Tailgate opening height

[Wyeknot]

When I originally got my S5 I found the electric tailgate didn't open high enough for me. I'm not tall (5' 10") but kept walking into it (and cursing...). After getting fed up with this I (gently) manually lifted it higher without problem. I had to manually close the tailgate after doing this - but now it opens electrically every time to the height I set.

Just posting this in case it's useful to others.....

 

[MG Clive]

Useful info, thanks @Wyeknot

 

[Alb]

That's interesting, I’d have assumed it opened to its full height by default.

 

[Jaime Branco]

In car infotainment is a option to configure the open height

 

[Wyeknot]

The opening height was set to High in the options, which is why I had assumed it was at its maximum opening (like Alb). I only tried raising it higher manually to see if it would open further to protect my head. Whether my car had been set up by a short person (no racist/heightist slur intended) or was simply sticking at a lower point I don't know. Just wanted to post my findings in case it happens to others.

 

[Lovemyev]

The S5 is the first car we have owned with a motorised opener.
Great I thought, until one day last week when it tried to cut me in half .
We pulled up to park at the supermarket, then I remembered the shopping bags in the boot, So, I pressed the button on the fob and watched smiling as it opened.
I had the bags stored under the boot board.
There was a bit of time moving things around, about 15 seconds or so ?.
As I refitting the board, I heard a “bip - bip - bip” sound and suddenly realised that the boot had decide of its on free will to close !.
I just managed to duck my head out of the way before it hit me.
I was dropping into the dealers next anyway, so I mentioned it to them.
I asked them if the open time was limited in some way ?.
They said it was very unlikely.
I wondered if I had triggered the foot sensor under the bumper by mistake ?.
They said that they thought, as a safety feature, it only works to open the boot and not close it, for that very reason.
They asked me to monitor the situation and let them know if it happens again of course.
The following few days, I tried opened the boot and then leaving it open , to see if would repeat the same thing, but with no luck.
When it first happened, I can’t remember what I did with the fob when I opened the boot.
I never put them down in the boot, to avoid the possibility of locking them in there.
I MAY of put them in the back pocket of my jeans ?.
If so, when bending inside looking for the bags, did the boot button on the fob get unintentionally pressed ?.
Make some sense I guess ?.
If so - please don’t do this as it could be a nasty experience.
I am aware that there will ( should ) be a built in “anti trap” sensor to avoid anything getting trapped by mistake, but not knowing or willing to try its sensitivity, I am not willing to give it a go .
Not a great first experience of a motorised boot really .

 

[Ian Key]

When I originally got my S5 I found the electric tailgate didn't open high enough for me. I'm not tall (5' 10") but kept walking into it (and cursing...). After getting fed up with this I (gently) manually lifted it higher without problem. I had to manually close the tailgate after doing this - but now it opens electrically every time to the height I set.

Just posting this in case it's useful to others.....

Mine did the same thing. Also when closing it slammed shut and not soft closing as it should. I fixed it the same way by forcing it fully open and then helping it close.

 

[Ian Key]

The S5 is the first car we have owned with a motorised opener.
Great I thought, until one day last week when it tried to cut me in half .
We pulled up to park at the supermarket, then I remembered the shopping bags in the boot, So, I pressed the button on the fob and watched smiling as it opened.
I had the bags stored under the boot board.
There was a bit of time moving things around, about 15 seconds or so ?.
As I refitting the board, I heard a “bip - bip - bip” sound and suddenly realised that the boot had decide of its on free will to close !.
I just managed to duck my head out of the way before it hit me.
I was dropping into the dealers next anyway, so I mentioned it to them.
I asked them if the open time was limited in some way ?.
They said it was very unlikely.
I wondered if I had triggered the foot sensor under the bumper by mistake ?.
They said that they thought, as a safety feature, it only works to open the boot and not close it, for that very reason.
They asked me to monitor the situation and let them know if it happens again of course.
The following few days, I tried opened the boot and then leaving it open , to see if would repeat the same thing, but with no luck.
When it first happened, I can’t remember what I did with the fob when I opened the boot.
I never put them down in the boot, to avoid the possibility of locking them in there.
I MAY of put them in the back pocket of my jeans ?.
If so, when bending inside looking for the bags, did the boot button on the fob get unintentionally pressed ?.
Make some sense I guess ?.
If so - please don’t do this as it could be a nasty experience.
I am aware that there will ( should ) be a built in “anti trap” sensor to avoid anything getting trapped by mistake, but not knowing or willing to try its sensitivity, I am not willing to give it a go .
Not a great first experience of a motorised boot really .

My tailgate did the same yesterday but it could have been because I hadn't unlocked the car first. I'll have to see if it does it again this morning.
I did put my hand out to stop it closing and yes, you'll be pleased to know, it did stop with very little pressure.

 

[Lovemyev]

My tailgate did the same yesterday but it could have been because I hadn't unlocked the car first. I'll have to see if it does it again this morning.
I did put my hand out to stop it closing and yes, you'll be pleased to know, it did stop with very little pressure.

Hi Ian - Thanks for your reply.
I can’t honestly remember if my car was locked already, when I went to the boot to get out the shopping bags now tbh ?.
At least somebody else has had a similar experience then.
Glad you know that if it does happen, it will return to open when it hits something in its path, hopefully not our heads !.