Rear automatic tailgate will not disengage.

[Rufus 1995]

Hi all hope someone knows the answer ? 
The automatic tailgate on my 2015 Audi stopped opening. The door button the boot button and the key fob would not open it. 
i took the trim off and changed the actuator which I bought on eBay so a copy part. No luck. I changed the lock mechanism and the boot handle. No luck with any of them. The strange thing is if I push the white leaver over by hand and disengage the lock them the fob and boot handle open the boot as normal. In desperation I bought an official Audi actuator and still no joy. All  the wires look intact and when I disconnect and  reconnect the one lead that goes into it I can hear a motor engage. 

[Magnet]

Welcome Les,

Always worth eliminating a possible fracture in the cabling within the flexible harness section twixt body and tailgate. 
Please let us know how you get on with this inspection.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Rufus 1995]

Thanks for the reply Gareth 

It looks visibly sound but how can I confirm it is working ? 

 

[Magnet]

If the wiring inside the flexible harness sections looks visually sound Les, it is sound. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Rufus 1995]

Ill give it a closer inspection over the weekend as it is baffling as to why it won't disengage. 

[Magnet]

Hello Les,

You are not confirming - when you say it’s sound - that you have actually peeled back the flexible harness covering, and inspected the cables within. 
Have you? 
If not, what you are saying is misleading.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Rufus 1995]

Hi Gareth 

Sorry for the confusion. At the weekend I anted to peel back the cover as you have suggested and check thoroughly. 

[Magnet]

Thanks Les, so for anyone actually following this, you don’t know at this stage whether the wires inside the flexible harness are indeed sound. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Rufus 1995]

Correct. I checked the outer cable to look for any damage and none evident but you've advised to under the outer cable and check the individual cables which I will do at the weekend. I have removed the cover panels and I have replaced all the working components without success. When I unclip the lead and then reclip the lead I can hear a motor power up. So you are sugestsing that if one lead is fractured that may be the issue.

So on Sunday I will uncoil the cover and check every single lead in the hoping of find the fault 🙂