Help my rear hatch keeps opening on its own

[racecarjohnny]

I have lurked on this site for years. Lot's of great info and I am sure someone can help me.
For some reason my rear hatch opens on its own. Sitting in the garage unlocked at night I will come out and the light will be on and the rear hatch popped open? It happened the other day in a parking lot too. This has been going on for about 2 months. Is something broken, worn out or is the remote sensor sensitive to random wireless signals? Let me know what you think. Thanks for your time. My X5 is a 2001 4.4 My aplologies to the forum for posting this earlier in the wrong spot.

[Superhiro]

Hmmm I have no genuine solutions for you but my first thought was something along the lines of what you said.

"or is the remote sensor sensitive to random wireless signals"

Do any of your neighbors have X5's???? WHo knows, it's unlikely but maybe their remote is triggering your vehicle I know it needs to be programmed to do so but it seems odd that the latch would just open on it's own.

Also very weird and prob not a norm thing to do (I'm a noob so my options are prob semi off the wall approaches) but maybe film your vehicle during the evening. Set up a video camera on a tripod and then review the video in the morning. See if the lights go off when the latch opens, kinda like when it's done via the key fob.

Whatever it is good luck!

[X5Flyboy]

I've had to replace my rear hatch lock/light assy - mainly because it leaked water into the lights, but also had the trunk unlocking from time to time - replacement fixed everything - just be aware it has to be painted to match your colour

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

does this only happend when the car is parked, driving or both? If the light is on when you come to the X then that means it recently opened (within 5mins). If the light is alway on when you get to it and it only happeneds when the key is out of the ignition, that will narrow the problem to your remote, or a remote signal....

[racecarjohnny]

First off Thank you all for your insight. It happens both when the car is driving and sitting. It sounds like you are hitting the unlock button and just unlatches and lights come on inside. It sucks for the driver especially if the kids are in the car.Any advice on how I could test it? Really the only time it does not open is when it is locked. Either all doors locked or all doors locked and driver side unlocked its good. Anything other than that combination its unpredictble, but happens too often. Thanks again.

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

OK if it is happening when the X is driving then that knocks out the remote..... Is it possible that the switch on the center console is sticking or some how is getting wet? try disconnecting the cluster of swithes temporarly and see if that resolves the situation.

Maybe a little complicated to get out... the easiest way I have found is to remove the radio and reach in from there and push the a/c controller out and reach in from there and push the cluster out with the trunk switch....

[Weasel]

I have seen this problem a small number of times, and it is usually the same thing. What I have found is the wiring harness from the upper hatch to be chaffing in the body and the signal wire to the latch is for some reason the one to ground... With the hatch open, the harness goes through at the top right corner. Where it happens is usually a bit too far into the cabin to reach by pulling the rubber harness loom out of the body, so you would have to get to it by lowering the rear of the headliner. Then if no wires are melted and in need of repair, you can tape it up for insulation and felt tape pad over whatever it was chaffing on.

[racecarjohnny]

Great stuff, thank you. Pretty confident the front switch is not getting wet, but I will check it, the ground wire diagnosis makes lots of sense. I will let you know what I find out.

[Piston]

Originally Posted by weasel56

I have seen this problem a small number of times, and it is usually the same thing. What I have found is the wiring harness from the upper hatch to be chaffing in the body and the signal wire to the latch is for some reason the one to ground... With the hatch open, the harness goes through at the top right corner. Where it happens is usually a bit too far into the cabin to reach by pulling the rubber harness loom out of the body, so you would have to get to it by lowering the rear of the headliner. Then if no wires are melted and in need of repair, you can tape it up for insulation and felt tape pad over whatever it was chaffing on.

Not to bring the thread back from the dead but you can add another X5 with this "hatch popping problem". Searching for this problem I found some related posts on the forums and you came to the same conclusion as another member's dealer did. However, they replaced a bunch a parts prior to that so I really appreciate the advice as it could be a big money saver.
Thanks for helping the community.

[Weasel]

Not a problem!