Power tailgate won’t open beeps 3x

[Ford Motor Company]

Mine does this intermittently, as well. It hasn't bothered me enough to take it to a dealer just for that issue so I'll wait until something else pops up. Maybe I'll see if I can find a fuse for the power tailgate and see if cycling power would help. Not sure it'll help but it'll only waste a few minutes of my time to try.

Good afternoon. Would you privately message us with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer so I can look into this tailgate concern on my end? Thank you!

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[scott011422]

Mine does the same since i owned it for the last 40 days or so. First press beeps 3 times. Second press opens it. Every time.

 

[sysop]

Sorry for not updating sooner.

Sorta upset with the tech at the dealer...

I recreated the issue for the service manager. It was a nice day and I spent part of the time outside the garage door chatting with the tech. He reprogrammed the trailer brake controller and recreated the issue with the tailgate many times, but couldn't isolate any issues. They ordered a new tailgate wiring harness for it and are supposed to call me when it arrives.

After leaving the dealership, I was going through various paperwork in the truck and happened to read through the notes the tech wrote up for it. He claimed in the notes he couldn't recreate the issue.

I returned to the dealer regarding another issue and told them I hated to put such a label on them, but their tech that made those notes is a liar.

 

[powerboatr]

Mine does the same since i owned it for the last 40 days or so. First press beeps 3 times. Second press opens it. Every time.

if my doors are unlocked, as in i unlocked truck with key pad, but i dont have the fob with me, it takes two presses to make the gate unlock and come down.
if i have the fob and have unlocked the truck with fob, it comes on one press.

or if i press switch in cabin it comes down.
i thought it was a thing

 

[sysop]

One press does nothing. The fob requires two presses of the tailgate button before it sends a signal to the truck. On the second press, it beeps three times (from inside the cab, not the exterior pedestrian alert beeper at the tailgate) and the lights flash. Both the pedestrian alert and tailgate-open fail to operate.

On a side note, if I open and close a door before using the fob, the fob works normally. My button on my tailgate and the dash also work reliably.

 

[Zengineer]

It's not a distance issue, I've accidentally opened mine remotely by thinking I was hitting the remote start button twice...from 100 feet away.

For the alarm/unintended opening there is this for early builds:

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...nintended-tailgate-opening.10725/#post-228066

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

Could be a bad Step sensor. There is a sensor in the tailgate that is attached to the rail of the step. If the step is out you cant move the tailgate back up no matter how hard you try. I haven't tried what the outcome is when it is not locked in place and closed. Im sorry I would go check but its too hot right now.

 

[sysop]

I had seen another post about an owner whose step needed an adjustment so I tested rattling mine around and it made no difference for me.

If I go open and close a door, the fob starts working. If I open and close the tailgate with the button on the tailgate, the fob starts working. If I reach in through an open window and hit the button on the dash, that works and then the fob starts working. It is almost like a module doesn't fully wake up when using the fob to open the tailgate.

I'm at 13,000 miles and it has been a problem since day 1.

 

[FrankThompson]

So I've been getting this, but today it just started flashing the amber lights once and the tailgate still doesn't open. I thought maybe it was my tonneau cover but I retracted it a bit and still didn't work.

If I open it and close it it will work, I think..I need to run more tests but it's really frustrating.

Anyone find any solutions? I have some work at the dealer I have to have done so will let them look.


One thought I had was if anyone who had this issue has no forscan mods done. I'm wondering if we've enabled something and this is a side effect.

 

[sysop]

Mine has been an issue from day one with no modifications.

My last appointment was to change the tailgate harness. It seemed to be working for a few days but this weekend it has acted up a few times. There really is no rhyme nor reason for what conditions cause it to not work.

 

[scott011422]

I was just out playing with mine. I think its a lock issue.

If the truck is locked and I go to open the tailgate it beeps 3 times and opens the second time. Every time.

If I have the truck unlocked, the tailgate just opens. no second press, no 3 beeps.

If my wife goes to open the tailgate with the truck locked, (I have my fob attached to my belt) the truck also beeps 3 times.

So I'm thinking the truck does not authenticate you if you open the locked tailgate until you try to open it. Once you try to open it the computer must look for approved FOBs and if one is found opens the tailgate on the second try.

 

[Snakebitten]

I only get the 3 beeps if I go out to the truck without my FOB even though I can get into the truck itself. (unlocked)

I'm guessing that the tailgate is locked even if the truck doors aren't. And honestly I'm glad it won't open without the FOB even though I sometimes forget to bring it if I know the trucks unlocked.

 

[Platinum Peasant]

Mine does the same thing.

 

[Paul Neubauer]

My tailgate started doing this after I updated everything in FDRS. Before the updates, it opened on the first button press every time.

 

[FrankThompson]

My concern is the new issue of it not even beeping 3 times when using the fob. The lights flash once and it remains closed, locked or unlocked. If it always beeped thrice when locked and opened on the second try, I would call that incredibly stupid, but at least consistent.

My '17 just always opened when I pressed the bottom twice in rapid succession, but this is frustrating how inconsistent it is.

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