Power Operated Tailgate Module (Pot) [2008-2011]: 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 whether the vehicle is equipped with keyless entry system or not. If the vehicle is not equipped with keyless entry system, remote keyless entry (RKE) communicates directly with Central electronic module (CEM). If the vehicle is equipped with keyless entry system, remote keyless entry (RKE) communicates via the Keyless Vehicle Module (KVM).
There are three ways of opening the tailgate. The usual 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 the button on the remote key for 1.5 seconds. The final way is to press the button inside by the driver's seat, this must also be depressed for 1.5 seconds.
By 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 disengage.
There is only one way of closing the tailgate electrically and that is with the switch on the lower edge of the tailgate. If the vehicle's speed exceeds 1 km/h after a 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 -40 °C and +80 °C.
The system is based on hydraulic fluid being pumped between a tank and a cylinder with a piston in it. The fluid forces the piston to move and this motion operates the piston rod's extension on the tailgate.
The system has two fluid lines which cause different forces to act upon the tailgate depending on the movement stage. It is mainly a safety issue as the force must be less in the greatest entrapment risk area.
The load sensor (Hall sensor) is mounted on the hydraulic system's pressure valve on the hydraulic pump.
When the pressure valve opens at too high a pressure, the load sensor registers the pressure valve's movement.
The load sensor senses if the pressure in the system is abnormally high. In such a case, it is because the piston cannot move due to an object obstructing the tailgate.
If there is over pressure in the hydraulics when opening, the system switches off. If there is over pressure when closing, the tailgate reverses all the way to the fully open position 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 tailgate can be operated manually if the vehicle should lose power. This is because the hydraulic system is equipped with a valve that, in certain circumstances, eliminates the force in the hydraulic cylinder. As the tailgate is also equipped with a traditional gas cylinder, operation is just as on a vehicle without Power Operated Tailgate Module (POT).