Liftgate Handle Flex and/or High Pull Effort Cadillac SRX - keywords adjust appearance body clearance door gate hatch high noise panel rattle rear squeak

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in the PI.

Customers may have concerns of liftgate handle flex and/or high pull effort. This condition can be verified by a simple test: First, unlock the vehicle doors by activating the RKE fob twice, or use the interior door trim power unlock switch.

Note: Customers should be aware that the liftgate is unlocked only when the rear doors are unlocked.

Second, attempt to open the gate with your hand or fingers in the left-most part of the lift gate handle. If the handle flexes and the lift gate does not open from the left-most position, but does open when pulled from the center or right side of the handle, and may exhibit a popping noise as it opens.

To correct this condition, adjust the liftgate striker; do not replace the liftgate latch or the handle. Access the striker per SI Document ID # 896082, note the location of the striker, and then loosen the fasteners enough to allow adjustment.

Note: The striker location is fixed with spring pressure as well as the fasteners and may require additional force to move it. The striker is adjustable both fore and aft as well as left to right.

The striker should be relocated a few millimeters rearward to prevent the latch bind condition. In rare cases, the liftgate interior trim may need to be removed to inspect the latch to striker position and to finesse the location of the striker to obtain the best fit. After the opening and closing effort has been corrected by striker adjustment, the liftgate wedge blocks on either side of the liftgate opening may require re-adjustment. Loosen the wedge blocks in the liftgate opening and move them to the most rearward position. Close the liftgate to locate them in the correct position. Open the gate and tighten the fasteners to specifications. If closing effort is high, or pop noise is heard when opening, the wedges are over adjusted. Be sure to check for proper liftgate weatherstrip compression after adjustments are completed. Use labor operation B5939, Striker, Liftgate/Endgate/Tailgate - Adjust or Replace

Update: New liftgate weatherstrip, body side, part number 10371150 (replaces part number 25773434) for improved water sealing also yields significantly improved liftgate opening efforts. If above efforts prove ineffective at repair, replace the liftgate weatherstrip, body side.

Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.

(2004-2005 Cadillac SRX)