Tailgate step stowage assistance
A vehicle tailgate with a power up-down system may employ a method of operating a vehicle tailgate that may include detecting a step is deployed from the tailgate, detecting the tailgate is less than fully open, and automatically actuating a power up-down system to drive the tailgate to fully open.
1. A method of operating a tailgate of a vehicle comprising:
(a) detecting a step is deployed from the tailgate;
(b) detecting the tailgate is less than fully open; and
(c) automatically actuating a power up-down system to drive the tailgate to fully open.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is prevented unless the vehicle is in Park.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) is based on a threshold of approximately two degrees from fully open.
4. The method of claim 2 further including:
(d) preventing the power up-down system from moving the tailgate from an open position to a closed position when detecting that the step is not stowed.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is based on a threshold of approximately two degrees from fully open.
6. The method of claim 1 further including:
(d) preventing the power up-down system from moving the tailgate from an open position to a closed position when detecting that the step is not stowed.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) includes a step-deploy switch being mounted adjacent to a top surface of the tailgate and the step-deploy switch not being actuated when the step is deployed from the tailgate.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes a Hall effect sensor detecting a position of the tailgate relative to the vehicle.
9. A vehicle comprising:
a closure, pivotally mounted to the vehicle, including a step deployable from within the closure;
a power system, configured to open and close the closure, including a position sensor;
a deployment switch detecting when the step is stowed; and
a controller detecting that the step is deployed from the closure, detecting the closure is less than fully open, and automatically actuating the power system to drive the closure to fully open.
10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the closure is a tailgate.
11. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the deployment switch is mounted adjacent to a surface of the closure from which the step is deployed, and the step engages the deployment switch when stowed.
12. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to prevent the power system from moving the closure from an open position to a closed position when detecting that the step is not stowed.
13. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the position sensor is a Hall effect sensor that detects a position of the closure relative to the vehicle.
14. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to prevent actuating the power system to drive the closure to fully open unless the vehicle is in Park.
15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to prevent the power system from moving the closure from an open position to a closed position when detecting that the step is not stowed.