Power liftgate problem(s)

[Grizly1]

Hi. I've tried to search for this issue on Google and I can't seem to find anything. My power lift gate recently has had problems opening and closing. These seem to be two different issues though. When it would try to open it would barely move. I thought that maybe it was the struts so I bought some and replaced the old. It now opens pretty easily, but there have been a couple times I have had to assist. Now on to the closing. Before I changed the struts, I would hit the switch to close the hatch and it would try, but it seemed the motor would just give up. Again I would have to assist it. My questions to the gurus out there is. 1) Does this sound the liftgate motor is failing? 2) Can I disconnect the motor to still be able to open/close the hatch until I can get a new one installed? 3) I've looked up the part on wholesale sites and it lists a right and a left. Is that true? Thank you any help you can give. BTW, this is for a 2007.

[JohnEcanuck]

I have an 07 wagon and it could be a variety of things. The opening memory could need to be reset. Simply open/close it and help it open to where it should.

If the motor works here and there, it could be on the way out. I think the motor is in the roof (IIRC) so I'm sure you can unplug it but not sure if you can still open/close it manually.

It could be one of the three switches (door, close switch on the hatch or the open switch above the license plate).

My switch above the plate failed (2000km out of warranty) ). It would open and close randomly unless you could lock it. I had to disconnect that switch inside the hatch, but it would open via the door switch, key fob and close via the close button. I replaced the grab rail (as it's called) and I'm back in business. Not sure if that helps or clouds things. LOL

[Polidori]

The hatch was acting-up on my '08 and the dealer had to replace both motors under CPO. I don't think those motors are cheap. I urged them to take a look at the switches but they were positive the motors were at fault.

[Grizly1]

Thanks you guys for responding. From hearing the sounds coming from the liftgate and seeing how it acts when I try to open/close it it definitely sounds like it's the motors over the switches. I can get both motors wholesale for about $550. Then I'll just have to figure out how to replace them. Thanks again for the help.