Camping with CX-5 Powerlift Gate

[Sandie2]

Help please. I’m going camping in my CX5 2018 which has a power lift back gate that I hope to leave open at night as I have an SUV tent. Any advice on how to protect my car battery from dying? There is a tiny light on the powerlifting button that could be a problem?

Once I did trigger the latch on the power lift gate with a carabiner, but then could not get the gate to re-close…. I finally did by playing around with the keys etc., but I cannot recall how.

I do carry an emergency jump battery and spare fob batteryUV but hope not to need either.

Thank you for any ideas

 

[HyFlyer]

I would think just turn of the interior lights and that's all that would drain your battery with the hatch open

 

[sm1ke]

If possible I would recommend bringing an RFID box to keep your keyfob in. I think that keeping the keyfob within a close proximity to the car will keep the proximity sensors on the car active (same sensors used for the smart keyless entry). This can prevent the car from "going to sleep" and drain the battery over an extended period of time. The signal-blocking box should allow the car's systems to shut down fully.

There may also be a back up system that forces the keyfob into sleep mode if the key is left in the car for a long period of time, like if someone lost their extra keyfob in the car, to prevent the battery from draining completely.

I would also suggest carrying something to prop the liftgate open, just as a failsafe in case the liftgate dampers fail or something falls on the open liftgate.

 

[cz5gt]

there is a small button to unlock the latch on the liftgate. Look closely as its tough to see.
Also on the fob there should be one.
That should help if you lock the latch when the liftgate is open. Try it out see if it works how you need it to work.

Locking the latch mechanism is the easiest way to make the car think the liftgate is closed even if its open.

 

[N7turbo]

I don't believe there is any battery drain from having a door open, as long as the lights are off.

 

[ADS-B]

Once you open the hatch, disconnect the car battery and that's it.

 

[N7turbo]

Once you open the hatch, disconnect the car battery and that's it.

What an unnecessary hassle that would be.

If you really want to, and you did this regularly, you could install a kill switch of sorts, if it would make you feel better about it.

 

[Sandie2]

Thank you for all the ideas - I’ve got it! You trigger the latch closed with a screw driver…make sure the latch is fully closed. Check your dash. Then to open, push the button that opens the powergate, when it is normally closed (not the one you use to close it when it’s fully open), but the one on the outside as shown here. So makes sense…if the car thinks it’s locked…unlock it!!

Thought I would post this to help anyone else…or when I forget

 

[N7turbo]

Guys even something as complex as a Mercedes doesn't show any battery drain with all the doors open. I've verified this with a multimeter. And those cars are known for parasitic battery drain issues. If I get time I'll test it on the CX-5 but I have faith in Japanese engineering.

 

[ADS-B]

What an unnecessary hassle that would be.

If you really want to, and you did this regularly, you could install a kill switch of sorts, if it would make you feel better about it.

The hassle would be, probably, less than five minutes and a number 10 socket.