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How to Use Your Hands-Free Power Liftgate

HOW TO USE YOUR HANDS-FREE POWER LIFTGATE

Difficulty Level: Novice  |  Time Required: 5 Minutes  |  Tools Required: None  |  Related Parts, Products, Services or Technology: Key fob

Available Hands-Free Power Liftgate with logo projection and programmable height, if equipped, lets you open and close your liftgate with a simple kicking motion below the bumper. On some vehicles, an illuminated logo projection will appear on the ground to show you where to kick. 

Operation Instructions:

Open Your Hands-Free Power Liftgate
Adjust Your Liftgate’s Lift Height

OPEN YOUR HANDS-FREE POWER LIFTGATE 

  1. Approach the liftgate with your key fob
  2. The logo projection will automatically turn on as you get within 1.8 metres (6 feet) of the rear of your vehicle.
  3. Kick straight over the logo (or at the sensor for older vehicles), making sure to come within 12.7 centimetres of the bumper (but don’t make contact). Your kick should be an in-and-out motion that takes only a second.
    Note: Sweeping the foot side to side or stepping on the logo projection will not activate the sensor.
  4. The liftgate will open after giving you time to safely step away. The rear lights will flash and a chime will sound to alert you that the liftgate is opening.
You can also use a kicking motion to close the liftgate: 
 
  1. Kick straight over the logo projection, or at the sensor for older vehicles. 
  2. After a 2 second delay, the rear lights will flash and a chime will sound to alert you that the liftgate is closing. 

ADJUST YOUR LIFTGATE’S LIFT HEIGHT 

The adjustable height feature helps your liftgate avoid hitting a low ceiling and can make it easier for you to reach. On some vehicles, you can use the knob on the inside of the driver door or overhead console to select:  

  • MAX — Liftgate opens to its maximum height 
  • 3/4 — Liftgate opens to three-quarters of its maximum height 
  • OFF — Liftgate can only be opened manually 
Hands-free power liftgate preset symbol.
On some vehicles, you can set a height that works best for you. Follow these steps to set and activate a custom height. 

Programming a Custom Height 

  1. Manually adjust the liftgate to the desired height.  
  2. Press and hold the button next to the liftgate latch (button location varies by vehicle) until the turn signals flash and a chime sounds.  
    • This confirms that your programming was successful. 

Opening the Liftgate to a Custom Height 

For vehicles with a knob on the inside of the driver door or overhead console: 

  • Adjust the knob to the 3/4 setting to open the liftgate to a preferred custom height.   

For vehicles without the interior knob described above: 

  • Activate a custom height through the centre display. 
  • Go to Settings > Vehicle > Comfort and Convenience > Power Rear Gate Opening. 
  • Select Custom.  

Note: If you try to set the liftgate opening height too low, your turn signals won’t flash and you won’t hear chimes. This means you can’t set the liftgate to open to that height. 
Hands-free power liftgate control symbol.

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Q&As

I’m kicking right over the logo projection, but the liftgate isn’t opening for me. What am I doing wrong?

Try these troubleshooting tips: 

  • Make sure your kick is not too fast or slow. The in-and-out kicking motion should be completed within one second
  • Move closer to your vehicle
  • Kick directly toward the underside of your vehicle. Do not kick the bumper
  • Make sure that your kick comes within 12.7 centimetres of the bumper of your vehicle
  • Make sure that your key fob is within 0.9 metres of your vehicle

What if I don’t kick quickly enough and the logo lamp turns off?

The logo projection only helps you find the location where you should kick. It doesn't affect the hands-free control of the liftgate.

Sometimes I take several loads to my vehicle. If my vehicle has a logo projection, will it turn on each time?

The logo projection is set up so that each time you come back to the vehicle, the projection will turn on for 60 seconds if it has been off previously. If it is already on, it will stay on for an additional 60 seconds.

Why doesn’t my logo projection turn on when I approach my vehicle with my key fob?

There are several explanations that could apply: 

  • Only certain key fobs — your vehicle fobs associated with Drivers 1 and 2 — will turn the projection on. Your fob may not be able to illuminate the logo projection
  • The battery may be in a cool-down period to preserve its charge. This happens when the logo projection has been turned on five times in 5 to 10 minutes. It will illuminate again after an hour
  • If the logo projection is still not showing, ensure the underside of the vehicle is clean and clear of debris
  • If you approach the liftgate and stay there for several minutes, the projection will not turn on the next time the liftgate is used
  • If the vehicle hasn’t been used in 10 consecutive days, the logo projection will not turn on

In any of the above scenarios, your liftgate will still open with a kick.

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To find out if your vehicle has this feature, contact your dealer or refer to your vehicle’s equipment list. Please check your Owner’s Manual for more information about features. 
  • Acadia 2017, 2019-2021
  • Acadia Limited 2017 
  • Terrain 2017-2021
  • Yukon 2017-2021
  • Yukon XL 2017-2021 
  • Acadia 2017, 2019-2021
  • Acadia Limited 2017 
  • Terrain 2017-2021
  • Yukon 2017-2021
  • Yukon XL 2017-2021 

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