I just have to ask - Power Lift Gate Conversion

[mtyler]

I just bought a 2011 Pilot yesterday for the Mrs. Super excited about everything except the EXL with Nav did not have power lift gate. I'm a handy guy and have been known to do the semi-impossible many times with various cars.

Why can't I go to the parts counter and get blow up diagrams of the 2011 Touring Power lift gate, buy all the stuff, and go install it.

What am I missing here?

[Arizonaadam]

Thousands of dollars in parts and major surgery is my guess at what you’re missing.

Power LiftGate add on to 2010 EX-L?

I'm sure it could be done, but it would be cost prohibitive. Oemacuraparts.com has the parts diagrams available (and easily accessible with part numbers listed) if you want to have a look.

Also, congratulations on the new ride and welcome to the forums.

[mtyler]

Is this what you are talking about?

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/index....ILGATE%20MOTOR

I think this gets you up around $500-600, then you would a different interior panel, and possibly rear parking sensors for safety. What else? Can't you just steal the power and signal of the window popper and use it for the power lift gate motor?

[Arizonaadam]

Originally Posted by mtyler

Is this what you are talking about?

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/index....ILGATE%20MOTOR

I think this gets you up around $500-600, then you would a different interior panel, and possibly rear parking sensors for safety. What else? Can't you just steal the power and signal of the window popper and use it for the power lift gate motor?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see you do it! If you're confident then go for it and post some pics. My semi-informed opinion just makes me think you'll be out a few more bucks then you think.

[HenryBravo]

Originally Posted by mtyler

Is this what you are talking about?

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/index....ILGATE%20MOTOR

I think this gets you up around $500-600, then you would a different interior panel, and possibly rear parking sensors for safety. What else? Can't you just steal the power and signal of the window popper and use it for the power lift gate motor?

I think you're oversimplifying and underestimating a few things, but by all means go for it! I'm curious if it's doable. It's probably going to be one of those projects that you won't know the full scope of things until you're deep into it, since you'll be venturing into customized territory.

A few things off the top of my head:

1. There is a touch button on the underside of the lift gate handle that triggers the lift motor. Not sure if the EX-L has this button or if the the necessary wiring exists inside of the hatch/gate.
2. The Touring has a switch in the driver's door (immediately behind the speaker) that you'll want to install so that you can open and close the door from the driver's position. Does the EX-L door have a blank plastic mount for this switch? Also, the wiring for this switch may or may not already be inside of the door. I doubt it is but you never know. If it is not, you'll have to figure out where it wires to, and hopefully the EX-L has the accommodations for this wire to plug in somewhere (I'm assuming it plugs into a control module somewhere, which you might have to install also).
3. There is a safety override that doesn't permit the gate to open or close when the car is in gear, so you may have to figure out how this whole things wires into the main computer. The computer in the EX-L may or may not have the necessary "input" for this.
4. There is a loud audible "beep" from the rear of the vehicle when the door is opening or closing, so there is a little speaker/emitter you'll have to install somewhere, and figure out where it wires up to. There is also a safety feature that reverses the direction of the gate when it encounters resistance, so hopefully that feature is built into the hardware you linked to.
5. The latch in the hatch door (that latches the door to the car) will need to automatically release when the door is opened, so you may have to run a new wiring harness to it, or figure out if it needs to be rewired.
6. You'll have to get a new set of key fobs that have the hatch open/close button on it, and of course the computer will need to be able to recognize the open and close commands from the fobs, which I don't know if the EX-L computer will do this.

That's a lot of stuff to overcome, in addition to the core installation itself and all of the problems you will encounter from that alone. But good luck if you try it, and keep us posted on your results.

[1YESfan]

This time of the year I would imagine your poolboy has little or no work. Why not just have him ride along with your wife and have him open up the lift-gate when needed. ;-)

I actually like having this convenient feature. Wasn't that big a deal when I first looked at the Touring. I tried the safety feature when we went to the beach with my father and I hadn't realized had stuck his head in the back. Thank goodness it retracted and kept us from cutting our trip short.

[mtyler]

Pool boy? Wouldn't I have sprung for the Touring if I could afford a pool or pool boy? LOL that's funny.....

Hmmm, what I wouldn't give for some 2009-2011 touring up close photos of the linkages, sensors, and actuator. The 2012 you can actually spread the little whiskers and look at the actuator without removing anything. I'll trade topless photos of myself for them, an unfit mid 30's average height male, no scratch that not expecting any traders.

Good points, but I think I can steal the input from the key fob for the glass popper and there is already a button by the driver to pop the glass on the back also. Don't really care about the glass and it should have all the logic to not operate when it should not. Why spend money I don't have to?

The auto release is a new thought, if you touch the door open button it seems to pop so I think I can parallel that system to get it to pop the catch.

Still feeling somewhat confident.

[jl_ss]

Originally Posted by mtyler

Pool boy? Wouldn't I have sprung for the Touring if I could afford a pool or pool boy? LOL that's funny.....

Hmmm, what I wouldn't give for some 2009-2011 touring up close photos of the linkages, sensors, and actuator. The 2012 you can actually spread the little whiskers and look at the actuator without removing anything. I'll trade topless photos of myself for them, an unfit mid 30's average height male, no scratch that not expecting any traders.

Good points, but I think I can steal the input from the key fob for the glass popper and there is already a button by the driver to pop the glass on the back also. Don't really care about the glass and it should have all the logic to not operate when it should not. Why spend money I don't have to?

The auto release is a new thought, if you touch the door open button it seems to pop so I think I can parallel that system to get it to pop the catch.

Still feeling somewhat confident.

It would be well worth purchasing the factory service and electrical manuals to study before undertaking this (and other projects): 2011 Factory Manuals

[mudbog]

Sounds like an interesting, albeit expensive and complex project.

[mtyler]

Cool, just bought and buzzed through the factory operation/service of the power lift gate. No specific diagrams or anything, but still on track. Only issue I have now is the B-Can network. If I am going to copy the factory stuff which might be necessary to get the closer/latching motor to work properly I need to tie into the B-Can network. From there the car flashes the lights when operating the lift gate and sees the vehicle is in park and traveling at no more than 1 mph per the VSS (I think). The B-Can must be available back there due to the rear glass popper?

Any words of wisdom on this system if it is a network I can grab in the back or if I need to get into some hub by the ECM.

[eps105]

Originally Posted by mtyler

I just bought a 2011 Pilot yesterday for the Mrs. Super excited about everything except the EXL with Nav did not have power lift gate. I'm a handy guy and have been known to do the semi-impossible many times with various cars.

Why can't I go to the parts counter and get blow up diagrams of the 2011 Touring Power lift gate, buy all the stuff, and go install it.

What am I missing here?

mtyler,

Since you said you JUST bought this 2011 model yesterday, I feel compelled to ask out of pure curiosity why you didn't get a 2012 EX-L with nav -- all EX-L trims now have the power liftgate standard for 2012.

Even if you got a nice closeout discount on the 2011, it seems if this was an important feature to you, it may have been worth paying $1000+ more for the 2012 -- not to mention the decent list of other 2012 upgrades, including the all-new upgraded nav with free traffic.


Not trying to derail the subject of doing the mod, but I just had to ask.

[landar]

In addition to the money, time and research spent on adding the power lift gate option, you may be detracting from the vehicles overall resale value. I, for one, would be very put-off if I were looking to buy a used vehicle and found that the previous owner had 'hacked' an option on. If you can do it in a very professional manner so that most would never know, then maybe. You would probably also void the manufacturers warranty on any of the other rear gate features that now exist.