Audi S4 Tailgate Sensor Fault Fix Guide

As someone with moderate experience working on cars, I had a very similar issue with my 2011 Audi S5. The tailgate motor would only open halfway before stopping, accompanied by warning messages. After some troubleshooting, my workshop found that the hall sensor wiring harness had developed a fault due to repeated movement. The cable connection to the tailgate motor was worn, causing intermittent sensor fault readings. The repair involved replacing the wiring harness and performing a complete sensor calibration of the tailgate system. The total repair cost was 95 Euro, which covered both parts and labor. Since the fix, the tailgate has worked flawlessly with no sensor errors. To better assist with your specific case, could you share: Have you noticed any clicking sounds when operating the tailgate? Does the issue occur consistently or intermittently? Are there any other electrical issues with the vehicle? Have you had any previous repairs to the tailgate system? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with the faulty sensor wiring.

I have 88573 KM on my Audi and experienced the same vehicle sensor problems. After getting it fixed at my last service, I can confirm the issue was with the electrical sensor wiring near the automatic tailgate hinge. The tailgate motor required a complete recalibration after the repair. The clicking sound mentioned is exactly what I heard. Mine also stopped halfway, just like yours. The sensor fault turned out to be caused by moisture damage to the wiring, not just normal wear. After the fix, all the error messages cleared and the tailgate works perfectly now. One tip: have them check the rubber grommet where the wires pass through. This was actually letting water reach the electrical connections in my case and needed replacement along with the sensor assembly.

Based on my repair experience with the same model, the rubber grommet issue you mentioned is spot-on. After my initial hall sensor wiring repair, I discovered that water intrusion through the grommet was the root cause of my automatic tailgate problems. Looking back, this explains why the sensor fault kept returning briefly before my complete fix. The workshop initially just replaced the wiring harness without addressing the grommet, which allowed moisture to affect the new wiring too. The repair cost was actually higher than I first reported, closer to 180 Euro total after replacing both the wiring and the grommet assembly. However, this comprehensive fix prevented future moisture-related sensor faults. The tailgate calibration process was also more involved than expected, requiring specialized diagnostic equipment to properly sync the hall sensor with the tailgate motor. Since you mentioned similar mileage to mine, its worth noting that these sensor wiring issues seem common around the 85000-90000 km mark on our model. The complete repair including the grommet replacement has kept my tailgate operating properly for over 30000 km now with no further open tailgate errors.

Thanks for the detailed feedback and confirmation about the power tailgate repair. The wiring and grommet replacement costs seem reasonable at 180 Euro given the specialized work involved. My service center quoted a similar price range. Good tip about checking the grommet, I likely would have missed that detail and ended up with recurring sensor fault issues like you initially experienced. I will make sure they do a thorough inspection of the rubber seals when fixing my electrical sensor system. Getting both the wiring harness and grommet replaced together, plus proper calibration, seems like the smart approach to prevent moisture damage from happening again. I would rather pay for the complete fix now than deal with an unreliable open tailgate situation that keeps coming back. Will schedule the repair next week and make sure they address all the components you mentioned. Really helpful to know what to expect with the repair process and likely root cause. Appreciate you sharing your experience with the same vehicle sensor problems.