Hello! I have a strange problem with my electric tailgate, that I couldn't solve by installing new struts. It failed about a month ago. It wouldn't move up or down, so I researched the possible problems, went to an electrician and he fixed the broken cables in one of the struts (a known issue). Then the tailgate would only open and not close automatically. I tried troubleshooting myself and found out it would work fine after I detached the connectors for the struts in the C pillar and reattached them. I guess it was a kind of a hard reset. After that the struts would work fine, as long as I didn't stop activating them (tried about 10 cycles of open/close in a row). If I let them be for 5-10mins, the tailgate would again only open. After I talked to the electrician and my mechanic, I ordered aftermarket struts hoping they would solve this very annoying situation. I had to use the car in this state for about 2 weeks and also found out the tailgate would occasionally close automatically, but I couldn't find a pattern. I installed the new struts today, the tailgate started working in both directions, I gathered the tools I had lying around (2-3min)... and it would again only open. Now I'm left wondering if it is a software or a hardware problem. I don't have access to an OBD scanning tool (I might buy one) and any specialized software like VCDS. Does anyone have an idea what could cause this behavior? I wanted to ask before my next visit to the workshop. Thank you!

 

I hope I explained everything good enough and I apologize for any grammar and lexical mistakes. English is not my mother tongue. 

Probably won’t work, but did you try disconnecting the battery for 10 mins or so? 

Just tried it. It didn't do anything, the problem persist. Disconnecting the battery actually didn't even do the reset thing, the tailgate wouldn't close immediately after reconnecting it.

 

I read about a similar problem with an Octavia RS, that was solved under warranty by replacing the control module for the tailgate. Now I'm trying to locate where it's located in the Superb 3.

Any fault codes?

Has anyone looked at live data to see what is stopping it?

Were the new struts calibrated?

does the latch operate correctly?

1. As I was told, that the struts were the problem, I didn't make the effort to remember/write down any fault codes. After the cable repair, the electrician reset the codes and one popped up - some kind of protection (probably useless info since I don't remember the exact fault). 

2. Live data - yes. It said open circuit I believe in Motor 1. As far as I understood from my research, that's normal, when cables are broken. I cannot recall any info after the cable repair. 

3. The new struts were not calibrated, but I can't imagine that's the problem, since they display the same behavior as the old ones. But I've been wrong before.

4. The latch operates correctly.

 

I probably should have mentioned, that there are no error beeps, when I press the button to close the tailgate, and the struts actually activate, but either do not move the tailgate or move it about 1-2mm. You can definitely hear the electric motors turning on for a moment. 

 

I'm currently looking into which OBD tool I should buy.

 

 

I made a short video to try and show the problem: Youtube (HD in about 30min). If you turn the sound way up, you'll hear a notable click after me pressing the button. That's the struts trying to do their job and something not allowing them.

 

I too have a powered tailgate issue on my 2016 2 litre diesel Superb estate. I thought that there was a cable break so ordered and fitted eBay replacement struts but the same fault(s) are still present, these are:

* Using the tailgate handle it only opens a few inches so have to continually press the opener to get it to open more

* Once open pressing the close button doesn't do anything so have to manually close the tailgate.

* On occasion when messing about trying to open and close the tailgate the power fails in the boot area.

 

I don't get the three beeps at full opening, after pressing the close button on the tailgate.

I understand that there are micro switches or similar but where are these located?

Any assistance will be most welcome as I am stumped as to what to do next, except going to Skoda and giving them hundreds of £s to resolve. Thank you in advance

My problem was solved by swapping the control module for the tailgate. It's located on top of the left rear fender, but you'll have to remove quite a few panels to get to it. The part number was 5Q0959107J in my case, but you can check it with an OBD scanner ( I used OBD11). 

Thank you for this thread. Tailgate on my 2016 Superb failed today. Will open but series of beeps rather than closing when I try. I think I’ll replace the struts and see if that works. 

Replacement struts from eBay (£130 for a pair) worked for me after Paulski kindly helped with the diagnostics. 

were they electric struts ? if so, where did you get them and did they need coding? thanks

Yes. On eBay, as above. No coding needed. Connected up and worked as expected. They don’t beep at the top, as the originals but everything else great and been working since August.

42 minutes ago, Saucer said:

Yes. On eBay, as above. No coding needed. Connected up and worked as expected. They don’t beep at the top, as the originals but everything else great and been working since August.

 

thats what i wanted to hear....thanks very much, i dont suppose you remember what seller you got them from ?

I bought here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174916671926?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=aIUXdmtdS-C&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=zxT3esSHSye&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media= They seem even cheaper now. Obviously you take your chances but worked for me. Look at YouTube about removing the old ones and still have 2 eyes afterwards 

On 01/06/2024 at 10:47, cutedonkey said:

My problem was solved by swapping the control module for the tailgate. It's located on top of the left rear fender, but you'll have to remove quite a few panels to get to it. The part number was 5Q0959107J in my case, but you can check it with an OBD scanner ( I used OBD11). 

Did you have to code the tailgate module?

Sorry i dont, but i think it was the other person who mentioned it.

On 19/12/2024 at 14:13, Saucer said:

I bought here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174916671926?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=aIUXdmtdS-C&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=zxT3esSHSye&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media= They seem even cheaper now. Obviously you take your chances but worked for me. Look at YouTube about removing the old ones and still have 2 eyes afterwards 

I will add that the replacements are making a bit of a noise now, regardless of me having added wd40 and later grease, that suggests they won’t last forever. We’ll see.

7 hours ago, dweithz said:

Did you have to code the tailgate module?

Yes, I did. I tried to do it myself with OBD11, but failed miserably, so I just paid a local expert to do it. He told me he had to pay for a one-time access to some Skoda database to be able to program the swapped module. It still works as it should.

1 hour ago, cutedonkey said:

Yes, I did. I tried to do it myself with OBD11, but failed miserably, so I just paid a local expert to do it. He told me he had to pay for a one-time access to some Skoda database to be able to program the swapped module. It still works as it should.

Was it expensive to program?

Did they program it before or after it was installed?

The price would vary quite a lot depending on your location. I paid about 50€ for the module itself (used from ebay) and 80€ for the service in Bulgaria.

I have no idea if the guy programmed it before or after the installation.

Hi my friend. Have the same issue on my mk3. Open always, but. Not closing.

Did you manage to solve the issue?

Do you have a superb kombi ?

I’m really interested how did you solve it

Thanks a lot

Can you tell me please where is located the controle module to be able to read the code/PN?

Or if you have remembering also yours?

26 minutes ago, Dalexcristian13 said:

Can you tell me please where is located the controle module to be able to read the code/PN?

Or if you have remembering also yours?

It located on the back side of the rear left fender and it's a pain to get to :) If you follow the instruction in the Superb repair manual, you need to take off about 4 or 5 trim pieces in the boot, the rear seat in order to get to the airbag on the side of backrest, I think the airbag too.

As to your previous question: For me it was swapping the module, for others - changing the struts (or repairing broken wires in the struts' wire bundles).

Edit: This was the part number of the replacement module, that I ordered: 5Q0959107J. I believe the original one was the same, but AFAIK you can buy a 5Q0959107 with another letter in the end and it should work. I was told they were different revisions of the same module. I could be wrong about that.

Edited 29 September, 202529 Sep by cutedonkey

1 hour ago, cutedonkey said:

It located on the back side of the rear left fender and it's a pain to get to :) If you follow the instruction in the Superb repair manual, you need to take off about 4 or 5 trim pieces in the boot, the rear seat in order to get to the airbag on the side of backrest, I think the airbag too.

As to your previous question: For me it was swapping the module, for others - changing the struts (or repairing broken wires in the struts' wire bundles).

Edit: This was the part number of the replacement module, that I ordered: 5Q0959107J. I believe the original one was the same, but AFAIK you can buy a 5Q0959107 with another letter in the end and it should work. I was told they were different revisions of the same module. I could be wrong about that.

Thanks a lot for reply.

I have changed one strut which was having the wires broken, but still the problem is there.

So i do not have any other workaround for taking out the unit , just do the steps mentioned by you to be able to replace it?:-s