Resetting the Power Tailgate on Your Honda CR-V

Is your Honda CR-V’s power tailgate acting up and opening slower than normal or not fully closing? This frustrating issue is commonly caused by a software glitch that can often be fixed by simply resetting the tailgate system. Resetting the power tailgate is an easy process that CR-V owners can typically do themselves in just a few minutes.

When the power tailgate starts malfunctioning, it usually exhibits certain symptoms like taking a long time to open or close, not opening all the way, stopping mid-motion, or warning lights appearing on the dashboard. Resetting the system will often resolve these problems and get your tailgate working as well as new.

Preparing to Reset the Power Tailgate

Before resetting your CR-V’s tailgate, make sure to:

  • Park on a level surface with plenty of room behind the vehicle to allow the tailgate to open fully
  • Have your ignition key ready
  • Clear any objects from the tailgate area

Resetting is simple but does require briefly disconnecting power. So set yourself up in an appropriate spot before getting started.

Accessing the Fuse Box

The power tailgate reset involves locating and removing the tailgate fuse in your CR-V’s interior fuse box:

  • Sit down in the driver’s seat and open the driver’s side door
  • Look on the side of the dashboard and remove the fuse box cover
  • The fuse box has diagrams indicating the location of each fuse

Use the diagrams to locate the tailgate fuse – it should be labeled as either “P/Tail” or something similar.

[Optional image showing fuse box location and tailgate fuse]

Resetting the Tailgate System

Once you’ve located the proper fuse, carefully remove it from the fuse box to cut power to the tailgate completely.

After 10 seconds, reinsert the fuse into the fuse box, which will trigger a reset of the power tailgate system once power is restored.

Here are the simple reset steps:

  1. Remove the P/Tail fuse
  2. Wait 10 seconds
  3. Reinsert the fuse

And that’s it! This brief power interruption forces your CR-V to reboot its tailgate software, which should clear any glitches that are causing problems.

Testing the Power Tailgate Reset

Before taking off, it’s important to test that the reset worked:

  • Use your key fob or interior tailgate controls to open the tailgate – it should open fully and at normal operating speed
  • Likewise, test closing it fully as well at normal speed
  • Repeat opening and closing the tailgate a few times

If the tailgate now works properly without issues, the reset was successful. Hopefully putting your fuse box cover back on is the hardest part from here!

But if you still experience problems with the tailgate after the reset process, additional troubleshooting is needed.

Troubleshooting a Failed Reset

In some cases, the initial reset won’t solve CR-V power tailgate woes. If your tailgate continues giving you problems after fusing unplugging and replugging, try these additional troubleshooting tips:

  • Examine the fuse itself – check for any damage or corrosion
  • Inspect the fuse connections in the fuse box – remove any debris/corrosion
  • Try replacing the P/Tail fuse with a new fuse of the same amp rating
  • Repeat the fuse removal/reinsert reset steps again
  • Disconnect and reconnect the tailgate power liftgate connectors under the vehicle’s cargo area
  • Consult your owner’s manual – some years have additional reset procedures

Still, no luck getting your power tailgate back to normal? Bring your CR-V to a trusted mechanic. They can diagnose any underlying issues requiring professional service. But in most cases, this simple fuse reset does the trick!

Resetting your Honda CR-V power tailgate is an easy first step to try getting it smoothly lifting open and closing again. In just minutes and without any tools, you can potentially fix pesky software glitches hindering the tailgate function. Try this quick reset so you can keep accessing your CR-V cargo hands-free!

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