Power Operated Tailgate Module (Pot) [2009-2011]: Function: Tailgate
Risk of component damage Open, or close, the tailgate slowly if the battery is disconnected. The spindle motors can be damaged if these instructions are not followed. The entire movement must take longer than 5 seconds.
Pinch sensors (7/227 A and 7/227 B) are only found on vehicles manufactured up to and incl. structure week 200947.
The market in Japan has Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) regardless of if the vehicle is equipped with keyless entry system or not. When the vehicle is not equipped with keyless entry system, the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) communicates directly with Central electronic module (CEM). If the vehicle is equipped with keyless entry system, the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) communicates via Keyless Vehicle Module (KVM).
There are three ways to open the tailgate.
One way is by using the handle on the outside of the tailgate. A press of the switch is enough to open the tailgate, on the condition that the central locking has been activated.
The second way is to press in the button on the remote key for 1.5 seconds.
The third way is to press the button inside by the driver's seat, which also has to be held in for 1.5 seconds.
By quickly pressing in switch handle quickly twice the function is deactivated for Power Operated Tailgate Module (POT), and the tailgate can then be opened manually.
The tailgate can only be opened if the vehicle's speed is below 1 km/h. If the speed exceeds 1 km/h after an opening phase has been started, the tailgate will stop and be disengaged.
There is only one way of closing the tailgate electrically, and this is with the switch on the lower edge of the tailgate. If the vehicle's speed exceeds 1 km/h after an closing phase has been started, the tailgate will continue to close.
The Power Operated Tailgate Module (POT) can open and close the tailgate at temperatures between -30 °C and +85 °C.
The system is based on hydraulic oil being pumped between a tank and cylinder containing a piston. The oil forces the piston to move and this movement acts, via the piston rod's extension, on the tailgate. The force that moves the piston is dependent on the pressure in the cylinder. This pressure is controlled by Power Operated Tailgate Module (POT) by affecting the control valve.
In case the tailgate needs greater force to open/close the tailgate, e.g., when the vehicle is standing on a downhill grade, the control valve is closed and thus greater pressure/force is applied on the tailgate.
The pressure can become max. 140 bar and is controlled by a dump valve.
In Power Operated Tailgate Module (POT) there is an angle sensor that checks the angle of the tailgate. The angle sensor measures the angle of the whole vehicle when the tailgate is closed and then has this angle as reference when measuring the tailgate's angle.
Using the angle sensor, the Power Operated Tailgate Module (POT) checks that the tailgate moves constantly during opening and closing phases. If the tailgate should stop or move too slowly during opening, the system shuts off. If the tailgate should stop or move too slowly during closing, the tailgate reverses to fully open again.
The tailgate has two different closing sequences depending on whether the doors and windows are closed or open. When closing the tailgate when all doors and windows are closed, air resistance is relatively large. The tailgate is then likely to reach the outer locking position. A motor helps to pull the tailgate closed the last part to the inner locking position with the aid of a wire. When the tailgate reaches the inner locking position the motor reverses to reset the cable's position to the starting position and thus enable a new closure. If the tailgate does not reach the inner locking position within three seconds, a time-out occurs because the motor still reverses back. In order for the tailgate control module to determine when it is time to end the motor reversal, there is a sensor in the motor that gives a feedback signal stating whether the motor has reversed or not.
When closing the tailgate when all doors and windows are open, air resistance is relatively small. The tailgate is then likely to reach the inner locking position without the assistance of motor closure.
The system is transparent in that the hatch can be operated manually by double pressing the switch on the handle on the tailgate if the Power Operated Tailgate Module (POT) is powered. This is dependent on the hydraulic system being equipped with a valve that eliminates the force in the hydraulic cylinder in such circumstances.
The tailgate is kept in the fully open position by the hydraulic valve and not a traditional gas strut, which is too weak. When opening the tailgate manually, the hydraulic motor is activated at idle to pump the oil around the system.
If, on the other hand, the vehicle has no power when the tailgate is opened manually, the motor that releases the tailgate will not work, which means that the tailgate does not stay in the open position.