[jrmgkia]

My Lightning has the power tailgate and there are two issues I've had with it.
1. Half the time when I press the button on the tailgate it opens no problem, other times it just beeps a few times and doesn't open. But if I press the button a second time it will open. Any ideas on what causes this?
2. If I drive with the tailgate down it bounces violently up and down. I had to drive this way the other day because I had a coffee table that was longer than the truck bed but it wasn't "resting on the tailgate" if that makes sense. Has anyone else noticed this, and is there a way to drive with the tailgate down without it violently bouncing?

 

[KElkhorn]

Yes to both of these. I have noticed the tailgate not opening mostly when the truck is locked, I just figured it hadn't picked up the key fob yet.

I picked up a load of solar panels a few weeks ago that were a bit longer than the bed, and noticed the violent bouncing. I'm guessing my other trucks do this to some degree and I just don't hear it over the engine, but certainly felt like I was in danger of damaging something. I strapped it up tight to the panels for my 200 mile drive, there are strap attachment points on the sides of the tailgate.

 

[GDN]

The bouncing of the tailgate could be because it is possibly counterbalanced or spring loaded. The tailgates are heavy and I'm sure they've got something to counter the weight to help with the lift motor. That allows them to bounce a lot more than a traditional old heavy tailgate.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I’ve had both the tailgate and the frunk bell but not open from time to time. They both work on the second press of the button, though.

I think the tailgate is counterbalanced. I’ve run into the same bouncing problem. Be sure to set the power tailgate on manual for driving with the tailgate open.

 

[GDN]

I think the tailgate is counterbalanced. I’ve run into the same bouncing problem. Be sure to set the power tailgate on manual for driving with the tailgate open.

This last part is a really good point, because if you don't know, one way to close the tailgate is to raise it a few inches by hand and that will trigger the automatic close. You don't want that happening with it bouncing around and if you've got something that is going to cause it to bind up.

 

[Fryballin]

My Lightning has the power tailgate and there are two issues I've had with it.
1. Half the time when I press the button on the tailgate it opens no problem, other times it just beeps a few times and doesn't open. But if I press the button a second time it will open. Any ideas on what causes this?
2. If I drive with the tailgate down it bounces violently up and down. I had to drive this way the other day because I had a coffee table that was longer than the truck bed but it wasn't "resting on the tailgate" if that makes sense. Has anyone else noticed this, and is there a way to drive with the tailgate down without it violently bouncing?

I’ve noticed both of these as well. Here’s my insight on the tailgate opening issue:

1. I think when the truck has been inactive for an extended period of time, it goes into a “deep sleep” type of state and must be “woke up” prior to responding to inputs. So in the instance of opening the tailgate or frunk, you press the button, hear a few beeps, but the tailgate doesn’t open. Now the truck is “awake” and you press again, tailgate opens. You don’t have these issues when you have recently been in the truck, or driving, or when the truck is running. I even think this applies to detecting the key fob or PAAK. I’ve noticed when I leave my truck parked a long time and come back with the key fob, I have to attempt to open the door or interact with the truck before it will detect the key fob and unlock. Whereas, if I get out, lock the doors, run into a store and come back out the truck will unlock and be ready to enter without any interaction, you will also notice at nighttime that it lights up the exterior lighting as you approach. But this lighting effect when approaching at night does not happen when I’ve been away for an extended period.