Kick-to-open-tailgate

[Theolddog]

Even though I'm living in NJ, I'm getting Ford ad's on my phone for the new 2024 Mach-E in Australia touting the "kick-your-foot-under-the-rear-bumper-feature" to open the tailgate when your hands are both occupied holding groceries.

Is there a way to add that feature back to my 2023 GT?

I understand it was deleted for 2023 production due to the "chip crisis." My tailgate still shows a kick-to-open button setting diagram on the left side at the 2nd button to close the tailgate. My 2019 Explorer (at half-the-cost of my 2023 Mach-E GT) had that feature and I used it a lot.

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[Anders31]

Even though I'm living in NJ, I'm getting Ford ad's on my phone for the new 2024 Mach-E in Australia touting the "kick-your-foot-under-the-rear-bumper-feature" to open the tailgate when your hands are both occupied holding groceries.

Is there a way to add that feature back to my 2023 GT?

I understand it was deleted for 2023 production due to the "chip crisis." My tailgate still shows a kick-to-open button setting diagram on the left side at the 2nd button to close the tailgate. My 2019 Explorer (at half-the-cost of my 2023 Mach-E GT) had that feature and I used it a lot.

I think this one does the trick

https://ev-vida.store/products/mustang-mach-e-handsfree-liftgate-module

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

Do '23s still have the hardware? I was able to enable the kick-to-open on my '22 Premium using Forscan. Easy and free (as I already had the Vlinker adapter).

 

[Adventureboy]

Do '23s still have the hardware? I was able to enable the kick-to-open on my '22 Premium using Forscan. Easy and free (as I already had the Vlinker adapter).

How did you do this? I have a 2022 and it came without the kick-to-open. Was pretty disappointed so if it can be turned on with Forscan, I'd like to try it.

 

[david_quick]

I think this one does the trick

https://ev-vida.store/products/mustang-mach-e-handsfree-liftgate-module

Not for the faint of heart, cutting into the wiring harness of your new car. I decided to pass and I do electrical mods on my biat all the time.

 

[RickMachE]

Do '23s still have the hardware? I was able to enable the kick-to-open on my '22 Premium using Forscan. Easy and free (as I already had the Vlinker adapter).

How did you do this? I have a 2022 and it came without the kick-to-open. Was pretty disappointed so if it can be turned on with Forscan, I'd like to try it.

The only way to know if you have the hardware or not is to open up the underside and look. There is a tiny panel that easily unbolts on the "diaper". Then, stick your cellphone up and take a picture towards the bumper with the flash on, the sensor is obvious.

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

To be completely honest, I did not even bother looking to see if the hardware was there. I just went ahead and followed the steps in the thread below as I was already connected to my vehicle to make a couple other tweaks in ForSCAN (disabling the annoying double honk when you walk away from the running car with your keys, enabling rearview mirror tilt on reverse, and adding the GT power meter to my instrument panel, all of these can be found in the DIY forum).

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...ands-free-liftgate-back-to-2022-mach-e.16407/

Obviously, I cannot recommend my method and to be safe you should probably be sure the hardware is there. Also, be sure not to skip step three of the first post in that thread because that was key to getting it working for me.

 

[Adventureboy]

The only way to know if you have the hardware or not is to open up the underside and look.

Awesome thanks. Just out of curiosity, when did you take delivery of your GT? Mine is a Premium delivered early July 2022.
I probably won't get a chance to crawl under the car until spring now. It's pretty nasty here Jan-Mar. and the garage isn't big enough for that.

 

[RickMachE]

Awesome thanks. Just out of curiosity, when did you take delivery of your GT? Mine is a Premium delivered early July 2022.
I probably won't get a chance to crawl under the car until spring now. It's pretty nasty here Jan-Mar. and the garage isn't big enough for that.

Premium, not GT. It was made in early 2022 (3 month range), and arrived in May 2022. It was ordered as a 2021, so my having the sensor isn't necessarily indicative of anything.

I was surprised at how many 2022s had the sensor late into the year, there's zero reason that I know of for Ford to not have enabled them, but they didn't. Works great!

 

[PA Bob]

be careful what you ask for. I have the kick to open feature on my tailgate. It always opens while I’m washing the car. Once it opened while in my garage and I didn’t realize it. It hit the button to open the door. it gashed my tailgate. Most of the time when I wanted it to open because I have two arms full of groceries, it doesn’t work. Be happy, just hit the button manually.

 

[Adventureboy]

be careful what you ask for. I have the kick to open feature on my tailgate. It always opens while I’m washing the car. Once it opened while in my garage and I didn’t realize it. It hit the button to open the door. it gashed my tailgate. Most of the time when I wanted it to open because I have two arms full of groceries, it doesn’t work. Be happy, just hit the button manually.

Good points noted. I've heard it wasn't very reliable for opening but accidental opening while washing or in the garage isn't cool.

 

[RickMachE]

be careful what you ask for. I have the kick to open feature on my tailgate. It always opens while I’m washing the car. Once it opened while in my garage and I didn’t realize it. It hit the button to open the door. it gashed my tailgate. Most of the time when I wanted it to open because I have two arms full of groceries, it doesn’t work. Be happy, just hit the button manually.

Good points noted. I've heard it wasn't very reliable for opening but accidental opening while washing or in the garage isn't cool.

When the 2021 Mach-E came out, people reported it hitting garage doors and such. The solution for many was to limit the opening height (see manual).

Both our 2021 and our 2022 work fine. You have to kick properly. Many kick wrong.

As for it opening when washing the car, the secret is to put your FOB or phone (if you have PaaK) away from the vehicle.

 

[lanebk]

I have a very late 2022 premium and recently activated it in forscan. The hardware was all there already.

So far, no issues with accidental opening a d I'm starting to get good at hitting the right spot with my foot. Hadn't thought of the car wash, but suppose I could just turn it off in the settings before I go through. I back into the garage so no worries there.

 

[RonBme]

Not for the faint of heart, cutting into the wiring harness of your new car. I decided to pass and I do electrical mods on my biat all the time.

did u watch the video because i dont recall him cutting into any wires

 

[david_quick]

did u watch the video because i dont recall him cutting into any wires

They use Positaps. Positaps break the insulation to tap into the harness. Anything that compromises the insulation is cutting into the harness. It exposed the underlying wire to potential corrosion.

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