Electric tailgate: why you need it and how to install

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Many modern cars come with full power accessories from the factory. And one of the available functions is closing and opening the trunk or tailgate. There are no such amenities on old cars, but any motorist can make an electric trunk drive with their own hands. It is worth noting that opening is much easier to implement than closing. To do this, it is enough to put more powerful springs or shock absorbers. But to implement the closing function, you need to install an electric drive.

Methods for the implementation of the electric drive

There are two types of trunk lid actuator: pneumatic and electric. The first seems more difficult due to the fact that it has a compressor, a receiver, and the air is constantly under pressure. The cost of such structures is quite high, but they do not hold reliability. Such mechanisms should be monitored as carefully as possible, because high pressure affects the elements of the device.

Opening and closing the trunk should be done in several ways at once. It is recommended to put the button on the dashboard or driver's door. Parallel to this button, you can install a relay controlled by an alarm or remote central locking. On sale you can find various devices for implementing the opening and closing of doors. There are several backup channels on car alarms and remote central locks, which are connected to the drive buttons for opening the trunk lid. But this will be discussed in more detail later.

Electric Drive Benefits

This device cannot be said to be a novelty, since similar designs have been used in industry for many years. True, the dimensions are larger there, and the control is somewhat different. The main advantage of the drive is that it is mounted together with the main fixed lock. Therefore, the possibility of hacking by intruders is excluded.

Opening is implemented quite simply - using the central locking drive and a button. The drive opens the trunk lock, and due to the springs it goes to the upper position. But the closing function is a little more difficult to implement - you need to install an electric motor or a pneumatic system, limit switches, rods to drive the trunk lid.

Electric drive features

There are many different elements in the design, they are important for the operation of the drive. The most commonly used systems are based on electricalengine. They are practical, hardy, reliable. Sometimes you can find designs for opening the trunk lid with drives on magnetic plates. These are complex mechanisms with which there will be many more problems. As for installation on old VAZ cars, it is better to refrain from this. These machines are not designed to use such a device.

Without much difficulty, you can install the electric trunk with your own hands. But approach with special attention to the choice of equipment and control options. The standard type of control is the installation of buttons in the cabin. To open or close the trunk remotely, you will have to buy an additional control unit and properly connect it to the drives. If there is no experience in installing electricians, then it is better to leave all these matters in the hands of professionals.

First installation option

In order to implement the construction, you can use two methods. And the very first is the purchase of standard products designed for the electric trunk. It is best to take with a margin. The components of the system must be reinforced, the materials used for their manufacture are only of high quality. Of course, the cost of such a kit will be rather big, but you will be sure that it will serve you for many years and will not break at the most inopportune moment. The presence of an inertial mechanism is welcome, since it is with its help that the drive will be turned off if there is an obstacle in the way of the trunk lid movement.

Second implementation method

And the second way is the most interesting - you collect and install everythingcomponents of the electric tailgate lock yourself. In this case, use partially finished elements. As a rule, many motorists install electric drives made on the basis of some standard mechanism. Be sure to use inertial mechanisms so that if there is an obstacle in the way of the trunk, the electric motor will not fail.

When using a simple motor, it will fail if there is an obstacle - the voltage will continue to be applied to the windings, and the rotor will stand still. As a result, the windings simply burn out.

What you need for installation

It is not recommended to install an electric drive on older cars. The design is not intended for the installation of such devices, you will have to change and redo everything, which will take a lot of time and effort. But you can install a trunk release button if you already have shock absorbers or springs. Even if you plan to supply a factory-made electric drive, you will need the following tool:

1. Electric drill.
2. Bulgarian (angle grinder).
3. Keys, screwdrivers, hammer - you can't do without these tools.

In addition, you need to buy these devices and parts:

1. Electric windows for cars of the classic VAZ series in the amount of two pieces.
2. Power window control module.
3. Wires, ferrules, heat shrink.
4. Semiconductor diodes.
5. Electromagnetic relays with 4 and 5 contacts.
6. Pads for electromagnetic relays.
7. It is recommended to buy springs used in the trunk drive of VAZ cars of the tenth family.

When you get all these items and prepare the tools, you can start installing the electric trunk on your car. Next, we will consider in detail all the stages of the work.

Drive assembly

This is not to say that the assembly procedure is too complicated. Any motorist who knows how to handle the tool can do everything. Of course, you still have to work with a soldering iron to properly connect the wires and diodes to the relay and control device.

It is recommended to install the drive with control from the standard alarm, the work procedure is as follows:

1. First, you need to modify the drive mechanism of the trunk lid. To do this, remove the electric motor and turn it around so that it can function along the rail. All excess parts of the plates must be cut with a grinder.
2. Make a fastener bar out of perforated steel.
3. Install the rails and electric motors of the drive mechanisms on the perforated bar. The entire structure must be placed on the body panels. It is advisable to strengthen the installation sites in advance.
4. One end of the mechanism that is not used must be fixed to the holders on the cover.
5. You are adjusting the mechanism.

After the installation of the drive elements, you can start connecting the electronic component.

Wiring

Be sure to think in advance how you will route the wiring harness. The main thing is to prevent damage in places where bending occurs. In the event that there are other wires near the new harness, it is recommended to connect them using plastic clamps. The control unit is best placed in the trunk to reduce the length of the control circuits. It turns out that inside the trunk you only have to stretch the power and control wires (to the trunk opening and closing buttons).

As for the connection scheme, something specific should not be recommended, since it depends on what components are used in the system. As an example, the article provides a simple diagram of the inclusion of elements of the electric drive system.

Motor drive connection features

Now that all the wires are in place, you can connect them to the control unit. Try to observe the polarity so that the semiconductor elements do not fail. Experts recommend using a separate cable for connection, which must be connected to the battery through a fuse.

Wire size and fuse rating depend on the power of the drive. If you are using a universal power trunk or for your particular brand of car, the installationcontrol buttons are best produced at the bottom of the torpedo. But only in such a way that when driving you would not accidentally catch it.