VW Bora Tailgate Sensor Malfunction Fix & Tips

Had a similar issue with my 2002 VW Golf. As someone with some experience in basic car maintenance, I initially thought it was just a mechanical problem, but it turned out to be related to the electrical sensor system. The automatic tailgate would only open halfway and sometimes not at all. After checking the sensor wiring at my local workshop, they found that the connection between the tailgate motor and its control unit was faulty. The repair involved replacing a damaged wire harness and recalibrating the sensor fault codes. Total cost was 95€ for parts and labor, which included diagnostic testing and sensor calibration. The whole repair took about 2 hours. Since then, the tailgate has worked perfectly. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you provide: The exact error code from your diagnostic scan, Whether the problem occurs consistently or intermittently, If you notice any unusual sounds when operating the tailgate, Whether this started suddenly or developed gradually This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with the sensor wiring problem.

Thanks for your reply. My mileage is at 114406km and I had the last service done about 2 months ago. The error code is P0719 and occurs every time without fail. The power tailgate makes a clicking sound when trying to open, followed by a grinding noise. The issue started gradually over the past few weeks, first with occasional problems, now its completely stuck. No unusual sounds before the problem started, and the sensor wiring looks intact from what I can see. Had a quick look at the tailgate motor but everything seems properly connected. Thinking it might be the internal mechanism of the sensor itself rather than the wiring, but wanted to get some expert opinions before spending money on parts.

Thanks for providing those details. After reading your description, it really sounds identical to what I experienced with my VW Golf. The clicking followed by grinding noise is exactly what mine did before the complete failure, and that P0719 code is a classic indicator of a hall sensor fault in these models. Initially, I also thought the wiring looked fine, but when the workshop did a detailed electrical sensor test, they found the hall sensor itself was failing internally, not the wiring. The gradual deterioration pattern matches too, these vehicle sensors typically don't fail suddenly. In my case, replacing just the wiring would have been a waste of money. The complete hall sensor unit needed replacement along with sensor calibration. Total repair came to 180€, a bit more than my previous wiring fix, but it solved the problem permanently. Some things to note from my experience: The clicking sound indicates the motor is trying to work but getting incorrect position readings from the faulty sensor, Internal sensor corrosion is common at this mileage, Make sure they perform a proper sensor calibration after replacement, The grinding noise could cause additional damage if left too long Definitely recommend getting it checked soon. The repair cost is worth it compared to potential damage to the tailgate mechanism.

Thanks for the helpful responses. After comparing symptoms and getting feedback, I am pretty confident its the hall sensor unit rather than just wiring. The clicking and grinding matches exactly what others experienced, plus the error code seems to point directly to a sensor fault. Going to book it in next week to have the complete hall sensor replaced and calibrated. The 180€ cost is reasonable considering the potential damage from leaving it unfixed. At least now I know what to expect with the repair process and can avoid wasting money trying to fix just the wiring when the internal sensor is the real culprit. Will update once the automatic tailgate repair is done. Really glad to have confirmation before out of nowhere replacing parts. Having it properly diagnosed and fixed by professionals seems like the smart move, especially given the clicking sounds and risk of further damage to the open tailgate mechanism.