Power Rear Door Problem On Rx330

[Bobby K]

I closed the tailgate no problem, drove three miles, got out and opened it, but when I tried to close it manually, it would not latch. Tried doing it with the power button, but the same thing when it reached the bottom. I found a golf tee and other debris in the little hinged well containing the male metal loop for latching, so I cleaned that out and tried again. It seemed that on the way down, the door was aligned a bit to one side, and at the bottom, it kind of shimmied sideways, but still would not seat and latch. On repeated attempts, it seemed two things happened: it sounded like some kind of battery was petering out and finally stopped working altogether, and before that it stopped making any hydraulic sound at the bottom at all. It also seemed that at the end of the process, it was aligned too far back to go into the well.

Is there a separate battery driving the rear power door? Also, if operating properly, do the hyraulics pull the door slightly forward at the bottom so it will seal and seat into its latch?

[denslexusgx470]

No, it uses the same battery, and I dont think the door should move to EITHER side just to latch on the bottom. So what you're trying to say is that the Electronic Door Closer is what's broken, the one that closes it shut either from closing it manually or automatically, or the electronic door closer works, but the door isn't in on track???

[ViR2]

you must have damaged your door mechanism with all that debris. Go to your dealer for inspection ;)

[Bobby K]

I took it in to the dealer on Wednesday, and they fixed it, but because of the 4th and weekend and needing another part for a separate issue, I don't have it back yet. They thought the alignment may have been thrown off by the debris. I could not close it manually or automatically, but at some point while I was driving it in - with the door mostly closed by not "shut" or latched - it somehow seated and latched itself. When we re-opened it, it would not close again, and was again out of alignment not side to side, but with the door closing too far back.

Thanks for the tips and thoughts.

[BuckyB]

Is it ok to close the door manually? I thought it always had to close electrically, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm always afraid I'll break something if I try to close it manually.