HI all
couldn't figure out why my tailgate was able to be opened with the squishy rubber button by the number plate light after using the key fob to lock the car.....

Have copied in below a reply I found on another forum, might be useful for other 6 owners#5 · Dec 4, 2014 (Edited)Yeah this was driving me crazy on a recent trip to the coast. I would lock all the doors and check the lift gate just to be sure by pressing the lift gate spongy switch. The lift gate would open every time since the keys were in my pocket. Weird, huh. The Owner's manual kind of sort of covers this on the bottom of page 3-13, stating:
Pressing a request switch.
Confirm that all doors and the liftgate
are securely locked.
For the liftgate/trunk lid, move it
without pressing the electric liftgate/
trunk lid opener to verify that the
liftgate/trunk lid has not been left ajar. [my emphasis]

In other words the lift gate does not work like the other doors. With AKE when you push the button on the other doors, you can then pull the handle to check to see if the locking or unlocking was successful. On the lift gate, to check if the locking was successful ... either you just tug up on the lift gate without pressing the spongy opener, or (as others have noted here) move the key 20-30 feet away and then you can verify the lift gate locked because the key is no longer in close enough proximity to allow the lift gate to open when pressing the lift gate spongy opener.

The small round button located on the right side of the trunk release button will lock the entire car when pushed (remember though that although the tailgate is now locked, it will open if the key is in your pocket and you push the spongy button). The tailgate will not open if you remove the key from the proximity of the tail gate. LOCK ONLY is correct, if you press the tail gate round button again it will not unlock the other doors. Really the only function of the small round button is to lock everything, and remember the tailgate will unlock regardless as long as the key is on your person and you are standing nearby and you press the spongy opener.SaveShare
ReplyLikebrinmoor53
1 post · Joined 2025
#9 · 9h agoThanks for your explanation....now I understand

BUT...
I go kiteboarding and leave my key fob in a lockbox attached to the towbar of the wagon....so it means my tailgate is never locked...anyone who knows about spongy opener button will be able to open the tailgate...I guess.

Anyone got any idea how to make sure its locked other than stashing the fob 10m away from the car (seems mostly not practical or sensible)

Could we shield the fob in aluminium foil inside the lockbox to make sure the vehicle doesn't detect a key closeby?

Regardless , I'll try this last idea later today and post the result...if it works!

Thanks v muchowns2014 mazda 6 GH wagon
Vi

Anyone used hte alum foil idea? Does it work? Any other suggestions...thanks

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Hi all
tried the al foil wrap....it seems to work for me just fine.....
So now I can lock the car, put the foil wrapped fob in my lockbox attached to the rear towbar and tailgate remains locked....and can't be opened.

Yippee...

 

And, as it does say in the manual(!) the key fob range at the rear tailgate position is around 80cm
So I tried the unshielded fob 1m away from the tailgate and it does lock and stays locked....

so I guess I could put the unshielded fob in hte lockbox and attach it to the front of hte caar, out of range...theoretically....
Will post outcome....if that works too!