Disconnect Center Stack Tailgate Button

[MrLeadFoot]

On 10/17/2023 at 12:36 PM, TrueBlue said:

I have the 60/40 split in my truck. It's actually two buckets with a middle seat between them. My shifter is on the column. So my setup is different than yours and the trim looks different (to me). I think you're issue would have been a bit more straightforward to solve than it was on your truck.

This picture is not of my truck, but is identical to what mine looks like.

 

 

This one below is of my truck and shows the difference from yours a bit better though the area where you needed the fix is not as clear.

Sorry I didn't see this until just now, but better late than never.

 

I can see that people with your model have no issue bumping the button. No wionder @newdudethought it was a "me" problem. It would be really hard for you guys to bump the button on your models.

 

In my model the center stack is in an entirely different location, and the buttons all seemingly "float" right above a very useful temporary storage area, in which items are placed and removed often. Having to go over the shifter then down under the button stack is the issue.

Edited January 16, 2024 by MrLeadFoot

[mgatzey]

Here's an option. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1682132708/gm-power-tailgate-release-button-blocker?ref=listings_manager_grid

[newdude]

On 1/15/2024 at 7:52 PM, MrLeadFoot said:

Sorry I didn't see this until just now, but better late than never.

 

I can see that people with your model have no issue bumping the button. No wionder @newdudethought it was a "me" problem. It would be really hard for you guys to bump the button on your models.

 

In my model the center stack is in an entirely different location, and the buttons all seemingly "float" right above a very useful temporary storage area, in which items are placed and removed often. Having to go over the shifter then down under the button stack is the issue.

 

 

 

Ah, but it is a you issue.  I just put 200mi on an AT4 refresh at work, so same interior as your Denali.  Not once did I hit the tailgate button.  Why?  Because I don't have crap laying in an area where it would get it.

 

So its a you/people who leave too much or too large objects in the console near that switch bank.  

[MrLeadFoot]

5 hours ago, newdude said:

 

 

 

Ah, but it is a you issue.  I just put 200mi on an AT4 refresh at work, so same interior as your Denali.  Not once did I hit the tailgate button.  Why?  Because I don't have crap laying in an area where it would get it.

 

So its a you/people who leave too much or too large objects in the console near that switch bank.  

I put nothing in that space except a sunglasses case. Put anything in that space enough and I guarantee you will bump a button by mistake. Bumping another button is no big deal, but bumping that tailgate button can cause damage.

 

No offense, but 200 miles is nothing in the grand scheme of things. That's one 3 hour trip. Even if those 200 miles were the result of daily trips over 1 week, that's only getting in and out a handful of times, and likely not even enough to need to use that tray. Drive it for a year everyday and then we'll talk. For months I didn't even put anything that tray. Only when I started putting a glasses case in there did I notice it start happening. Not to mention a passenger whose water bottle tipped over and bumped the button.

 

Not everyone is so particular that they don't put anything in there. That's a you thing. That tray is designed for people to be able to put stuff there. Even if it's a piece of paper, when you go to retrieve it, your hand can bump a button. Don't take it so personally, even if you designed it. No one here is saying the tray sucks. Some of us just wish there was a way to turn off the button so we don't accidentally lower our tailgates and damage them. I have a software company and we make features we think are useful. Sometimes we place a button on the screen that is too close to another button that might counteract the first button's action if user bumps the new button by mistake, but we don't know it until the buttons are used in the real world. If they prove to be problematic we simply move them. We call that improving the interface. For what it's worth, it would be easy to update the truck's software with an option in settings to disable it. With all due respect, for you to simply blame button bumps on simple user error just because you don't use an area that was designed to be used, makes it that much harder for developers/designers to evaluate real world experience and make improvements. 

 

It's apparent that more than just one of us have bumped the tailgate button unintentionally. Maybe some of us have big hands, maybe a driver has a physical limitation or disability, or maybe the driver is in a hurry. We're not perfect. If you are perfect in your actions and movements, that's great for you, but there's nothing wrong with being either way. I'm just happy to have been able to make a workaround, and haven't missed the button since. I apologize if I offended you by sharing it. 

Edited March 15, 2024 by MrLeadFoot

[MrLeadFoot]

7 hours ago, mgatzey said:

Here's an option. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1682132708/gm-power-tailgate-release-button-blocker?ref=listings_manager_grid

 Hmmm, there must be more people having this "us" problem. Thanks for the post.

Edited March 15, 2024 by MrLeadFoot

[KMP259]

Use a switch guard…

 

https://www.datapro.net/products/aluminum-rocker-switch-guards-1-5in.html

[MrLeadFoot]

11 hours ago, KMP259 said:

Use a switch guard…

 

https://www.datapro.net/products/aluminum-rocker-switch-guards-1-5in.html

don't see how that can be installed in one of our trucks, let alone the permanent damage they look like they require. Thanks for trying, though.

[rpc14]

This has happened to me more than I want to admit. Recently I didn't know but must have hit the release switch and the tailgate dropped when I moved forward and struck the hitch mounted bike rack causing paint damage.  I have no use at all for this switch and want to disable it.  Has anyone approached GM about this issue?  It appears I am not the only one that has issues with the switch.

[newdude]

1 hour ago, rpc14 said:

Has anyone approached GM about this issue?  It appears I am not the only one that has issues with the switch.

 

 

The issue is stop putting crap near the switch.  

[MrLeadFoot]

On 7/6/2024 at 6:21 AM, rpc14 said:

This has happened to me more than I want to admit. Recently I didn't know but must have hit the release switch and the tailgate dropped when I moved forward and struck the hitch mounted bike rack causing paint damage.  I have no use at all for this switch and want to disable it.  Has anyone approached GM about this issue?  It appears I am not the only one that has issues with the switch.

I just bumped the All windows down switch last night by mistake, but no harm, no foul on that one. Thank God I modded my tailgate button. I just don't think GM looked at the ergonomics well enough on the design and placement of those switches. I think if they had used push buttons instead the buttons wouldn't stick out as much. In fact, the buttons they used also take up room and make it harder to put stuff in such a handy little cubby hole, especially since you have to reach over the shifter in some models, like yours and mine. People whoi have the models that have the shifter and on the steering column likely don't enocunter this issue as much.

[NavyVette]

On 7/6/2024 at 9:00 AM, newdude said:

 

 

The issue is stop putting crap near the switch.  

So, stop using the truck as designed?

[MrLeadFoot]

On 7/8/2024 at 11:17 AM, oldKarl said:

So, stop using the truck as designed?

I guess that's the messge we're getting. 

 

I'd rather continue using that storage area, which is why I "installed" a workaround mod, in lieu of being able to simply disconnect that button.

[redwngr]

My tailgate had been open a couple of times.

I didn't think I'd hit the button, but of course I might have. 

It didn't seem to ever be related to weather /water intrusion at the tailgate switch.

 

I did, and still do, keep crap in the spot under the switches (and I'm still pissed about loosing the console space to the shifter). Always seems to be something that gets put in the space each time I get in the truck. 

(on this one, the bed cover prevents the tailgate from immediately dropping, even it is unlatched -- so unlatched while parked it might probably won't drop until jiggled while driving) 

 

 

Anyway, a few months ago, the truck got the switch on the tailgate replaced under the recall

It hasn't happened since.

Coincidence?  I don't know. 

Were there two problems?

 

I'm wondering if they have also changed the programming to require a slightly longer press or the tailgate release button for the latch to release. Would reduce the probability of accidental button push activating the release.

 

 

Extra 'fob button push time requirement' corrected a similar issue with the fob and trunk release on the early builds of the most recent generation of impala.

 

[rrmccabe]

I have not done this but do have the fear of bumping remote while in the house and dropping tailgate against garage door.  I had a 2017 high country and bought a new $800 suit once (and had it on the hanger) and somehow rolled down all 4 windows during a rain storm. I immediately disabled that.

I like the switch on the center stack but honestly there is not much value in it. Maybe if went places where they loaded your vehicle without you getting out.

I personally would pull the stack, trace the wire and unpin it or clip it. I did that on the high country to fix a brightness issue on the backup camera.

Plan to do the auto start disable soon. Will try to take a look when I am in there.

[diyer2]

It's a dumb feature in my opinion. Makes a simple manual operation a complicated operation.