Question about unlocking the lift gate...

[SnatrapS99]

Yeah, this may be another one for the dummy category, but I have a CA Rt1 so no power lift gate (thankfully in my opinion). When I unlock the lift gate using the fob and open it, it unlocks just fine, the lights flash accordingly, and the mirrors unfold. However, when I close it, the car seemingly locks again. The lights flash and the mirrors fold back in. Is there a way to make it so when the lift gate is unlocked the doors unlock? I have it sent to unlock all doors at the same time via the settings. I am concerned about the mirror folding motor getting over used and breaking (right around mile 36,001 or whenever the warranty ends). Thanks.

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[Murse-In-Airy]

When you are unlocking the liftgate with the fob, are you using the liftgate button on the fob? I am making an assumption that we have the same fob but I’m not sure. if you’re using a liftgate button on the fob, perhaps switch to just using the unlock button. The one that unlock the doors will also unlock the liftgate (since you have the lock setting to unlock all). Then it wouldn’t re-lock upon closing the liftgate because the doors would still be unlocked.

TLDR: Forget that you have a liftgate button and just use the lock/unlock buttons on the fob.

 

[SnatrapS99]

When you are unlocking the liftgate with the fob, are you using the liftgate button on the fob? I am making an assumption that we have the same fob but I’m not sure. if you’re using a liftgate button on the fob, perhaps switch to just using the unlock button. The one that unlock the doors will also unlock the liftgate (since you have the lock setting to unlock all). Then it wouldn’t re-lock upon closing the liftgate because the doors would still be unlocked.

TLDR: Forget that you have a liftgate button and just use the lock/unlock buttons on the fob.

Well that is certainly a good idea, to just unlock the doors and everything and forget about the lift gate button (I do have the same key fob I believe). That answers one question I had. But I do have another... if I have the key fob in my pocket, I can unlock any door by simply pushing the button on the door. However, if the key fob is in my pocket and the doors are locked, if I push the button on the lift gate to open it, it will not unlock. The lights flash, but that is about it. I have to unlock the lift gate (or the doors and lift gate) for it to open. Simply having the key fob in my pocket is not sufficient to unlock and open the lift gate. Does any of that rambling make sense?

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

Well that is certainly a good idea, to just unlock the doors and everything and forget about the lift gate button (I do have the same key fob I believe). That answers one question I had. But I do have another... if I have the key fob in my pocket, I can unlock any door by simply pushing the button on the door. However, if the key fob is in my pocket and the doors are locked, if I push the button on the lift gate to open it, it will not unlock. The lights flash, but that is about it. I have to unlock the lift gate (or the doors and lift gate) for it to open. Simply having the key fob in my pocket is not sufficient to unlock and open the lift gate. Does any of that rambling make sense?

Yes. What you’re saying makes sense. And I agree it isn’t quite right. If my car is locked and I approach with my fob, my car unlocks completely. Liftgate and doors. I can then open my liftgate with the button above the license plate. No further unlocking required. I do know that the proximity sensor in the liftgate has a VERY low range. So if your fob is in a rear pocket, or somehow your body is between the fob and the sensor, the car may not be detecting the fob.

 

[Maquis]

My Premium with hands-free lift gate will open on walk-up.
I wonder if since you don’t have power liftgate, that it doesn’t have a key sensor on the back?

 

[Maquis]

Yes. What you’re saying makes sense. And I agree it isn’t quite right. If my car is locked and I approach with my fob, my car unlocks completely. Liftgate and doors. I can then open my liftgate with the button above the license plate. No further unlocking required. I do know that the proximity sensor in the liftgate has a VERY low range. So if your fob is in a rear pocket, or somehow your body is between the fob and the sensor, the car may not be detecting the fob.

Are you sure? I get welcome lights and the mirrors unfold, but nothing unlocks until I press a button on the door I’m standing at.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

Are you sure? I get welcome lights and the mirrors unfold, but nothing unlocks until I press a button on the door I’m standing at.

Could be a bad assumption on my part that there is a sensor in the back. I too have hands free but when I don’t use the lock sensor,
The liftgate is still able to be open with the button above the license plate WITHOUT having to hit an unlock button anywhere.

 

[Skepteach]

When you are unlocking the liftgate with the fob, are you using the liftgate button on the fob? I am making an assumption that we have the same fob but I’m not sure. if you’re using a liftgate button on the fob, perhaps switch to just using the unlock button. The one that unlock the doors will also unlock the liftgate (since you have the lock setting to unlock all). Then it wouldn’t re-lock upon closing the liftgate because the doors would still be unlocked.

TLDR: Forget that you have a liftgate button and just use the lock/unlock buttons on the fob.

Agreed. It used to bug the heck out of me that I could open my auto lift gate with the fob, push the button to close it, then walk to the driver door and have to wait for the car to re-unlock itself again. I realized my problem was that I wasn't unlocking it first, then opening the liftgate. If you do it in that sequence, the car remains unlocked, at least until you walk some distance away.

 

[generaltso]

Could be a bad assumption on my part that there is a sensor in the back. I too have hands free but when I don’t use the lock sensor,

There's definitely a sensor in the back on cars with a powered liftgate, but I'm not sure about cars with a manual liftgate. But I think your bad assumption is that the entire car unlocks when you open the liftgate. It certainly appears that way since the mirrors unfold, but I tested it and found that the doors don't actually unlock. If you walk to a door with the fob in your pocket, you'll never notice a difference. But after closing the liftgate, place the fob on the ground behind the car and walk to one of the doors and you'll see that they're still locked.

 

[RickMachE]

There's definitely a sensor in the back on cars with a powered liftgate, but I'm not sure about cars with a manual liftgate. But I think your bad assumption is that the entire car unlocks when you open the liftgate. It certainly appears that way since the mirrors unfold, but I tested it and found that the doors don't actually unlock. If you walk to a door with the fob in your pocket, you'll never notice a difference. But after closing the liftgate, place the fob on the ground behind the car and walk to one of the doors and you'll see that they're still locked.

Right. This was discussed in a thread some weeks ago.

 

[generaltso]

Right. This was discussed in a thread some weeks ago.

Yep, that other thread is what led me to test it.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

There's definitely a sensor in the back on cars with a powered liftgate, but I'm not sure about cars with a manual liftgate. But I think your bad assumption is that the entire car unlocks when you open the liftgate. It certainly appears that way since the mirrors unfold, but I tested it and found that the doors don't actually unlock. If you walk to a door with the fob in your pocket, you'll never notice a difference. But after closing the liftgate, place the fob on the ground behind the car and walk to one of the doors and you'll see that they're still locked.

Actually, I was not assuming the entire car unlocked when the liftgate did. That is why I recommended the OP use the unlock button rather than the liftgate button on the fob.
But if there is a sensor in the lift gate, it makes no sense that OP cannot walk up to the car and press the button to open the lift gate. Why would they have to unlock the liftgate with the fob rather than a proximity unlock of the liftgate occuring?? ??

 

[generaltso]

But if there is a sensor in the lift gate, it makes no sense that OP cannot walk up to the car and press the button to open the lift gate. Why would they have to unlock the liftgate with the fob rather than a proximity unlock of the liftgate occuring?? ??

My guess is that there is no sensor without the automatic liftgate. But I don't have access to a manual liftgate to test that theory.

 

[Maquis]

Could be a bad assumption on my part that there is a sensor in the back. I too have hands free but when I don’t use the lock sensor,
The liftgate is still able to be open with the button above the license plate WITHOUT having to hit an unlock button anywhere.

Right - what I meant to say was - with walkup unlock, nothing unlocks until I attempt to open a door (any of the 5). I don't press any "unlock" button - just "open". The only door that will open is the one I'm standing in front of. Once I open that door, they all unlock.

I suspect that without the power liftgate, there is no sensor in the hatch to detect the key, so this sequence cannot be initiated from the rear hatch.

 

[generaltso]

Right - what I meant to say was - with walkup unlock, nothing unlocks until I attempt to open a door (any of the 5). I don't press any "unlock" button - just "open". The only door that will open is the one I'm standing in front of. Once I open that door, they all unlock.

It's true that they all unlock when you walk up to the car and press the button to open one of the 4 doors. But if you press the button to open the liftgate, the doors don't unlock.

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