Will tailgate open with dead battery?
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The tailgate is completely power operated in models with power tailgate so it won't open if there is no power. In that event one has to go in through the rear doors, crawl into the cargo area after collapsing the rear seats to access a manual release lever.
2021 AWD Sport Crystal Black / 2021 AWD EX-L lSteel Metallic
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My sports model will, not such luck for the wife's ex-l model😄
The Elite model tailgate is completely electric, we found out the hard way when the battery went dead. Our jumper cables were in the nifty little compartment at the back of the vehicle. Fortunately, someone else had jumper cables. Not sure how it went dead, it sat for about four hours, the dealer says the battery was good, maybe we left it in Accessory mode? We now keep the cables under the front passenger seat.
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This is why I asked in the first place. I have a portable jump start unit that I placed in the rear under floor storage area then I thought if my battery was dead I'd need to use it, but how would I open the tailgate to get it. I need to find a better place to store it.
The latch is powered on pretty much all new cars so no. Without power it's impossible to unlatch unless you use manual unlatch.
You could always go in one of the second row doors, put down a seat and reach/crawl into the back to get the jump starter. I keep mine in the driver side well compartment along with a fire extinguisher.
Keep in mind a "dead battery" isn't necessarily a completely dead battery. Dead as in not enough juice to turn the vehicle over is one thing and you should be able to open the rear hatch, just as the door locks, would operate.
Totally dead, as in no juice at all, is a rarer thing which will require the use of a key to get into the vehicle in the first place. With a totally dead battery, a jump pack will in all likely hood be of no use anyway.
I didn't try, however in hindsight, it does appear one can crawl from the back seat like a snake and reach the bin.
For us now, the cables are under a front seat and we bought a booster, which is small enough to fit in the glove box.
Also, we stow a phillips screwdriver to remove all the ducting to reach the battery ground terminal.
I bought a cheap plug-in voltmeter to monitor the voltage, the dealer suggested to unplug it when the vehicle is off.
It is interesting, the voltmeter usually shows 14.1 volts (charging) but 12.1 or 12.2 volts when the battery appears to be fully charged.
That voltage seems a bit low to me but maybe normal for this car.
Yes, HarveyW, you are correct. The battery was drained to the point that the starter solenoid would not kick in but the doors opened.
A completely dead battery would probably need a tow to the dealer to wake up the Hal 9000 computer.
For us now, the cables are under a front seat and we bought a booster, which is small enough to fit in the glove box.
Also, we stow a phillips screwdriver to remove all the ducting to reach the battery ground terminal.
I bought a cheap plug-in voltmeter to monitor the voltage, the dealer suggested to unplug it when the vehicle is off.
It is interesting, the voltmeter usually shows 14.1 volts (charging) but 12.1 or 12.2 volts when the battery appears to be fully charged.
That voltage seems a bit low to me but maybe normal for this car.
Yes, HarveyW, you are correct. The battery was drained to the point that the starter solenoid would not kick in but the doors opened.
A completely dead battery would probably need a tow to the dealer to wake up the Hal 9000 computer.
Well there is always the emergency key in the fob to get into the vehicle. From there you could pop the hood, pull the battery, go get a new one and install it. Something I have had to do with my wife's Toyota when she had it and on my PU truck from many years ago.
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