistle?

[Crickleymal]

I have to say I can't see any evidence that it is a powered door, nothing around the hinges or the struts. But there is a switch on the opening handle and it does whistle at me.

Mind you the manual I have and the downloaded manual both say there are fuses in the driver's and passenger's footwell and blowed if I can find them.

[RUToyota]

The warning whistle I know nowt about I'm afraid.

As for the fuses, yes, there are fuse boxes in each footwell..behind the trim panel at the side of each footwell (where your feet would be)..not particularly easy to access.

[flash22]

Whistle ??? More of a buzz or a tone

power back door struts have motor on them

standard struts

Power back door use a motor and rod on the passenger side, as well as the struts

 

Edit. The tailgate switch is fitted in on the bottom edge of the tailgate on the passenger side

[Crickleymal]

Definitely a non powered tailgate then. 

As for the whistle it's the same frequency as the reversing beeps (presumably generated by the same sounder).

[flash22]

If memory serves, the open and close is between the front courtesy lights

 

[flash22]

was the car on when you opened the boot ? If so, it was the reverse sensors

[Crickleymal]

5 minutes ago, flash22 said:

was the car on when you opened the boot ? If so, it was the reverse sensors

No definitely not.

[Paulscarbs]

On 5/30/2023 at 12:02 PM, Crickleymal said:

I have to say I can't see any evidence that it is a powered door, nothing around the hinges or the struts. But there is a switch on the opening handle and it does whistle at me.

Mind you the manual I have and the downloaded manual both say there are fuses in the driver's and passenger's footwell and blowed if I can find them.

You'll probably need to lay on your back as they are behind the dashboard in the footwells on both sides in the ACR50 series.

[Crickleymal]

I watched a couple of videos yesterday. Who thought of putting fuseboxes there?